End to mass marking of Salmon

[BARCHASER10]

I got this email from NSIA. It says that the jerks in Olympia want to end mass marking of salmon which pretty much means the end of sport salmon fishing in Puget Sound, the Strait and maybe everywhere. They want to reduce the budget on the backs of sport fishers. Even though federal laws require mass marking. In this state the news is never good. Some of you guys know more about the state legislature games than I do, so what do you think? The Republicans claim to be in favor of outdoor people but this doesn't look like it.

URGENT INDUSTRY ALERT.

Pick up the phone and Call your Representative and your Senator, right now! This will only take 10 minutes of your time.

Most of you know the Legislature is in special session in Olympia, trying to finalize a budget by the end of the week. Late yesterday, I learned of amendments to the 2015-2017 Operating Budget that was passed in House Appropriations. As we read the amendment, it is designed to undo the recent Willapa Bay policy decision by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. We believe this language presents a significant problem for the successful implementation of the new policy decision and would jeopardize conservation of a resource that has not met spawning escapement in many years. You probably know that the Agency and the Commission have spent months working with stakeholders seeking to reduce harvest and hatchery impacts on natural spawning Chinook in the Willapa Bay watershed.

Year after year, spawning escapements have not been met due to overharvest of these fish by commercial gillnetting. (The commercial gillnets in Willapa Bay take 90% of the harvestable fish). For example, last year the final exploitation rate was 38% of the wild Chinook, nearly double the set rate by WDFW of a 20% exploitation rate.

We were also shocked to discover House Appropriations Committee revised operating budget for the coming biennium proposed eliminating long standing funding for the mass marking of hatchery salmon populations. For conservation AND economic reasons, WDFW is required by law to mass mark all Coho and Chinook Salmon. Elimination of this funding which includes $477,000 total funds to pay for mass marking of salmon would, by necessity, result in a dramatic reduction in the numbers of hatchery salmon.

The short and long term impacts of far fewer salmon returning to state waters would have serious implications to the sportfishing industry and our customers, who sustain over 16,000 family wage jobs in Washington. It is absolutely critical that mass marking funds are restored to ensure the health of our industry and ensure the role that selective fisheries play in conservation.

Just make two calls, one to your Rep. and one to your Senator. Ask them to restore the $477,000 stripped from mass marking funds and the amendment to the Willapa Bay management plan from the revised House Appropriations Budget. Have your employees call, too. Jobs are on the line, as is conservation.

IF Legislators don't hear from Businesses and employees of businesss, they will think this is a hobby vs commercial jobs issue and you know where things will land. This is about your industry and the conservation of stocks for the future! CALL TODAY!

Please let me know if there is further information I can supply. Carl can be in your office at a moment’s notice if need be. Thank you! Liz

[4n6fisher]

Thanks for posting this info. There has been a link to a form letter to sign and send to your representatives posted under Announcements by gfakkema.

[gfakkema]

...

[Matt]

The biggest travesty of all is that $477k is chump change.

Not a drop in the bucket compared to what is thrown in the trash annually by DOT. That number starts with a B and ends with a illions.

[Larry3215]

I filled out the e-mail form linked in the post above and sent it off last night. I got responses from 3 of our clowns in office.

Larry, This whole House proposal needs fine comb review. Senator Jan Angel

Larry,
Thank you for your message regarding the 2015-2017 State Operating Budget and its impacts on salmon fisheries and coastal wild salmon protection. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. As you may know, budget negotiations are currently taking place between the House and Senate, and nothing has been finalized at this point. Since I do not sit on the Appropriations Committee, I am not directly involved in this process until the final agreed-upon package comes to the floor for a vote during the special session. I have forwarded your concerns on to our budget writers for their consideration.
If you have any additional questions or comments, please let me know.

Warmest Regards,

Michelle Caldier
State Representative
26th Legislative District
( (360) 786-7802
* Michelle.Caldier@leg.wa.gov

Mr. Dunn,
Thank you for contacting my office. I recognize how important this issue is to you and I appreciate your participation in the legislative process.
I intend to keep this matter under advisement should this appear before my committees, during budget negotiations, or on the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. Should this develop further, please feel free to contact my office at any time.
I look forward to future opportunities to serve you should you need my assistance in matters pertaining to state agencies or laws.

Sincerely,
Jesse L. Young
State Representative
26th Legislative District
Email: jesse.young@leg.wa.gov

It only takes about 10 seconds to fill out the form and send it off so go do it!

[BARCHASER10]

I sent my email also. I was not complimentary. I'll never understand what the hell those people do down there. Its like mass hysteria or something. The crazier they get the more crazy they get.

[Goldrigger1]

Good post and great heads up. I've been watching for cutbacks like this. We will see more and more in many areas as the burden of infrastructure costs forces a cut to service. I guess I'd say the greatest burden of cost is not salaries, it is the cost of pensions and healthcare for retired. Politicians voted in coverage which is not sustainable in the future - if we expect the same services.

We will see this, and do see this now, on the Federal level too. It is not the employee's fault if more is promised than can be delivered. Everyone wants the best deal they can negotiate. The politicians must make sure it is affordable many years down the road and it is not affordable.

Already we see a drop in population growth as having a child gets more expensive. Look at Japan as a forerunner. Not only were the promises too lavish, the population is falling (especially if you remove illegals). The consequences are inevitable. Look for fewer service in many areas for decades to come.

[Mike Carey]

not to go all political, but the end game is what Greece is experiencing.

[MarkFromSea]

I think that money was put back into the budget for WDFW to mark the Willapa Bay salmon. There is so much going on across the state with WDFW it is a chore to keep up with all of it. I'd love to see this site beef up it's participation with CCA AND PSA but politics and activists doesn't seem to mesh well with the majority of people who just want to go fishing. Both of those are advocates for our salmon sport fishing opportunities. PSA recently added an ocean chapter out at Westport. CCA has a couple chapters in E WA.

http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ccapnw.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've been to a few PSA meetings/presentations and I find them lacking in politics. So the meetings are quite enjoyable.
I've been to a CCA benefit dinner, that was a fun event and auction. Their internet interaction on hot topics in Olympia seem to be better than PSA but both groups continue to do good work here in WA.

Currently, I'm a member of both.

[Goldrigger1]

I'm glad you see it Mike. I wish more people would realize nothing is free and the consequences of thinking that way are ..... not a lot of fun to experience. If only fairness would be the driving force instead of short-term benefits.