Make your self heard

[Bodofish]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
February 16, 2018
Contact: Kyle Adicks, 360-902-2664
Public can participate in 2018 salmon season-setting process, rule simplification
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have scheduled a variety of opportunities for the public to participate in setting salmon fishing seasons for 2018, beginning at the annual salmon forecast meeting Feb. 27.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will present initial forecasts compiled by state and tribal biologists of the 2018 salmon returns at the meeting scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. S.E., Olympia.
That meeting is one of more than 20 scheduled at various locations around the state as part of each year's salmon negotiations. A list of the meetings scheduled in 2018 can be found online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/
State fishery managers will be relying on input from anglers, commercial fishers and others interested in salmon as they work to develop this year's fisheries, said Ron Warren, head of WDFW's fish program.
Additionally, fishery managers plan to discuss with the public ways to simplify salmon-fishing regulations, said Warren. Over the last two years, WDFW has been working to simplify regulations after hearing from the public that the state's fishing rules are too complex.
"It's really important for us to hear what the public has to say about salmon fisheries," Warren said. "I encourage people to get involved and share their ideas on fishing opportunities and ways we can simplify the rules for anglers."
In addition to attending meetings, other ways the public can participate include:
• Online comments: The public can provide comments on fisheries and rule simplification through an online commenting tool as salmon seasons are developed. The online tool will be available in the coming weeks on WDFW's website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/
• Plenary session: This year, the co-managers have agreed to invite the public to an informal discussion, which is tentatively scheduled to follow a state-tribal negotiating session in early April. Meeting information will be posted on the website listed above.
• Conference calls and daily briefings: During the final days of negotiations, state fish managers will hold multiple briefings each day with the public as well as conference calls with constituents who can't attend.
State salmon managers scheduled these opportunities under guidance from the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor that sets policy for WDFW. Commissioners have instructed WDFW staff to continue to work with their tribal co-managers to make the season-setting process as transparent as possible.
The annual process of setting salmon fishing seasons is called "North of Falcon" and is held in conjunction with public meetings conducted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). The council is responsible for establishing fishing seasons in ocean water three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast.
The PFMC is expected to adopt final ocean fishing seasons and harvest levels at its April 6-11 meeting in Portland, Ore. The 2018 salmon fisheries package for Washington's inside waters is expected to be completed by the state and tribal co-managers during the PFMC's April meeting.
Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reason ... quest.html.
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[dj2loud]

Smoke and mirrors at its FINEST....... Meetings with the tribes have already begun, these are just so you joe blow will think his/her commenting will have some effect on the negotiations... What's really happening is nothing, the wdfw wants you to think they are being transparent but in reality you are nothing more than a $$$$

It's time to seriously take your pants down, insert your head into your ass and smell the bullshit they are spewing......
THE TRIBES HAVE THE $$$$$$$ TO PUSH YOU, ME AND THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND NOTHING MORE..... FISH WARS 2018?

[Blunatic]

Does anyone know the actual outcome from the meeting?
I haven't been around for a while so I've been out of the loop
I just heard rumor that they were projecting real low returns and there would be "Limited fishing opportunities" ...Whatever that means?

[dj2loud]

The 18 season will look like the 2016 season with the exception of it being delayed, so expect a few other area to be either closed to most retention or with a limited opening... Hopefully this year sockeye on the skagit will be open or at least better river conditions to access fishing spots.... Last year the river was just about blown out the entire run timeframe......