Anyone see this crap? PS salmon season this year.

[Special T]

The sue the state because they can recover money from them via fees and "studies."  The Tribes won't pay and they have no means to force them.  This is a cash game.

This is definitely the case. If you even give the actions of other organizations a quick study you will find that most ESA realted issues revolve around some "Conservation" group suing the state and bilking you and me for some kind of action but more importantly a BUNCH of funds to reimburse the group.

Salmon, wolves, Spotted owl.... just a tool for control and $

[JimmyHoffa]

must be contagious, I heard a rumor that all the coastal rivers will be shut down to all fishing Sep, Oct, Nov.  Didn't see anything on WDFW website. 

[elkfins]

The sue the state because they can recover money from them via fees and "studies."  The Tribes won't pay and they have no means to force them.  This is a cash game.

From a legal standpoint, state law and the state courts have ZERO jurisdiction over the tribes.  It would take a lawsuit in federal court to change tribal practices and once it comes to that, you're looking at years and years of appeals, money, etc.  With their casino's, the tribes have an endless supply of money to pay attorneys.
What really needs to happen is the federal government needs to step in and enforce the existing laws - 50/50 split of the impacts on the resource.  Enforcement and penalties from the feds would be pretty much the only way to force the tribes to comply. 
WDFW every year is required to submit a report that outlines how their seasons impact ESA listed runs and to make sure that they stay below those impacts.  The tribes, while they are also required to submit this report, never do... or they claim thier fisheries have 0 impact.  We all know their gill nets far exceed the impact restrictions on these listed runs.  They know this too... the science is pretty clear.  Yet, they refuse to comply and nothing is done about it from a federal level.

Pretty disgusting if you ask me.  Personally, I like the idea of WDFW securing their own federal fisheries permit even if it means no salmon fishing in PS this summer.  The NOF process needs to change.

[Dhoey07]

Anybody want to bet that a Puget Sound Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement comes out of this?

[Special T]

Perhaps a big hit to the wdfw's pocket book will instigate the shakeup necessary for them to a customer focused agency.

[WSU]

Perhaps a big hit to the wdfw's pocket book will instigate the shakeup necessary for them to a customer focused agency.

This was done exactly because WDFW was trying to look out for sportfishers.  The tribes apparently said no fishing for sportsmen (including saying sport fishing is a waste of the resource and we shouldn't "play with our food") and indicated they would fish while we don't.  WDFW, to their credit, told them to shove it and that WDFW wasn't going to agree to no sportfishing. 

[Special T]

Fair enough. Many here think the wdfw should have gone to the matt with the tribes a long time ago.

To me it appears that the tribe has over played its hand and will force a confrontation. I may not be looking at this quite right but if the tribes said no sportfishing and they close the whole season down in the short term the tribes get what they want. My point is that the wdfw seems to prefer fish lic $ so perhaps a big hit will add some urgency to the issue to properly resolve esa related issues.

Ive always though that salmon had to crash in order to bring tribes to the table. Perhaps there will be some venue for it now.

[WSU]

The tribes have to get their ESA permit still too. There is no guarantee they will in time to fish and no guarantee WDFW won't. Both side could be left with no season or both could fish. From what I understand, the only fishery that is almost sure to not happen is the tribal spring chinook fisheries in your neck of the woods.

[Special T]

I would love for the season to be closed for both parties. Might get us some where and some leverage.  I HATE the fact that tribes have been able to exert control over ground water due to salmon yet deny that netting can have any influence ofer runs of Esa protected species.

[WSU]

If NOAA doesn't want to deal with this every year (meaning both parties seeking their own permits and further litigation), they will probably drag their feet long enough that nobody fishes.

[krout81]

I see many news stories about hay bails, and confrontations on river road in our future

[Special T]

I see many news stories about hay bails, and confrontations on river road in our future

The state just got done doing s fish passage on hwy 9 just south of Big lake and did one on Lake Cavanaugh rd 15 years ago for the salmon... nevermind the 20' waterfall on Nooachap creek by Big Rock HWY9. No salmon or anyother fish can make it there from the skagit no matter how much flood water there is!

[krout81]

River road in puyallup

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Special T]

Ok that happens up here also

[JimmyHoffa]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/attach/apr1516a.pdf
Link has info for coast/coastal rivers. (in case you were bummed about no PS season and were thinking about trying some new spots)