Statement from WDFW Director Jim Unsworth on Puget Sound fisheries

[pianoman9701]

They absolutely fund several hatcheries around the state. Not sure where you're getting your info, but it's incorrect.

Hydropower mitigation hatcheries - funded almost entirely by BPA.  Tribes are involved and paid to operate many hatcheries - but its not their money.

Again, not true. The Quinault Indians fund a coho hatchery on the QU River. That's just one.

[HntnFsh]

I think it's time to pull the trump card and end all this tribal hunting/fishing rights BS.

 It's time all the tribes across the country assimilate and start living within the same rules/ guidelines as the rest of the Americans.

Really? Who do you suppose is responsible for the hatchery and mitigation programs that kept salmon in the rivers after hydropower?  It wasn't the philanthropy of big business or the state.  It was the tribes.

ehhh...I would argue that was done almost entirely by ratepayer and taxpayer funded federal agencies...to the tune of several billion dollars.  Tribes do not fund those efforts - not that I'm arguing they should be footing the bill for activities they opposed which harmed their treaty trust resources.

Right- I should have been more clear.  My point is that tribes are the reason there are any hatcheries.  They are the reason there was mitigation for the hydropower that wiped out the salmon populations; it wasn't the rate payers or feds being generous, the tribes made that happen.

In some instances.

[magnanimous_j]

Imagine if they shut it down to everyone including tribes for just 2 years
comments ?

I predict that within our lifetimes, there will be "rest years" where all fishing is suspended to reduce pressure on the runs.

As for this, I think sportsmen and the tribes have been tricked into bickering over the scraps. The oceans are getting depleted at a truly alarming rate. It may be time to stop commercial fishing altogether.

You want seafood? Go get it yourself or buy farmed. There is a reason that you can't buy wild venison at Safeway.

[idahohuntr]

They absolutely fund several hatcheries around the state. Not sure where you're getting your info, but it's incorrect.

Hydropower mitigation hatcheries - funded almost entirely by BPA.  Tribes are involved and paid to operate many hatcheries - but its not their money.

Again, not true. The Quinault Indians fund a coho hatchery on the QU River. That's just one.

Follow the money - the funding for the vast majority of all hatcheries in the pacific northwest comes from ratepayers and taxpayers.  Very, very, very little money comes from revenue generated by tribes.  Your example above - notice their website "The hatcheries program pursues grants and outside funding to support its work" "Funds have also been received to improve tribal hatcheries including constructing a salmon return channel... Additional grants funded a formalin delivery egg treatment system..."

They then list both the Pacific Salmon Commission and Salmon Recovery Funding Board as Partners...that's because that's where the money comes from...largely federal programs and dollars. 

This is true for nearly every hatchery in the Northwest - may have tribal involvement - but the money to fund those are not coming from any tribal revenue. 

[huntnphool]

They absolutely fund several hatcheries around the state. Not sure where you're getting your info, but it's incorrect.

Hydropower mitigation hatcheries - funded almost entirely by BPA.  Tribes are involved and paid to operate many hatcheries - but its not their money.

Again, not true. The Quinault Indians fund a coho hatchery on the QU River. That's just one.

Follow the money - the funding for the vast majority of all hatcheries in the pacific northwest comes from ratepayers and taxpayers.  Very, very, very little money comes from revenue generated by tribes.  Your example above - notice their website "The hatcheries program pursues grants and outside funding to support its work" "Funds have also been received to improve tribal hatcheries including constructing a salmon return channel... Additional grants funded a formalin delivery egg treatment system..."

They then list both the Pacific Salmon Commission and Salmon Recovery Funding Board as Partners...that's because that's where the money comes from...largely federal programs and dollars. 

This is true for nearly every hatchery in the Northwest - may have tribal involvement - but the money to fund those are not coming from any tribal revenue.

 +1

[bearpaw]

Imagine if they shut it down to everyone including tribes for just 2 years
comments ?

I predict that within our lifetimes, there will be "rest years" where all fishing is suspended to reduce pressure on the runs.

As for this, I think sportsmen and the tribes have been tricked into bickering over the scraps. The oceans are getting depleted at a truly alarming rate. It may be time to stop commercial fishing altogether.

You want seafood? Go get it yourself or buy farmed. There is a reason that you can't buy wild venison at Safeway.

It's much more complicated than that. Part of the problem are enviros closing hatcheries while at the same time wanting to save runs. They are essentially reducing opportunity for all fishers. Fish farming sounds like an answer for the commercial market but it has it's own problems too. I think the answer is to let all fishers have equal opportunity every year so that nobody gets totally cheated out of opportunity. We were having record runs in recent years, now the enviros are trying to close hatcheries.

[pianoman9701]

They absolutely fund several hatcheries around the state. Not sure where you're getting your info, but it's incorrect.

Hydropower mitigation hatcheries - funded almost entirely by BPA.  Tribes are involved and paid to operate many hatcheries - but its not their money.

Again, not true. The Quinault Indians fund a coho hatchery on the QU River. That's just one.

Follow the money - the funding for the vast majority of all hatcheries in the pacific northwest comes from ratepayers and taxpayers.  Very, very, very little money comes from revenue generated by tribes.  Your example above - notice their website "The hatcheries program pursues grants and outside funding to support its work" "Funds have also been received to improve tribal hatcheries including constructing a salmon return channel... Additional grants funded a formalin delivery egg treatment system..."

They then list both the Pacific Salmon Commission and Salmon Recovery Funding Board as Partners...that's because that's where the money comes from...largely federal programs and dollars. 

This is true for nearly every hatchery in the Northwest - may have tribal involvement - but the money to fund those are not coming from any tribal revenue.

You said none. You were wrong. Just once acknowledge an error you've made. Just once.

[idahohuntr]

They absolutely fund several hatcheries around the state. Not sure where you're getting your info, but it's incorrect.

Hydropower mitigation hatcheries - funded almost entirely by BPA.  Tribes are involved and paid to operate many hatcheries - but its not their money.

Again, not true. The Quinault Indians fund a coho hatchery on the QU River. That's just one.

Follow the money - the funding for the vast majority of all hatcheries in the pacific northwest comes from ratepayers and taxpayers.  Very, very, very little money comes from revenue generated by tribes.  Your example above - notice their website "The hatcheries program pursues grants and outside funding to support its work" "Funds have also been received to improve tribal hatcheries including constructing a salmon return channel... Additional grants funded a formalin delivery egg treatment system..."

They then list both the Pacific Salmon Commission and Salmon Recovery Funding Board as Partners...that's because that's where the money comes from...largely federal programs and dollars. 

This is true for nearly every hatchery in the Northwest - may have tribal involvement - but the money to fund those are not coming from any tribal revenue.

You said none. You were wrong. Just once acknowledge an error you've made. Just once.

I'd love to agree with you...but there's no sense in both of us being wrong!

 

[huntnphool]

 This whole thing could have/should have been dealt with a few years ago when the tribes were fighting casino taxes.

[singleshot12]

Funny how this PS closure happened soon after 90% of us already bought our saltwater licences,wonder if we'll get a refund? .. They better come up with something by 2017 or suffer a major revenue loss. They'll most likely increase our freshwater license though.

Tribes are only human too and want the salmon for themselves. What they do is out of spite mainly. Too bad becuase if we worked together we could create enough salmon for everyone plus some. Another reason they don't want to work with WDFW is becuase like us they don't trust them

[Gringo31]

I'm going to say something I've been thinking.


I've been wondering if there more of a battle between WDFW and the tribes than we think.  I look at the Colockum and can't figure out why they are allowing such harvest rates.  Over 500 elk harvested last year and looking to repeat this year.  Then I had this idea...

What if this battle was getting ugly so WDFW is allowing a major reduction in the elk herd, to make things more difficult on the tribes?  Kind of a "work with us or we'll make it harder on you" stance.  Makes me wonder if it is related to the fishing side as well or if I'm just talking crazy talk.....

[pianoman9701]

It's you, Gringo, so of course it's crazy talk!  But I do believe there's more to this story we're not hearing.

[Gringo31]

 

Just can't help but wonder what bargaining chips one holds.  We work together or what?

[huntnphool]

Just can't help but wonder what bargaining chips one holds.  We work together or what?

We have the ability to force them to negotiate, just not the balls to do it!

[trophyhunt]

Just can't help but wonder what bargaining chips one holds.  We work together or what?

We have the ability to force them to negotiate, just not the balls to do it!

Bingo!!!!!! If I had Bill Gates money, I'd hire a butt load of lawyers and the fight would be on.