I was checking out the fishing report the other day on Cushman's Boats web site and this was there. Thought I'd pass it along to the fellow shrimpers out there.
SPORTSMEN MAY LOSE SPOT PRAWN OPPORTUNITY
PUGET SOUND RECREATIONAL SHRIMP FISHERMEN MUST SHARE SPOT PRAWN QUOTAS WITH TRIBAL AND "STATE" COMMERCIAL POT FISHERS. TRIBES GET HALF.
THAT LEAVES THE REMAINDER TO BE SPLIT BETWEEN JUST 18 COMMERCIAL LICENSES AND OVER 341,000 SPORT LICENSES. NOW THE COMMERCIALS TAKE 70 %, LEAVING 30%, ( ONLY 25,000 POUNDS ) TO BE DIVIDED
BETWEEN SPORTSMEN ! THE 18 "BUSINESSMEN" ARE PREPARING TO ASK FOR MORE AT A DECEMBER WDFW COMMISSION MEETING, IN MOUNT VERNON. THAT WILL MEAN LESS FOR SPORTSMEN. ANNUAL SEASONS NOW COUNTED IN DAYS MAY BE REDUCED TO JUST HOURS !!
IF YOU FISH FOR PRAWN, PLEASE, ATTEND THE WDFW MEETING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7. BUT FIRST, CONTACT WDFW AND TELL THEM THEY NEED TO GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO SPORTSMEN, AND LESS TO THE 18 COMMERCIAL LICENSE HOLDERS.
THE ENTIRE COMMERCIAL CATCH IS WORTH BARELY $500,000 ANNUALLY TO THE STATE ECONOMY, WHILE THE SPORT SEASONS ARE VALUED IN THE MILLIONS !! WE MUST GET THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICY MAKERS NOW !!!
CALL DIRECTOR JEFF KOENINGS AT (360) 902-2234 E-MAIL HIM AT DIRECTOR@DFW.WA.GOV
CALL THE COMMISSION AT (360) 902-2267 E-MAIL COMMISSIONERS AT COMMISSION@DFW.WA.GOV
THE FUTURE OF SPORT SHRIMP FISHING IN PUGET SOUND IS IN YOUR HANDS. SPORTSMEN..…UNITE!