salmon season set, to open soon

[Amx]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

May 26, 2016
Contacts: John Long, (360) 902-2733;
Laurie Peterson, (360) 902-2790

Salmon seasons set for Puget Sound;
area waters expected to re-open to fishing soon

OLYMPIA – State and tribal leaders today reached an agreement on Puget Sound fisheries that is expected to pave the way toward opening summer salmon seasons and waters recently closed to recreational fishing.

The co-managers agreed on this year's Puget Sound salmon seasons after several weeks of extended negotiations. Anticipated low numbers of salmon – especially coho – returning to Puget Sound made this year's negotiations challenging.

Agreement on fishing seasons is a key step in obtaining a joint federal permit required to conduct fisheries in Puget Sound waters, where some fish stocks are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed many Puget Sound-area waters to fishing on May 1, after the previous federal authorization to conduct fisheries expired.

"We plan to re-open those waters as soon as we have federal approval," said John Long, salmon fisheries policy lead for WDFW. "We anticipate getting the new permit within a few weeks."

More information on the fisheries that closed May 1 is available on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/pugetsound_salmon_update/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

In the meantime, anglers can begin making plans to fish for salmon this summer in Puget Sound-area waters, where most of those fisheries will target hatchery chinook. Salmon fisheries throughout the Puget Sound area will be constrained to protect coho salmon and other weak salmon stocks, Long said.

"Conservation is key in developing these fisheries, especially in a year with such low returns expected back to the Sound," Long said. "We worked hard to meet those conservation needs and provide fisheries that are meaningful for both state and tribal fishers."

Changes in Puget Sound salmon fisheries since last summer can be found on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, where information on Washington's salmon fisheries in ocean waters and the Columbia River also is available. Some of those changes include:

Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will be open from July 16 to Aug. 15, or when the quota of 1,395 fish is met. The area was closed last summer to chinook retention. Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will be open on the same dates as Marine Area 10, but also could close sooner if the quota of 3,056 fish is met.
There will be no coho fisheries in marine areas of Puget Sound, with the exception of Hood Canal, where sufficient coho are forecast to return.
WDFW is closing some rivers and marine areas to all salmon fishing during September and October, the peak months for coho salmon to return to Puget Sound. Rivers slated for closures include the Skagit, Stillaguamish and Nisqually. Lakes Washington and Sammamish also will be closed to fishing during those months.
The lower mainstem of the Skokomish River will be closed to non-tribal fishing this year due to a claim by the tribe that the river is part of the Skokomish Reservation and public access is prohibited. WDFW is working to evaluate this claim. The closed area includes the section of river from the Tacoma Public Utilities power lines (near the mouth of the river) upstream to the Bonneville Power Administration power lines (upstream and west of Highway 101). The department advises anglers to observe this closure of the state's fishery that will be monitored by WDFW police.
More details on salmon seasons in Puget Sound and other areas of Washington will be available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; later this month.

For information on tribal fisheries, contact the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (http://nwifc.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).



Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reason ... quest.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.


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[Amx]

a second e-mail just received;

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

May 26, 2016

Contacts: Ron Warren, WDFW, (360) 902-2799;
Tony Meyer, Treaty Tribes, (360) 528-4325

Salmon co-managers agree on Puget Sound fisheries,
will work to improve season-setting process

OLYMPIA – State and tribal fishery managers today agreed to Puget Sound salmon-fishing seasons for 2016, ending several weeks of extended negotiations.

Officials with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Gov. Jay Inslee's office, and treaty tribes also agreed to work together to improve the process of setting salmon-fishing seasons, known as "North of Falcon." The co-managers did not reach agreement during the annual season-setting process, which concluded in mid-April.

Anticipated low numbers of salmon – especially coho – returning to Puget Sound made this year's negotiations challenging.

"Our first priority is to develop fisheries that are consistent with efforts to protect and rebuild wild salmon stocks," said Jim Unsworth, director of WDFW. "Reaching an agreement on how to do that proved very challenging this year. Ultimately, we agreed on a package of fisheries that places a priority on conservation while allowing for limited fishing opportunities in Puget Sound."

State and tribal fisheries will be greatly reduced this year in Puget Sound as low returns of chinook, chum and coho are expected. The tribes and state have closed all fisheries directed at returning coho, except in a few areas, where sufficient fish are expected back this year.

With this season's fisheries resolved, the co-managers will focus on addressing long-term resource management concerns, such as restoring habitat and boosting salmon stocks.

"Habitat restoration and protection must be at the center of that effort," said Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. "There is a direct connection between salmon habitat and fishing opportunities. We can't expect salmon to thrive while their habitat continues to be lost and damaged."

WDFW and tribal leaders said they appreciated the governor's leadership and participation in the process, and that they remain committed to co-management of the state's shared resources. They believe the state and tribes are most effective when working together to conserve fish, wildlife and their habitat.

Changes to this year's Puget Sound sport salmon fisheries can be found on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, where information on recreational salmon fisheries in ocean waters and the Columbia River also is available.

For information on tribal fisheries, contact the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (http://nwifc.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).



Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reason ... quest.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.


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[Goldrigger1]

Great to see it resolved for this year. However, I fear this is a band aid. I like the phrase, "kick the can down the road". That is all this is.

Big issue is - a growing population which won't stop running into special interest group's concerns. I'm not against special interest groups like the tribes or recreational fisher-persons. I simply feel growing population is unstoppable over time. Concessions will need to be made which take into account the inevitable.

Which group will give in first to the growing population? Does it even matter in the long run? I'll catch my salmon now and enjoy it.

Things change and we all dislike change.