NEWS
RELEASE
Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Treaty
Tribes in Western Washington
May
26, 2016
Contacts:
Ron Warren, WDFW, (360) 902-2799;
Tony
Meyer, Treaty Tribes, (360) 528-4325
Salmon
co-managers agree on Puget Sound fisheries,
will
work to improve season-setting process
OLYMPIA
– State and tribal fishery managers today agreed to Puget Sound salmon-fishing
seasons for 2016, ending several weeks of extended negotiations.
Officials
with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Gov. Jay Inslee’s
office, and treaty tribes also agreed to work together to improve the process
of setting salmon-fishing seasons, known as “North of Falcon.” The co-managers
did not reach agreement during the annual season-setting process, which
concluded in mid-April.
Anticipated
low numbers of salmon – especially coho – returning to Puget Sound made this
year’s negotiations challenging.
“Our
first priority is to develop fisheries that are consistent with efforts to
protect and rebuild wild salmon stocks,” said Jim Unsworth, director of WDFW.
“Reaching an agreement on how to do that proved very challenging this year.
Ultimately, we agreed on a package of fisheries that places a priority on
conservation while allowing for limited fishing opportunities in Puget Sound.”
State
and tribal fisheries will be greatly reduced this year in Puget Sound as low
returns of chinook, chum and coho are expected. The tribes and state have
closed all fisheries directed at returning coho, except in a few areas, where
sufficient fish are expected back this year.
With
this season’s fisheries resolved, the co-managers will focus on addressing
long-term resource management concerns, such as restoring habitat and boosting
salmon stocks.
“Habitat restoration and protection must be at the center of that
effort,” said Lorraine
Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. “There is a direct connection between salmon habitat and
fishing opportunities. We can’t expect salmon to thrive while their habitat
continues to be lost and damaged.”
WDFW and tribal leaders said they appreciated the governor’s
leadership and participation in the process, and that they remain committed to
co-management of the state’s shared resources. They believe the state and tribes
are most effective when working together to conserve fish, wildlife and their
habitat.
Changes
to this year’s Puget Sound sport salmon fisheries can be found on WDFW’s
website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/, where information
on recreational salmon fisheries in ocean waters and the Columbia River also is
available.
For
information on tribal fisheries, contact the Northwest Indian Fisheries
Commission (http://nwifc.org/).
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/reasonable_request.html.
