Action Request: HB1189 - WDFW Commission Under Attack!!

[Chase 1]

Legislation was recently introduced in the Washington State House of Representatives to significantly change the composition of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The bill, HB 1189, was introduced by Representatives Lytton, Morris, Blake and Takko and received a hearing last Wednesday at 8:00AM in Olympia before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. That committee is chaired by Representative Blake. Several CCA representatives testified in opposition of the Legislation recently introduced in the Washington State House of Representatives to significantly change the composition of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. We need you to send comments of opposition and attend the hears to send a strong message that the public does not support the legislation.

While cloaked under the guise of ensuring "balance" on the commission, HB 1189 is yet another attempt by Commercial fishing interests to weaken the independence of the Fish and Wildlife Commission to make important decisions related to the conservation and management of our fish and wildlife resources. It would accomplish this by making Commissioners beholden to a range of interest groups, rather than the best facts and science to arrive at a decision in the interest of the resource and the people of the state. The legislation is being promoted by these commercial interests who oppose recent decisions by the Fish and Wildlife Commission that have put conservation, economics and social equity ahead of their own desires for our fisheries resources

Update
Just a short update, Speakers, One Lobbyist for PSA, Fish First, and NSIA, also three speakers from CCA. The gill netters had at least twice as many speakers as we did and they were allowed to go on and on, and were followed up by a tribal member Coleville I believe. What they seem to want is at least three gillnetters on the commission and they want it expanded to more members. The tribal member concurred I believe and wanted a tribal member on the commission as well. I hope some of you folks decide to write comments of opposition and show up at the next phase of meetings.

So PLEASE take a minute and drop a comment about your opposition to this bill by using the link below and then click Comment on this bill!

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1189&year=2013

I will keep this post updated as new information and action we can take becomes available.
Below is a link to a TVW summary of the hearing. Go to 4:40 and see for yourself.

http://tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013010119

[blackdog]

Why would anyone protect a commission that agreed to 15 breeding pairs of wolves in this State.
 

[lokidog]

Lytton and Morris are both reps in my district -- OPPOSE ANYTHING THESE LOSERS AGREE WITH!!!

[Tman]

Get it back to the dept of fish and game, have commision members voted into office by only those paying for licenses and fees, then maybe it wouldnt just be a bunch of wolf lovers and bunny watchers making decisions for our states wildlife.

[Chase 1]

Why would anyone protect a commission that agreed to 15 breeding pairs of wolves in this State.
 

I understand the question considering the wolf issue was so controversial. And granted, you won't find many on this site that would disagree with your sediments about the wolf plan, myself included. But the management issues in this State go well beyond the wolf issue and the Commission is a critical link between the department staff and the public. Is it perfect?..no. Do they get all their decisions right?..nope. But having somewhat of an  understanding of how the rule making process works, my opinion is that the Commission represents the best forum that sportsman have ever had to get a say in the management of our states resources.   

[Chase 1]

Lytton and Morris are both reps in my district -- OPPOSE ANYTHING THESE LOSERS AGREE WITH!!!

Representative Kristine Lytton has had the commercials punching her buttons for some time to get this bill out and Rep. Brian Blake's family is commercial. This is where this bill really came from. It sounds innocent but has huge teeth.

[CementFinisher]

 But understanding how the rule making process works, my opinion is that the Commission represents the best forum for sportsman to have the most say in the management of our states resources that we have ever had.   



Really?   

[Tman]

commercial fishing should be very limited considering most of our runs arent in that great of shape..

[Chase 1]

But having somewhat of an understanding of how the rule making process works, my opinion is that the Commission represents the best forum that sportsman have ever had to get a say in the management of our states resources.     



Really?   

Have ever had is what I ment to say.

[Chase 1]

Get it back to the dept of fish and game, have commision members voted into office by only those paying for licenses and fees, then maybe it wouldnt just be a bunch of wolf lovers and bunny watchers making decisions for our states wildlife.

I don't disagree with your feeling on this but considering that the chances of that happening in the foreseeable future is slim to none, I think insuring that the system we have is as representative of sportsman's intrests as possible, is imperative. Do you think 3 new Commission seats occupied by commercial fishing industry reps is a better management direction for our resources?

[lokidog]

Here's what I sent to my jerks.  It's amazing how much on the right this bill sounds considering both my reps are way off the other end.   

I am disappointed to see that both of my Representatives have sponsored this bill that will only ensure that an unfair amount of Washington's precious resources are allotted to a minority of special interests that contribute more to the coffers of politicians than the economy or environmental health of our beautiful state!

In the report "Economic Analysis of the Non-Treaty Commercial and Recreational Fisheries in Washington State" put out by WDFW in 2006 (the latest I could easily find), they determined that recreational fishing in WA contributed 12,850 jobs worth a net economic value of $424 million dollars while commercially caught fish only contributed 3,524 jobs worth an estimated $38 million.  Yet the commercial interests receive a larger proportion of the resource than their economic contribution percentages should warrant.  In all, recreational fisheries in WA in 2006 contributed $905 million dollars for fishing related equipment and trip items including travel, food, and lodging.

The commercial fishing industry is well represented in Olympia already and does not need any more help in their destruction of the resource.  Just look at the damage in Puget Sound caused by the commercial dragger fisheries of the 1980's.  Many fish stocks including true cod and rockfish are still trying to recover from that debacle.

The gillnetters, who are so adamantly behind this new bill kill all kinds of fish in their nets that are not target species, as well as multitudes of birds and other animals.  Recreational fisherman often have to release short, long, or wild, non-hatchery fish, can these same fish be released from the gill nets after hanging lifelessly in them for hours?

[NWPanhandler]

I spend most of my time on fishing issues, and was involved in 2009 and 2010 when the SAME people tried to take out the F & W Commission.  I am a member of the Coastal Conservation Association.  At the hearing on HB 1189 one of the leaders of the HHC testified for this bill along with the commercials and a tribal member.  This whole deal stinks of same old tactics, divide and conquer the sporties, hunters and fishermen.  Some hunt and fish, I fish and hunt.  The HHC is the umbrella organization for the hunting orgs in Wa State.  Last time around the lobbyist for the HHC was the same as the commercials and he was a voting member of HHC board if I remember right.  Its time that the hunting groups do the same thing we are trying to do and that is organize our fishermen.  Right now CCA and the PSA both have lobbyists working full time in Olympia.  Scott Sigmond works 12 month of the year for CCA.  We have all spent time attempting to show the truth to our legislators and the F & W Commission and have not lied to them.  The same can not be said for the commercial fishing side.  Its time to get organized as hunters, attend the Olympia meeting that affect your issues and with the truth and respect for the folks that work many hours for all of us with very little compensation.  After playing this game seriously now for five years, I have little faith in the HHC.  And to put this in proper perspective I am personally no more happy with the Wolfes than you are and also would like to see cougars hunted with hounds again.

[bigtex]

Get it back to the dept of fish and game, have commision members voted into office by only those paying for licenses and fees, then maybe it wouldnt just be a bunch of wolf lovers and bunny watchers making decisions for our states wildlife.

It never was the dept of fish and game!

There was a Dept of Fisheries

There was a seperate Dept of Game, which then turned into the Dept of Wildlife

In 1994 the Dept of Fisheries and the Dept of Wildlife merged to become the Dept of Fish and Wildlife...

[lokidog]

Get it back to the dept of fish and game, have commision members voted into office by only those paying for licenses and fees, then maybe it wouldnt just be a bunch of wolf lovers and bunny watchers making decisions for our states wildlife.

It never was the dept of fish and game!

There was a Dept of Fisheries

There was a seperate Dept of Game, which then turned into the Dept of Wildlife

In 1994 the Dept of Fisheries and the Dept of Wildlife merged to become the Dept of Fish and Wildlife...

BigTex, once again, you argue semantics and not substance.  I just don't get your agenda.

[blackdog]

Who in Blake's family is commercial? That's not right!