Anyone see this crap? PS salmon season this year.

[lokidog]

April 15, 2016
Contact: Ron Warren, (360) 902-2799

Salmon seasons set for ocean, CR;
tate, tribes unable to reach agreement on Puget Sound

OLYMPIA – Anglers will have opportunities to fish for salmon in the ocean and Columbia River this year, although recreational and non-tribal commercial salmon fisheries in Puget Sound may be closed through much of the season.

After lengthy negotiations, state and tribal fishery managers could not reach an agreement on salmon-fishing seasons in Puget Sound. An agreement must be reached in the next few weeks or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty tribes in western Washington will each need to secure separate federal permits required to hold fisheries in Puget Sound waters where there are protected fish stocks.

That decision was made yesterday at the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s meeting in Vancouver, Wash. Salmon fishing seasons for Washington’s ocean waters and the Columbia River were adopted during the federal panel’s meeting. A summary of those fisheries is available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/attach/apr1516a.pdf

Jim Unsworth, WDFW director, said potentially forgoing salmon seasons in Puget Sound isn’t a decision the department took lightly.

“We realize that closing salmon fishing in Puget Sound for the foreseeable future is not only disappointing but is detrimental to many communities across the region,” he said. “As we work to secure the necessary federal permit, we hope to continue discussions with the tribes. I believe co-management can work, and we will do our part to improve the process of setting salmon seasons in Washington.”

This is the first time the state and tribes have not reached an agreement on salmon fishing seasons while working as co-managers, which began about 30 years ago. In previous years, the co-managers have been authorized to fish for salmon under a joint federal permit.

Ron Warren, head of WDFW’s Fish Program, said the department will begin working with NOAA Fisheries to secure a federal permit for salmon fisheries in Puget Sound. However, it is uncertain the department will receive federal authorization in time to hold salmon fisheries this summer, he said.

“We knew setting salmon-fishing seasons would be challenging this year due to the poor forecast for coho,” Warren said. “Our staff worked really hard to put forward a set of proposed fisheries that met agreed-to conservation goals. Unfortunately, we were not able to reach an agreement.”

About 256,000 coho are expected to return to Puget Sound in 2016. That’s about one-third the size of run predicted in 2015.

During the salmon season-setting process, state fishery managers consulted with numerous members of the department’s Puget Sound sportfishing advisory groups, who supported the department’s decision.

Puget Sound marine and fresh water areas that currently are open to salmon fishing – including marine areas 5, 11, 12 and 13 – will close to fishing May 1, if not scheduled to close earlier in the 2015-2016 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

[RB]

Yes and the King quota off the coast is not very much, so it will go quick!

[lokidog]

Bet there won't be any shortage of nets across the rivers though, on the coast and in the Sound.   

[pd]

Ed, I think the key point is about permitting from the federal government.  Because the state and the tribes didn't agree on a plan for this year, now they have to have separate applications to the federal government for fishing in areas where there are endangered stocks.  The Seattle Times article today said the tribes should be able to get their permits easily, but the state seems like it will take a long time to get their permit.  Oh well, the summer season might be toast this year.

[fishngamereaper]

This is just the beginning. If you think this is a one year thing your head has been in the sand. This should be as concerning as killing elk on the wintering grounds. If the tribes get their permits for the rivers and agree not to fish in the salt, the rec guys will not get to fish in the salt. This way the rivers will be loaded with fish and the tribes get what they want, more fish. This is not about saving the salmon, its a greedy, sneaky move by the tribes to make more money.

This has been in the works for months, if not years. Get ready for a fight if you or you kids ever want to fish Puget sound salmon again. If not just hit the ignore button and carry on.

[Tbar]

This is just the beginning. If you think this is a one year thing your head has been in the sand. This should be as concerning as killing elk on the wintering grounds. If the tribes get their permits for the rivers and agree not to fish in the salt, the rec guys will not get to fish in the salt. This way the rivers will be loaded with fish and the tribes get what they want, more fish. This is not about saving the salmon, its a greedy, sneaky move by the tribes to make more money.

This has been in the works for months, if not years. Get ready for a fight if you or you kids ever want to fish Puget sound salmon again. If not just hit the ignore button and carry on.

So it has nothing to do with science or predicted returns?

[fishngamereaper]

If it was about science they would not allow nets across the rivers. Predicted returns are guesstamets, nothing more. They predicted a stellar coho return last year, and nothing. If the tribes where truly concerned about saving the salmon they would pull all nets and volunteer a willingness not to fish inside the boni-tatt line.  Instead they say no rec fishing inside, and claim they may not fish the salt, but say they will net the rivers..complete bs.

[Bullkllr]

So, I appreciate Unsworth and the WDFW team taking a stand and not signing an agreement that would basically hose sportfishers worse than ever.

I'm not exactly sure how this process works after the NOF process breaks down.

If an agreement can't be reached then both parties petition NOAA directly with their proposals.

But now, the tribes get to have theirs fast-tracked and the WDFW proposal will take months to be reviewed (possible resulting in no season anyway?)

Can anyone shed further light on this?

What a ridiculous situation...

[NorseNW]

So for 30 years they have been co-managers of a joint federal permit but this year they can't get along.  Instead of wasting a bunch of paperwork and tax payer money filing for a new permit how about the Feds just step in like an arbitrator in a contract negotiation and hose both sides equally?  Maybe next year they will get along better.

The downstream affect (pardon the pun) is just sad.

[Skillet]

This almost happened last year, but Unsworth caved to Muckleshoot demands at the last minute  and closed area 10 to salmon fishing.  He caught a lot of flack from that then, probably decided he wasn't going to cave again.  I'm glad someone is standing up to the tribes, but now it's on Unsworth to figure out a way to get our federal permit pushed through.

I think this is the new normal, unfortunately.

[singleshot12]

Gotta love fish politics This has been going on for years. The cards are now on the table. My bet is the tribes get their long term goal of complete control over the fisheries for commecial purpose. Sad day but until the tribes become like everyone else this grim forcast is only inevitable. Only in a perfect world without gillnets and greed will we ALL ever have salmon again.

[plugger]

Well at least there not blaming it on walleye . The sad thing is when one fishery gets shut down, another fishery gets beat to death. Then it closes, then another, and another.

[JimmyHoffa]

Well at least there not blaming it on walleye . The sad thing is when one fishery gets shut down, another fishery gets beat to death. Then it closes, then another, and another.

Yeah, I'm trying to think what will be the consequences.  I'd guess a really busy and short ocean season...before an emergency shutdown.  Halibut and lings are already short.  Maybe rockfish?  I'd expect tuna to get hit really hard.  Could cram a few more folks on the Cowlitz...I think there's a little room left.  More crabbing?

[Stalker]

Washington should have shut salmon fishing down across the board when California and Oregon did if they were truly interested in the resource more then the revenue.   

Didn't WDFW officials make the statement of who gives a s@#t about elk and deer and the sport fishing was where they would get the bulk of their funding? Guess that isn't going to work out so well.  Looks like running over to middle bank more often...........   

[fish vacuum]

I think it's the perfect year for this to happen. The runs are predicted to be in the toilet, so if sporties don't get a season, at least it will be during one if the worst returns on record.

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