Here are some links that will provide more background information on the Puget Sound issues.
The Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Oversight Committee meets quarterly to assist the WDFW in the programs authorized under the RCW 77.105. We're trying to get as much as we can out of the funding available. Meetings are announced and the public is welcome to attend. If we get 3 - 5 attendees, we're doing well but we'd like more folks to show up. Meeting locations change and seating can be an issue, but we can adapt as necessary. Meetings are often at a WDFW facility and usually run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We are moving away from yearling production as the results have not been good over the past few years, plus it was becoming harder to be assured of good, clean, cold water needed to raise the fish not to mention health checks and feed costs.
Production and releases of zero age fish can be increased considerably with the same dollars that were needed to produce yearlings. Some of the zeros will residualize like the yearlings. Many will go to sea. When they come back, they are a "bonus", if you will, to the standard hatchery release numbers we've seen in the past few years.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hatcheries/pshaac/Commission policy on hatcheries
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/policies/c3619.htmlBrood document - check your favorite rivers
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hatcheries/future_brood.htmlPuget Sound Chinook
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=00854**************
Here's a letter sent to the Commissioners and Director last October as it related to one of the issues we were working on in preparation for the 2012 legislative session and the agency budget issues as they related to the PSRFE program.
To: WDFW Commissioners
Director Anderson
FROM: Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Oversight Committee (David Croonquist, Rich Eltrich, Don Freeman, David Knutzen, Mike Gilchrist, Clint Muns, Pete Naylor, David Puki, Matt Parnel, Norm Reinhardt)
The Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement (PSRFE) Oversight Committee (OC) would like to express our appreciation to Jim Scott, Ron Warren and agency staff. In late October the department presented a proposal to increase overall hatchery Chinook production funded under the PSRFE budget. This increase in production of stocks that contribute strongly to the sport fishery would have come at the cost of closing Lakewood Hatchery Complex. While an increase in production was favorable, the OC was specifically concerned with the closing of Garrison Springs Hatchery within the Lakewood Complex. Of the facilities funded under the PSRFE program Garrison Springs has one of the highest Chinook survival rates, produces fish in the sport catch at the lowest cost per fish rate and is a general mainstay of the sport catch throughout Puget Sound. This was addressed in a November 1st letter to Jim Scott from the OC with cc copies sent to your offices.
Jim Scott worked with the committee and addressed our concerns. The outcome was a beneficial package to the recreational community that kept Garrison Springs production solvent, addressed independent citizen concerns on returning fish passage within the watershed, and resulted in an overall increase in Puget Sound Chinook production. Utilizing the funds that are provided to the department from the sport community to the greatest recreational benefit is the direction the department needs to continue.
This is a positive example of the volunteer advisory process being utilized within the agency. It is great to have our needs, opinions, and recommendations fully evaluated but more importantly it was rewarding to know our recreational dollars will be spent in a manner consistent with the intent of the PSRFE legislation.
The OC looks forward to working with the department in the coming month on the establishment of legislatively required goals for the PSRFE program. Hopefully this process can continue in the same light as the positive outcome of our latest collaboration.
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