Here is a lete that PSA sent supporting the overturning of the moratorium. I guess all of us that are against a catch and kill fishery are elitist now.

JJ

PUGET SOUND ANGLERS STATE BOARD

To whom it may concern,

The organization of Puget Sound Anglers, currently representing 14 chapters throughout Western Washington, has held a position opposing ‘statewide non-retention of wild Steelhead’ for several years.

This type of regulation ties the hands of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in effect not allowing the Department to manage the resource based on science and maximum benefit for the people of the state of Washington. Many rivers, having been under this type of regulation for a number of years, have shown little or no sign of recovery, calling into question the claim that this blanket regulation would help the recovery of wild Steelhead. Tribal harvesters may take advantage of ‘Forgone Opportunity,’ effectively neutralizing any possible saving of wild Steelhead. To deny citizens the opportunity to harvest a wild Steelhead, when harvestable numbers exist, is to cater to a minority, elitist view, not representative of the average sportfisher in Washington. What are our efforts to recover this wonderful icon of Northwest culture for, if not to allow us our traditional heritage of harvest. Are we to treat our natural environment as a museum (look but don’t touch), or should we be able to interact and enjoy what nature provides? It is our belief that science based management should prevail, not emotional idealism.



Clint Muns
State Board President
Puget Sound Anglers

Frankly, as a PSA member, this is disappointing to see.

"Are we to treat our natural environment as a museum (look but don't touch), or should we be able to interact & enjoy what nature provides?"

I don't know about you but I don't have to kill a native fish to enjoy it. The enjoyment for me comes from pursuing and catching the fish, not bonking it and showing it off to the neighbors.

Mental Note: Parker won't be joining, or donating to the PSA.

Yeah, what the hell.

Any PSA members know about this letter?

I thought PSA were out to protect the fish? Isn't that what the dues and donations fund?

Yes, Ybnormal sent me this letter a while ago. I too was disapointed in the letter, here is my response. I am sure to bring this up at our next meeting, as not many of the guys know that is the state boards stance.

"Thanks Ron (Ybmormal), this is sure to be a topic of discussion at our nest PSA meeting. It is just like politics and the upcoming elections, everyone has their own opinion and agenda.

Remember one of our mottos....I think it goes kind of like this, "Put fish first". I just think this is a step in the right direction, and of course if there are enough fish to be harvested state-wide, go for it.

I am sure that just making all the rivers C/R will not bring the runs back, just look at the nisqually, but then again catch and bonk will definitely not help anything either.

What we need are solutions, and that is what I personally am searching for. The moratorium sounds like the way to do it, short of stopping fishing altogether. That would be opening another can of worms for discussion. Closure, if necessary is something I would like to see for everyone, including the Native Americans.

Steve

It's hard to believe the majority of their membership agrees with that stance.

Release a wild fish.....it feels so good!

"This type of regulation ties the hands of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in effect not allowing the Department to manage the resource based on science and maximum benefit for the people of the state of Washington. Many rivers, having been under this type of regulation for a number of years, have shown little or no sign of recovery, calling into question the claim that this blanket regulation would help the recovery of wild Steelhead. Tribal harvesters may take advantage of ‘Forgone Opportunity,’ effectively neutralizing any possible saving of wild Steelhead. To deny citizens the opportunity to harvest a wild Steelhead, when harvestable numbers exist, is to cater to a minority, elitist view, not representative of the average sportfisher in Washington. What are our efforts to recover this wonderful icon of Northwest culture for, if not to allow us our traditional heritage of harvest. Are we to treat our natural environment as a museum (look but don’t touch), or should we be able to interact and enjoy what nature provides? It is our belief that science based management should prevail, not emotional idealism."

How could anyone find reason to disagree with such a well thought out position?

I support them absolutely.

Keep up the good work PSA!

Below is a portion n of a letter I am sending to PSA tonight:

As a recent PSA member I am deeply disappointed in both the content and tone of this letter.

It most assuredly does NOT represent my position.

I think that PSA should have remained quite on an issue that is this deeply divisive and where such a large minority of members disagree. If the board felt a letter had to be written they should have avoided the preaching tone and they should have honestly stated that a very large minority of the members do support the moratorium.

There is clear and compelling evidence, based on WDFW data, that wild steelhead are in steep decline throughout almost every part of our state, including three of the four major river systems in the area under discussion.

As of now I consider PSA to be on probation. Any further efforts to encourage killing wild steelhead will prompt my immediate resignation.

I had considered joining this organization. Truly incredible. It amazes me to see a group like this close there eyes to the obvious declines.

When will they pull there heads out?
When the emergency closures start?
Never?

I'm an elitist now. Wait til my beer swilling buddies here that!

Here is omething to consider:

In the Green/Duwamish river system in the Puget Sound region the hatchery production of summer steelhead has introduced a small wild population where no native summer stock had existed and the juveniles of that introduced stock compete for the food and habitat resources with the native winter steelhead. It would be in the best interest of the native stocks to allow harvest of these non-native wild fish as a means of reducing that competition. The moratorium prevents that from happening.

SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS.
NO SURPRISE TO ME.

Cigar :rolleyes:

Plunker, are these wild fish introduced into the system just hatchery fish that spawned in the river rather then returning to the hatchery. If so how would you tell the difference between them and the true nates?

Oh and PSA bites!!!

The science is clear. Wild steelhead are in significant decline. Even in river where our "scientists" have reduced escapement goals, we are still not reaching those goals. The Wild Steelhead Coalition has complied very compelling evidence based upon WDFW’s data that shoe three of the four rivers in the area affected by the moratorium are not reaching even the reduced escapement goals.

I fail to understand how any sportfishing organization can call for increased kill on rivers that are not meeting escapment!

It is not elitist to advocate reducing the kill on stocks that are not reaching escapement. The department should have done this years ago but lacked the guts to take the heat.

“We are the Puget Sound Anglers. We are dedicated to preserving quality fisheries. We believe in the de-commercialization of Steelhead. We believe that our salmon resources can be restored with sound biological management. We believe in the comradeship and wishes of fellow sport fishing anglers. We believe our grandchildren can have a higher quality fishery than any of us ever had .”

HMMMMM!

It sounds like it might be an election year for PSA too.

Can you say Impeach.

I had two links on our links page to different PSA chapters. I have removed them today

Glad I did not join PSA this year. They do not represent my views, obviously!

Wonder why Grandpa has not replied yet?

SA

Thanks, Bob

I think the letter is just the way I feel.
"when harvestable numbers exist"and this
"It is our belief that science based management should prevail, not emotional idealism."