HB 1229 Would Prioritize Recreational Fishing Over Commercial Fishing

[bigtex]

I don't see where it is giving away to the tribes.  The state's 50% is divided up among state fisherman and commercials, I don't see quota going to the tribes because of this.  Given that commercial fishing is mostly done in the salt or the deep rivers, the only state fisherman getting any bump from this are going to be the ones with boats--probably in bays/terminal areas.  The guys fishing the rivers will still be last in line.  I don't even think this would transfer a large percentage of commercial quota to the state fisherman, but maybe I'm wrong.  So, for some cases the seasons/quotas are preferential to the commercial netters.  They get to net before the state guys can fish, but either go over quota which cuts days from state fisherman or WDFW misses a forecast, but the data isn't confirmed until they have commercial numbers--and the state fishing season gets trimmed.  Is Willapa Bay an example of this?  I know there's a lot of issue there, and that's sort of how it is painted.

There is no quota change.

[Skillet]

 It wouldn't be a giveaway to the tribes, if they accurately reported their take. The issue is they will be further incentivized to game the system by not reporting catches because the competition in the commercial market will be removed.  If we trust the tribes to honestly co-manage the fish, there shouldn't be a problem with tribes overharvesting to the sportsmen's detriment.

Willipa bay is a special situation, I think @WSU is really well informed on that.

[Special T]

It wouldn't be a giveaway to the tribes, if they accurately reported their take. The issue is they will be further incentivized to game the system by not reporting catches because the competition in the commercial market will be removed.  If we trust the tribes to honestly co-manage the fish, there shouldn't be a problem with tribes overharvesting to the sportsmen's detriment.

Willipa bay is a special situation, I think @WSU is really well informed on that.

Not only that but it wouldn't surprise me that a big deal would be made out of those that didn't turn results of thier fishing punch cards.

[lokidog]

It wouldn't be a giveaway to the tribes, if they accurately reported their take. The issue is they will be further incentivized to game the system by not reporting catches because the competition in the commercial market will be removed.  If we trust the tribes to honestly co-manage the fish, there shouldn't be a problem with tribes overharvesting to the sportsmen's detriment.

Willipa bay is a special situation, I think @WSU is really well informed on that.

Aren't fish buyers required to report their purchases? If not, maybe changing this, or enforcing it, would be a way for the Indians to be held accountable?

[jackmaster]

At one time washington state was world renowned for salmon and steelhead!!! Sorry but natives and commercial has DEMOLISHED our fisheries, we have lost , I am not sure but I think almost all state ran hatcheries and the natives have taken them, don't know if it's a good thing or s bad thing, what I do know is fishing in Washington for steelys and salmon in the salt and the rivers suck!! And our bottom fishn sucks even worse, if this will help it I am ALL FOR IT!!! Piss on commercial fishing and piss on tribal fishing 

[RB]

I find it funny that a few years back the state had to do a study to prove how much sportsman contribute to the state economy; just imagine if we had some decent salmon runs and could actually have tourism dollars generated by it.

[2labs]

This state should be the Salmon/Stealhead Capitol of the world! It's got everything needed except management!

[yum tag soup]

At one time washington state was world renowned for salmon and steelhead!!! Sorry but natives and commercial has DEMOLISHED our fisheries, we have lost , I am not sure but I think almost all state ran hatcheries and the natives have taken them, don't know if it's a good thing or s bad thing, what I do know is fishing in Washington for steelys and salmon in the salt and the rivers suck!! And our bottom fishn sucks even worse, if this will help it I am ALL FOR IT!!! Piss on commercial fishing and piss on tribal fishing 

 

[2labs]

It wouldn't be a giveaway to the tribes, if they accurately reported their take. The issue is they will be further incentivized to game the system by not reporting catches because the competition in the commercial market will be removed.  If we trust the tribes to honestly co-manage the fish, there shouldn't be a problem with tribes overharvesting to the sportsmen's detriment.

Willipa bay is a special situation, I think @WSU is really well
informed on that.

Aren't fish buyers required to report their purchases? If not, maybe changing this, or enforcing it, would be a way for the Indians to be held accountable?

An accountable Indian?  Good one Loki!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

This state should be the Salmon/Stealhead Capitol of the world! It's got everything needed except management!

   The Steelhead is the state fish after all.............

[BigGoonTuna]

since the tribes have a treaty right(think about somebody trying to get us to give up our 2nd amendment) to fish, it would be better to just let them fill the role of commercial fishermen in this state.  as it is, i don't think there's anyone who makes a decent living that commercially fishes here.  the seasons are too short and there aren't enough fish around.  most do it as a destructive hobby, just look at the grays harbor and willapa bay fishermen.

phasing out non tribal commercial fishing in this state would make things a 2 way split, rather than a 3 way split.

[Whitpirate]

 Make them go to line caught and maybe but the treaty's were put in place for sustenance not market.  I don't agree to further empower the tribes to exploit our shared resource for financial gain to continue to lobby to lower our access and rights.  See the road lockout threads up north etc...money gave them the ability to lobby.

[dreamunelk]

Not a fan of commercial fishing.  Just don't agree with this.  Seams to me it is just a move to insure the sports fisherman catch the last one.

[Tinmaniac]

There is no language in this bill about tribal harvest.This bill is about sportfishing and recognizing the billion dollar industry it is.For those that don't like this bill you must be happy with the current state of sportfishing in Washington.?Given what has happened in the last two years regarding salmon and halibut it should be clear to all that soon there will be no fishing for these fish at all.Our boats will be worthless.I don't know about you guys but I have 60,000 in my boat and I want to use it for many years to come.www.app.leg.wa.gov read the bill and support this bill.!

[jmscon]

My grandfather commercial fished in Washington waters, my uncle paid his way through college by fishing in the sound. I have friends who fish for salmon commercially in the sound, and they make money. That money gets spent on groceries, gas, mortgage payments, etc. The boat owners pay, to the state, business license fees, b&o taxes, fuel taxes, etc. They spend tens of thousands of dollars each year at local businesses for gear, boat repairs, food, etc. And it goes way beyond salmon, the dunginess commercial crab fishery is HUGE in this state.

So do you want to support taking money away from that so that more people MIGHT come from out of state to fish here? Take money out of people's pocket so that you can have an extra day or two halibut fishing?