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Thursday, May 26, 2016

Salmon co-managers agree on Puget Sound fisheries, will work to improve season-setting process

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.

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Salmon seasons set for Puget Sound; area waters expected to re-open to fishing soon

NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
May 26, 2016
Contacts: John Long, (360) 902-2733;
Laurie Peterson, (360) 902-2790

Salmon seasons set for Puget Sound;
area waters expected to re-open to fishing soon

OLYMPIA – State and tribal leaders today reached an agreement on Puget Sound fisheries that is expected to pave the way toward opening summer salmon seasons and waters recently closed to recreational fishing.

The co-managers agreed on this year’s Puget Sound salmon seasons after several weeks of extended negotiations. Anticipated low numbers of salmon – especially coho – returning to Puget Sound made this year’s negotiations challenging.

Agreement on fishing seasons is a key step in obtaining a joint federal permit required to conduct fisheries in Puget Sound waters, where some fish stocks are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed many Puget Sound-area waters to fishing on May 1, after the previous federal authorization to conduct fisheries expired.

“We plan to re-open those waters as soon as we have federal approval,” said John Long, salmon fisheries policy lead for WDFW. “We anticipate getting the new permit within a few weeks.”

More information on the fisheries that closed May 1 is available on the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/pugetsound_salmon_update/.

In the meantime, anglers can begin making plans to fish for salmon this summer in Puget Sound-area waters, where most of those fisheries will target hatchery chinook. Salmon fisheries throughout the Puget Sound area will be constrained to protect coho salmon and other weak salmon stocks, Long said. 

“Conservation is key in developing these fisheries, especially in a year with such low returns expected back to the Sound,” Long said. “We worked hard to meet those conservation needs and provide fisheries that are meaningful for both state and tribal fishers.”

Changes in Puget Sound salmon fisheries since last summer can be found on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/, where information on Washington’s salmon fisheries in ocean waters and the Columbia River also is available. Some of those changes include:

  • Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) will be open from July 16 to Aug. 15, or when the quota of 1,395 fish is met. The area was closed last summer to chinook retention. Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will be open on the same dates as Marine Area 10, but also could close sooner if the quota of 3,056 fish is met.

  • There will be no coho fisheries in marine areas of Puget Sound, with the exception of Hood Canal, where sufficient coho are forecast to return.

  • WDFW is closing some rivers and marine areas to all salmon fishing during September and October, the peak months for coho salmon to return to Puget Sound. Rivers slated for closures include the Skagit, Stillaguamish and Nisqually. Lakes Washington and Sammamish also will be closed to fishing during those months.

  • The lower mainstem of the Skokomish River will be closed to non-tribal fishing this year due to a claim by the tribe that the river is part of the Skokomish Reservation and public access is prohibited. WDFW is working to evaluate this claim. The closed area includes the section of river from the Tacoma Public Utilities power lines (near the mouth of the river) upstream to the Bonneville Power Administration power lines (upstream and west of Highway 101). The department advises anglers to observe this closure of the state’s fishery that will be monitored by WDFW police.

More details on salmon seasons in Puget Sound and other areas of Washington will be available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/ later this month.

For information on tribal fisheries, contact the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (http://nwifc.org/).


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Thursday, May 19, 2016

Wear Your Lifejacket to Work Day (May 20) and Wear It World Record Day (May 21)

Join us in celebrating Wear Your Lifejacket to Work day on Friday, May 20!

Then, on Sat. May 21, help Washington State Parks break the record for number of lifejackets worn by hosting a Wear It event! For more information and to register, click here

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Friday, May 13, 2016

2016 Q1 Boat Sales Data Now Available

2016 Q1 Boat Sales Data is now available at nmta.net. 

Head to nmta.net and go to:
Member Services > Members Only > Boat Sales Data

http://www.nmta.net/member-services/membersonly/boat-sales-data.asp

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Monday, May 02, 2016

Take Action Now to Save Puget Sound Salmon Fishing

RecFishingCommunityHeader
Dear NMTA Member,
For the first time in thirty-two years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and tribal fishery managers failed to reach an agreement on this year's salmon fishing seasons in Puget Sound. Without federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) approval of a joint state-tribal fishery agreement or separate approval of a stand-alone Puget Sound sport fishery plan, there will be a complete closure of all Puget Sound salmon fishing.
We can't let this happen to a Puget Sound sport fishery that generates over 500,000 angler trips and $100 million in economic value. We must work to restore transparency, fairness, and common sense to our cooperative management practices at the North of Falcon salmon season-setting process. Please click the "Click Here to Take Action" button below to urge your Washington state Congressional delegation, Governor and officials at NOAA Fisheries to take immediate action!
We commend WDFW Director Jim Unsworth and his staff for their extraordinary effort negotiating in good faith, with conservation as their first priority. Despite the serious challenges this year posed by reduced Coho and Chinook abundance, WDFW developed a plan that fell within conservation guidelines, met ESA requirements, and provided meaningful recreational fishing opportunity via Mark-Selective Fishing.
WDFW and treaty tribes met on April 27 and were once again unable to reach a responsible and equitable fishery agreement. Without this agreement, each side must independently request authorization from NOAA for their desired fisheries.
This latest crisis facing our fisheries comes on top of the failure of NOAA Fisheries to provide needed ESA permits to over a hundred salmon and steelhead hatcheries as well as the necessary reviews for the Mitchell Act program that funds one-third of all Columbia River hatchery salmon production. This puts our fisheries at extreme risk of closure due to litigation from anti-hatchery organizations!
The Recreational Fishing Community (anglers and businesses) consisting of the Coastal Conservation Association, Charter Boat Association of Puget Sound, Everett Steelhead & Salmon Club, Fish Northwest, Northwest Marine Trade Association, Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association, Outdoor Line, and Puget Sound Anglers stand together firmly on the need for NOAA Fisheries to take immediate action to approve WDFW's conservation-focused salmon fishing proposal for Puget Sound. Please contact your elected officials and NOAA Fisheries on behalf of conservation, fairness, and a Puget Sound salmon sport fishing season!
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Washington Paddlesports: A Path to the Future - May 5



Washington Paddlesports: A Path to the Future
5:00 - 9:00pm, Thursday, May 5


5:00 - 7:00pm - Meet representatives from WWTA, state agencies, and more! Or, shop at the REI store with a 20% off coupon offered upon completion of the State Parks Paddling Survey

7:00-8:00 p.m. - Presentations from:

1.       Kick off speaker - Tom Vogl, CEO of the Mountaineers
2.       Jon Snyder – Governor’s Director of Outdoor Initiatives (10 mins)
3.       Sky to Sound Water Trail presentation – Snohomish County, Annique Bennett (12 mins)  
4.       State Parks Water Access slideshow of paddlesport pictures from 67 state parks (12 mins)
5.       Washington State Parks and Paddlesports Committee (10 mins)


8:00-9:00 p.m. - Continue to shop at REI, talk with state agencies. 

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