#1063785 - 04/30/24 08:12 PM
WDFW Director Bulletin
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4434
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope
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March/April 2024
Habitat loss. Climate change. Invasive species. As the director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), I certainly don’t see a shortage of threats that impact fish and wildlife resources and our ability to conserve them.
A cross-cutting issue that will affect our ability to be successful across these fronts (and more!) is whether we, as a state fish and wildlife agency, will be relevant to the people we serve. If people don’t care about fish and wildlife conservation, then why fund and authorize an agency to lead these efforts? If there isn’t public support for species recovery, habitat protection, enforcement of fish and wildlife laws, wildlife area maintenance, or the furtherance of sustainable, science-based, and regulated hunting and fishing opportunities, the laws that direct these efforts could be altered, and the appropriations to do the work will dry up. That is why, in this biennium, in addition to hiring experts to address the direct threats to fish and wildlife listed above, I have also significantly invested in resources to communicate and engage with the public about the importance of fish and wildlife, how these resources benefit our quality of life, and what we can all do to contribute to conservation. Conservation typically doesn’t occur at a broad, landscape scale; it occurs at the local level—at specific points on a map. I have established communication specialists in each region. They will be conduits to the media and local communities about fish and wildlife challenges in their area. I have also hired subject matter expert communication specialists to convey fish and wildlife science and WDFW management decisions to the public we serve.
We know communication is a two-way street, so we’re ready to listen. We’re striving to be more visible and available at outreach events. We plan to not only increase our capacity at our traditional forums, but also be present and available in new community spaces to talk about fish and wildlife conservation and the work that we do. In this past year, we have attended 135 of outreach events, connecting with more than 32,000 residents—a staggering level of engagement that only has more room to grow. For most of our public meetings, we’ve adopted a hybrid approach to make it easier for residents statewide to engage in our planning efforts and Commission proceedings.
We are also investing in outreach and education. I have a small but mighty team that highlights wildlife viewing, how to do so responsibly, and how to develop and foster wildlife habitat in your home space and community areas. In addition, I have staff developing fish and wildlife curriculum that supports Washington state academic learning standards for students in grades K-12. We are working with regional educational partners to incorporate lessons about salmon habitat needs and threats, invasive species, and other relevant topics in schools across the state.
I’m looking at ways to enlist social science as part of our management toolbox to develop informed, durable decisions that account for the diverse values of the communities we serve. I have hired a natural resource economist to help us analyze the costs and benefits, including both financial and non-market values, of the choices and management options before us. I’ve hired an environmental justice coordinator to ensure that we’re considering how our actions impact underserved communities and how we can best engage all Washingtonians. We are expending resources to not only translate our final documents into the languages our communities speak, but also translating draft documents to be more inclusive in our decision-making processes. Our hunter education, marketing, and recruitment/retention/reactivation (R3) teams are busy introducing people to hunting and fishing through classes, seminars, and monthly how-to content featured on myWDFW.com. In 2023, our dedicated hunter education coordinators worked with our 1050 volunteer instructors to certify almost 11,000 hunter education graduates in safe, ethical, and legal hunting practices. This past year, they also staffed 19 family fishing events that introduced fishing to over 5,000 youth.
We’re passionate about what we do, and we recognize we are not going to be successful without your engagement. Thus, I want to close with a request—come visit with us. Take a look at our event calendar and join us at a Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting, engage in the discussion at a Department townhall or listening session, or stop by our booth at a community event. I invite you to review and participate in our planning efforts and comment periods. If you have a question, call our knowledgeable customer service staff, see us at a regional office, or visit with an officer in the field. Learn about our volunteering opportunities. We welcome you in this important work. Sincerely, Kelly Susewind, Director
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Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in
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#1063786 - 04/30/24 10:41 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 03/06/14
Posts: 273
Loc: Tumwater
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You're off to a rough start, Director. One trip to Fred Meyers in Tumwater a couple days ago: No new hunting pamphlets. Two trips to old Game Dept. Bldg., including today. No hunting pamphlets. "You have to go to the NRB". (where there's almost no reasonable parking.) A couple days ago I checked for the 2024 "Hunting Prospects " section to see how some of the areas I'm interested in applying for special tags are faring. Nothing available EVEN THOUGH SPECIAL TAG APPLICATIONS ARE DUE SOON ! I need to hold the pamplet so I can make circles and marks in it! Internet doesn't work for most of us.
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#1063787 - 05/01/24 06:31 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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I agree, Tug. They really don't get the information out there.
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#1063788 - 05/01/24 07:51 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Spawner
Registered: 10/15/03
Posts: 704
Loc: Olympia
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The Director is a smart guy but he's full of BS. He'll never touch on overharvest as a problem. "sustainable, science-based, and regulated hunting and fishing opportunities, the laws that direct these efforts could be altered, and the appropriations to do the work will dry up." What a joke
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"I'm old and tough, dirty and rough" -Barnacle Bill the sailor
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#1063789 - 05/01/24 08:44 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 13411
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This is consistent with my impression that Susewind wants to preside over a habitat conservation agency with petting zoos. He pays a slight lip service to the hook and bullet fraternity, but he knows we are no longer where the "big bucks" are. I think Mr. Susewind's desired future condition is for WDFW to be a "mini" DOE, since the General Fund is where the money is.
He's got a point about relevance. He's pretty much lost any relevance with respect to anadromous fish, having given all authority over to the treaty tribes. So he's going to try to gain relevance among the non-fishing and hunting community, which is roughly 90% of the state's population, so that those folks will be eager to pitch in their tax dollars to fund an agency that brings little home to the constituents who have been funding it via license and tax dollars.
If Susewind wishes to up the Department's relevance to the tax payers who fund him and his agency, he could begin with transparency. I see he's hired a natural resource economist. I hope to soon ask him or her for an analysis of how much it costs the Department to deliver a hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho salmon to the non-treaty recreational creel so that we may objectively assess the value to taxpayers of hatcheries that primarily raise salmon for Alaska, Canadian, U.S. non-treaty commercial, and treaty commercial fisheries, population segments who pay the least to fund the Department but benefit the most.
I need to resume attending Commission meetings now that we are post-Covid.
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#1063790 - 05/01/24 10:43 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 02/15/21
Posts: 319
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#1063791 - 05/01/24 12:05 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Salmo g.]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 2952
Loc: Olalla, WA
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Thank you SG for that succinct and spot-on review ![applause applause](/forum/images/graemlins/default_dark/applause.gif)
_________________________
Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours......Gordon Lightfoot Damn Stam! Remember, Ask yourself "What would Stam do?"
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#1063792 - 05/01/24 04:36 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: 20 Gage]
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Returning Adult
Registered: 03/06/14
Posts: 273
Loc: Tumwater
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We need the next governor to change the culture of the Commission and the leadeerrship.
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#1063793 - 05/01/24 05:59 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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Just saw an article that says the Legislature has directed the Ruckleshouse group to review WDFW over the aspects of whether or not it's doing its job for conservation, meeting state laws, complying with public disclosure, etc. Be interesting to see who they talk to.
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#1063794 - 05/01/24 07:08 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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I'm thinking that there are only a couple of things that will get WDFW's attention. One is losing enough license sales so that they can't fund some stuff. Along with that will be the loss of DJ and PR. When they have to publicly cut, they'll notice.
The second will be losing some of the ongoing lawsuits. Also, hoping that the suit against the AK Chinook trollers win, that WDFW was on the other side of that fight.
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#1063795 - 05/02/24 06:35 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Carcassman]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/03/09
Posts: 4434
Loc: Somewhere on the planet,I hope
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https://www.wafwp.org/docs/WDFW%20Organizational%20Review_Project%20(2).pdf
Would not hurt you all to get to know this ditty!
_________________________
Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in
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#1063797 - 05/02/24 08:46 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 13411
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https://www.wafwp.org/docs/WDFW%20Organizational%20Review_Project%20(2).pdf
Would not hurt you all to get to know this ditty! Hunting and fishing are doomed. Most people in the state do not care about hunting or fishing, yet Susewind appears most interested in the General Fund for agency funding. Most WA citizens don't even care if there is a WDFW, so why pay taxes to fund it?
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#1063798 - 05/02/24 09:05 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Repeat Spawner
Registered: 12/06/07
Posts: 1376
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The economics of recreation always seems to get lost in translation, and should play more of a role in WDFW priorities. Maybe it will get brought up in the review? Organizations have tried for years to educate the economic benefits of rec fishing, hunting, etc. to elected officials, but it never seems to influence decision making. SG mentions the cost of hatchery production which can't be denied. But what about the indirect $$$ generated from that production? https://asafishing.org/advocacy/economic...ricts-released/ The economics and political support that come from the AK commercial Chinook and trawl fisheries, could be said is the reason they are still operating. As recs, we need to figure out a way to get a bigger piece of the pie based on our economic benefit to our local economies. How you do that is the question? Seems to fall on deaf ears in WDFW and our elected officials.
_________________________
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller. Don't let the old man in!
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#1063799 - 05/02/24 09:59 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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King of the Beach
Registered: 12/11/02
Posts: 5178
Loc: Carkeek Park
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I'm cynical regarding WDFW. That letter, at least to me seems like it is setting the stage for some type of bigger move. We need to here from you, we need better communications blah blah blah.... while secretly negotiating away our opportunities to fish and hunt. Its coming, just a matter of when and what. SF
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Go Dawgs! Founding Member - 2023 Pink Plague Opposition Party #coholivesmatter
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#1063800 - 05/02/24 10:47 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Spawner
Registered: 10/15/03
Posts: 704
Loc: Olympia
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The director of WDFW will always be able to make a justification to support commercial fishing for the masses over sport harvest with only .2 percent of the population who engage in it. Even more important is the fact that the majority party in the state are overwhelmingly in favor of conservation which does not include sport harvest. I have this information anecdotally from a friend who is a lobbyist and has much frustration with the young legislators that could care less about sport fishing.
_________________________
"I'm old and tough, dirty and rough" -Barnacle Bill the sailor
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#1063801 - 05/02/24 10:49 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Three Time Spawner
Registered: 01/29/19
Posts: 1510
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A wise man once said. If state transparency is what you seek, dont mark Fergie on that sheet. That simple.
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#1063802 - 05/02/24 02:11 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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I think that the state government essentially realizes that consumptive harvest of natural resources is a fading practice. You all saw how popular the Makah whaling was, and most here in WA support the Tribal treaty rights and cultural practices.
The big push for them will be access to the General Fund. Since WA has a pretty good track record of underfund everything (infrastructure, education, police, prisons, mental health, ferries, and gawd knows what else) they will need to find some sort of dedicated fund to replace the lost license, DJ, and PR funds. It may also be more difficult to get large amounts for money for mitigation because, in the past, mitigation was for lost catch, not catch and escapement.
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#1063803 - 05/02/24 02:11 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: RUNnGUN]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 3313
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The economics of recreation always seems to get lost in translation, and should play more of a role in WDFW priorities. Maybe it will get brought up in the review? Organizations have tried for years to educate the economic benefits of rec fishing, hunting, etc. to elected officials, but it never seems to influence decision making. SG mentions the cost of hatchery production which can't be denied. But what about the indirect $$$ generated from that production? https://asafishing.org/advocacy/economic...ricts-released/ The economics and political support that come from the AK commercial Chinook and trawl fisheries, could be said is the reason they are still operating. As recs, we need to figure out a way to get a bigger piece of the pie based on our economic benefit to our local economies. How you do that is the question? Seems to fall on deaf ears in WDFW and our elected officials. It's simple. We bring data; they bring money. Which one gets YOUR attention faster?
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#1063805 - 05/03/24 01:18 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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A point about economic impact is that Olympia's fly shop closed permanently due the lack of winter fishing, which would primarily be steelhead. Losing a business should be brought up to evaluators of WDFW.
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#1063889 - 06/22/24 07:43 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Salmo g.]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 10/22/09
Posts: 3031
Loc: University Place and Whidbey I...
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It is that perspective (cost to produce a fish) which was a substantial reason we lost winter blackmouth. I suggest a better analysis would be how much does each of those fish generate in targeted fishing expenditures.
_________________________
Remember to immediately record your catch or you may become the catch!
It's the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done. (Ewing)
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#1063891 - 06/22/24 09:00 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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It may be necessary, at some pint, to support a very well supported pay as you go license system. For example, if you get a license to C&R trout ( no consumption) then license covers management, habitat, and enforcement. For consumptive trout you need to add in the cost to produce in hatcheries. Maybe a Chinook salmon license, or a hatchery salmon license, where the costs includes hatchery production, And so on. At least in that way, the angler is buying and actual opportunity and if they don;t want to pay for it they can fish for other stuff. Would be complex, but may add a level of accountability.
Maybe commercial licenses should include cost to produce, manage, and enforce.
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#1063893 - 06/23/24 10:17 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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I haven't looked recently but for years the westside pheasant hunters paid quite a lot for the planted birds. So the precedent is there. Not the balls, just the precedent.
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#1063896 - 06/24/24 07:15 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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Repeat Spawner
Registered: 12/06/07
Posts: 1376
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$84 a year now. I remember paying $15 for the punchcard in the early 80's. Before I was old enough to hunt, I heard stories from the 60's & early 70's about the Auburn Game Farm which released, and you could hunt in the Kent, Auburn, Sumner and Puyallup valley's. Wow things have changed!
_________________________
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller. Don't let the old man in!
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#1063897 - 06/24/24 09:35 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7519
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
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Way back there were a couple Game Farms, or more, and releases at most of the WRAs. I chased pheasants at Johns River, Dungeness Rec Area, and Scatter Creek back then. All were pretty popular.
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#1063899 - 06/24/24 10:41 AM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Rivrguy]
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King of the Beach
Registered: 12/11/02
Posts: 5178
Loc: Carkeek Park
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I’d have no interest in paying extra for a hatchery salmon punchcard. Though not from WDFW, there are lots of unclipped fish being released from some net pen programs. SF
_________________________
Go Dawgs! Founding Member - 2023 Pink Plague Opposition Party #coholivesmatter
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#1063902 - 06/24/24 01:04 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: stonefish]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 10/22/09
Posts: 3031
Loc: University Place and Whidbey I...
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Being involved in a net pen project I am interested in more details as to specific pens to which you refer. In short, let's not have that cloud hanging over acclimation pens using properly clipped fish.
_________________________
Remember to immediately record your catch or you may become the catch!
It's the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done. (Ewing)
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#1063903 - 06/24/24 01:07 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Carcassman]
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River Nutrients
Registered: 10/22/09
Posts: 3031
Loc: University Place and Whidbey I...
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Another pheasant rearing operation was at WDFW's game farm on Phillips Road in Lakewood.
_________________________
Remember to immediately record your catch or you may become the catch!
It's the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done. (Ewing)
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#1063907 - 06/24/24 03:18 PM
Re: WDFW Director Bulletin
[Re: Larry B]
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King of the Beach
Registered: 12/11/02
Posts: 5178
Loc: Carkeek Park
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Being involved in a net pen project I am interested in more details as to specific pens to which you refer. In short, let's not have that cloud hanging over acclimation pens using properly clipped fish. Elliott Bay and Pt Gamble to name two. 50k out of a million clipped at Elliott Bay and 45K clipped at Pt Gamble out of 525K if I recall correctly. As I said, not WDFW programs. I have nothing against hatchery fish or net pen programs. I just think all hatchery fish should be clipped regardless of what programs they come out of. SF
Edited by stonefish (06/24/24 03:27 PM)
_________________________
Go Dawgs! Founding Member - 2023 Pink Plague Opposition Party #coholivesmatter
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