OK numbers are up on the WDF&W website for Commercials so far Willapa & GH. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/commercial/salmon/landings.html Early in the morning so the calculator might have missed a number but I do not think so here is what I got. Willapa Coho harvest total this time last year 14,583 / this year 5189. Same time last year GH QIN Coho total 5060 & this year 1688. For the QIN numbers they were impacted by the flood and word is on the incoming yesterday they got fish but we will have to wait and see what the total is when they post next week.

Now this is scary as in the Willapa floods did not effect NT Nets catch that is around 35% of last years. Now the QIN is 33% ( give or take a fish ) and if GH follows the Willapa pattern at all the fish are in deep crap with the combined tribal & commercial catch.

So much for Kirt Hughes sworn statement on Willapa submitted to the court that he could do a in season adjustment if he thought a problem developed. I guess the question becomes just what does he call a problem? When the escapement number reaches zero?

Was asked if in my PDR documents I have not released some. Yup! There were a couple that were hysterically funny to be sure but if the documents were personal interactions between staff, internal personnel administration, or a oops moment I have not put them forward. I have no problem with confronting R-6 District 17 staff on their actions and policies but I stop right there. Our efforts at FTC are about the fish and local communities not the occasional personal differences that any group of people working together will have.

To business. Now this one is good. If you read the paper below it sounds OK but what is wrong? Tangle net moralities in Grays Harbor are WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY more than what is represented. How do I know? The local communities volunteers attempted use tangle nets to capture Chinook and ABANDONED that method due to high moralities. If Chinook and Chum survived the initial encounter the majority would not survive to spawn. Females in particular took a hard hit in survival numbers and this is utilizing specially designed platform boats, revival transport tubes, floating recovery netpens. Not dragging them over the bow ripping them from the net and hurl the captured fish over the side of the boat.

What is written by R-6 District 17 staff below is not even close to reality. My favorite is moderate differences between Columbia Spring Chinook river conditions and those that exist in Grays Harbor in the fall fishery. Lord what planet does whoever wrote this live on? The most appalling thing? This unadulterated piece of utter BS and fabrication was for the Commission.

Commission Speaking Points
Grays Harbor Management
April 12, 2013

Tangle Nets and Mortality
o Commercial advisors have proposed the use of tangle net gear for fall commercial salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor this year.
o The applicability of tangle nets and associated release mortality rate is based on recommendations of the U.S. v Oregon Technical Advisory Committee for use in Columbia River commercial net fisheries requiring the release of unmarked Chinook. Their recommendation of 14.7% was adopted through the Columbia River Compact process.
o There is a significant reduction in the mortality rate resulting in a shift from 6” maximum gill net with 45% release mortality, as used in previous years, to this year’s proposal to use 4-1/4” tangle net and the documented 14.7% mortality resulting from this gear type.
o Moderate differences in environmental conditions exist between Columbia River spring Chinook and Grays Harbor fall Chinook fisheries. We have considered these differences and find them similar enough for the application of tangle nets and the associated mortality rate.
o However, the uncertainty surrounding the environmental conditions and the first time use of tangle nets in Grays Harbor cause us to take a more conservative approach in Grays Harbor by applying a buffer to the release mortality rate and increase it to 25.0%.

Accuracy of Predicted Fishery Mortality
o Given low abundance of natural origin fall Chinook returning to the Chehalis River in recent years, limited harvest opportunity has been available in both marine area and freshwater sport fisheries. At the same time WDFW managed commercial fisheries have been developed for more abundant coho returns while requiring Chinook release in commercial catch areas 2A and 2D.
o It is worth mentioning that the fishery planning model used to estimate fishing related impacts has as well as the run reconstruction the model is bases on have been redeveloped for use in 2013. The new models incorporate stock specific allocation of harvest based on coded wire tag sampling that is specific to the commercial catch management area where the fish were caught. Therefore the productiveness for modeling the outcome of historic fisheries has been evaluated to test the accuracy of the new model. Doing so removed potential biases associated with historic models that did not appropriately allocate catch by stock origin. Evaluating performance using post-season runsizes removes biases of forecasting error.




Now take a quick read of this e mail thread and wella you have the scientific rational for the mortality they put in the Commission paper. As always read the e mail thread bottom up.

From: Hughes, Kirt M (DFW)
To: la
cc: ac Warren, Ron R (DFW); Scharpf, Mike M (DFW); Mcclellan, Barbara A (DFW);
Subject: FW: 2013 gh season
Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 10:44:00 AM

B –
I got a bounce back on the address in the message from A---. I have also included Mike in this thread.
-Kirt

From: Hughes, Kirt M (DFW)
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 10:42 AM
To: 'a'; Warren, Ron R (DFW) Cc: B; Mcclellan, Barbara A (DFW) Subject: RE: 2013 gh season


A--- –
Speaking only to the application of 25% release mortality, there was an additional 10.3% added as a buffer. The is nothing scientific about the 10% it is simple a buffer intended as a precautionary approach in bridging uncertainties in the physiology on fish and the environmental conditions they are encountering at time of capture. Specifically we note the difference between spring Chinook in the Columbia River and fall Chinook stocks passing through the Grays Harbor estuary and differences in characteristic of the water including temperature and salinity.

I certainly apologize for not making contact with folks as previously developed schedules were being modified as a result of the change in mortality rate.

-Kirt

From: a-------
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 10:31 AM
To: Warren, Ron R (DFW)
Cc: B; Hughes, Kirt M (DFW); Mcclellan, Barbara A (DFW)
Subject: 2013 gh season



Ron,

When we left our last meeting we had an agreement on the

recreational and commercial GH seasons. If things were to change we were to be called and asked about what changes may occur.
In your new proposal we trade thirteen days with regular nets for two with tangle nets. If the Humptulips is tier 4 tier 4 and we have no days in that area we have not met any criteria from the tier system in that area. Who was notified about these changes when they took place at PFMC? The state numbers are 14.7% mortality rate on Chinook in tangle nets. We will be assessed 25%. Where did this rate come from?


Failing to see why we had any advisory group meetings, A---

I posted the bit below ( high-lighted ) in the other thread by mistake so catching up. That said I was asked what is the importance of the WK 41 On Board Observer reports. Well it is about the mortality or number of adult Chinook that will not survive the contact & release from the NT Commercial nets. If you recall first WDF&W R-6 D-17 went with 14.7% and that did not fly so on to 25% in the last model. If you look at the report 67% of the adults were OK ( vigorous ) and 33% either dead or on their way to being dead. Now this is the immediate ( or close to ) mortality. In the best scenario in the Columbia it was 1% to 3% immediate mortality followed by another 13.7% that did not survive to spawn. Some studies have it as a much higher % moralities on the post release survival. Bottom line is the mortality is somewhere 47.7% and 70% of the released Grays Harbor Chinook are goners. Now this is the best as the Chehalis is not the Columbia and Chehalis Fall Chinook are not the same as Columbia Springers. This is important because if the actual impacts are put into the model it means less time for the NT nets. So the NT days based on a 25% figure pretty much are and continues to be pure bs as a lot of people have been saying. It is called " cookin the books"



The link is to WDF&W website for commercial. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/commercial/salmon/landings.html Now as I am NEVER shy about kicking the cra- out District 17 staff I must put this out also. When you get to the website scroll to GH Non Indian and look for the Weekly Observer Summary and hit the WK 41 link ( it is a link ) and it is the encounter ratio Onboard Observer report for Chinook, Coho & Chum. Now I can tell you they did not do this without prodding. That said it was requested and without any fanfare Mr. Warren, Kirt Hughes and staff got it done.

So on this issue I sincerely thank R-6 D-17 staff for the change and effort.

NEXT UP!

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
October 17, 2013
Contact: Ron Warren, (360) 249-1201
Public meetings scheduled to discuss
Grays Harbor salmon management
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled eight public meetings this fall and winter to discuss and develop a new draft policy for managing salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor.
The public meetings are part of a nearly five-month process to develop the new draft policy specifically for Grays Harbor salmon management. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for WDFW, is scheduled to consider adopting the draft policy in mid-February.
Salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor are currently managed under a framework that was initially developed in 2007, in conjunction with the commission's North of Falcon policy, said Ron Warren, regional fish program manager for WDFW.
"We would like to further refine the management of Grays Harbor salmon fisheries to help ensure we can meet spawning goals for wild salmon returning to the basin, as well as give anglers and commercial fishers a clearer picture of what fishing opportunities they can expect each year," Warren said.
The public meetings include three workshops and five Grays Harbor Advisory Committee meetings. The advisory committee discussions are open to the public, and those in attendance will have an opportunity to comment at the end of each meeting.
The public meetings are scheduled for:
• Oct. 21 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Oct. 28 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 1 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
• Nov. 13 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 18 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 26 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
• Jan. 13 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Jan. 15 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
WDFW fishery managers are scheduled to brief the Fish and Wildlife Commission on the development of the draft policy during the commission's November meeting in Olympia.
Warren said WDFW will develop a range of policy options that will be discussed during the December commission meeting in Olympia. The commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the draft policy options during its January meeting in Olympia.
The commission is scheduled to make a final decision at its February meeting in Olympia.
Throughout the process, WDFW will periodically update its website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/grays_harbor_salmon/ with more information on the development of the draft policy.
________________________________________
This message has been sent to the WDFW News Releases & Weekender mailing list.
Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/unsubscribe.html
[i][/i]

At last!

Could this be some acknowledgment that all those damn sporties screaming at them about the messed up process might have some merit after all?

God, I hope so!

Well the process has some major problems......too many of the personnel in the Region 6 office, have a finger on the scale in favor of NT gill netters.......just funny how changes took/take place after the "Dog and Pony Show" call NOF(North of Falcon) was suppose to have ended.

Shame on you Phil Anderson, Ron Warren, Curt Hughes and Barbara McClellan.......Change the rules of the game, AFTER the game was over, heads should roll....time for the Commission to step up to the plate in Region 6.

Really....why do the NT netters deserve to have a season at all?????? QIN has a commercial right to net area 2A, 2C, and 2D. Time for the NT netters to hang up thier nets in the Chehalis/Humptulips area.

Hey folks I am on the run but I think this needs to be said.... bluntly. The meeting schedule above and citizen participation is critical. Now if this process goes forward with the same cast of characters and folks do not take the time to participate then I can guarantee many will not like the outcome. From legal actions, PDR request, to a website the many hundreds of hours put in it has been about getting a fair shake for the fish, inland communities, and sport fishers. So if you do not take the time to participate then do not whine at the outcome, whatever it is. Not trying to be rude ( might have achieved that though ) but rather saying it as it is. As a close friend told me it is " put up or shut up time. "

Rivrguy:

I'll make as many meetings as I can, but I imagine most of us won't be able to make more than a few. Would you say the public meetings in Montesano would be the most critical for sport fishers to attend?

Thanks one more time for all your hard work.

I honestly do not know which is the most important meeting. I will have a better idea after Monday night's meeting as just what they say in the press vs what they can / will do can be very different.

Just one more invitation to interested folks to attend tonight's meeting at 6PM.... Region 6 HQ, just south of the Devonshire exit in Montesano.

Public may listen in on the deliberations from 6-8 (no public comment permitted in order to allow the advisory group to conduct business uninterrupted) Be respectful and abide by this rule no matter how tempting it may be to interject an inquiry or opinion. To be sure, there will be a question/answer session immediately following. You can speak your piece then.

See you there!

Below is the WDF&W Region 6 District 17 schedule for the review and modification of the Grays Harbor Management Plan ( GHMP ). So in plain English how does this effect everyone? Well in very blunt terms the GHMP is about who catches what fish (in-river sport / bay sport /commercial ), where they catch the fish, and how ( fishing rod or net ). After completing this process ( outlined below ) the WDF&W Commission will adopt policy guidelines WDF&W Region 6 District 17 will then follow in the allocation of harvest and management for escapement ( spawners ) in the future.

It is pretty much a given that most folks cannot make all these meetings so which one you might ask? November 1 at Montesano City Hall ( high lighted in Red below ) would be my first choice. It is a citizens opportunity to speak their mind and it is important. Yeah right another " dog & pony show " is the likely response most will have to this concept. The difference this time is that the WDF&W Commission will have the GHMP on their agenda for the next four months monitoring this process prior to adopting " policy guidelines " in February.

So bottom line is that it is that time. If you want the Salmon resources in Grays Harbor and the Chehalis Basin managed in a reasonable manner citizen participation is more important than ever. As harsh as it sounds you snooze you will loose in this process.



WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
October 17, 2013
Contact: Ron Warren, (360) 249-1201
Public meetings scheduled to discuss
Grays Harbor salmon management
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled eight public meetings this fall and winter to discuss and develop a new draft policy for managing salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor.
The public meetings are part of a nearly five-month process to develop the new draft policy specifically for Grays Harbor salmon management. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for WDFW, is scheduled to consider adopting the draft policy in mid-February.
Salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor are currently managed under a framework that was initially developed in 2007, in conjunction with the commission's North of Falcon policy, said Ron Warren, regional fish program manager for WDFW.
"We would like to further refine the management of Grays Harbor salmon fisheries to help ensure we can meet spawning goals for wild salmon returning to the basin, as well as give anglers and commercial fishers a clearer picture of what fishing opportunities they can expect each year," Warren said.
The public meetings include three workshops and five Grays Harbor Advisory Committee meetings. The advisory committee discussions are open to the public, and those in attendance will have an opportunity to comment at the end of each meeting.
The public meetings are scheduled for:
• Oct. 21 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Oct. 28 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 1 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
• Nov. 13 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 18 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 26 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
• Jan. 13 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Jan. 15 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
WDFW fishery managers are scheduled to brief the Fish and Wildlife Commission on the development of the draft policy during the commission's November meeting in Olympia.
Warren said WDFW will develop a range of policy options that will be discussed during the December commission meeting in Olympia. The commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the draft policy options during its January meeting in Olympia.
The commission is scheduled to make a final decision at its February meeting in Olympia.
Throughout the process, WDFW will periodically update its website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/grays_harbor_salmon/ with more information on the development of the draft policy.
________________________________________
This message has been sent to the WDFW News Releases & Weekender mailing list.
Visit the WDFW News Release Archive at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/unsubscribe.html

Well how did the meeting go last night? Anyone

I was given a three ring binder ( as an Adviser ) and Jim Scott & Ron Warren outlined the process. Some insight was gained when everyone was asked what was their single biggest bitch. So it was a warm up / ground rules thing and about ZERO hard info outside of the coming process. Again the Nov. 1 meeting is the first major foray into the general public for input. The Adviser meetings do have time for those who attend to speak and if you have the time one should attend. The fact that the Commission is engaged is important and not to be overlooked in the mayhem. So the answer to SH's question is " hi & how are you and here is what is about to happen ".

I am not one of the chosen few.......so I got no 3 ring binder. I always get a few "jabs in".......I call it like I see it......told them that it looked like the beginning of another "Dog and Pony show".....time tells all, major problems in the Chehalis/Humptulips basins........Not many gill netters left......100's of hours are spent in meetings....trying to justify a "cowboy gill net season" for fewer than 20 netters.

Gill netters have a common saying "who will feed the general population if we don't net??????? Hate to have to tell them again but QIN can do the job quite well.

1. I did request that NO NT gill nets above the 101 Bridge.....reason more banks anglers now, don't need to be fishing in muddy water from gill net boats run up river.

2. Hit them, again, with the Wynoochee mitigation that hasn't been spent.....2.4 million......monies to be used for Coho and SH. Told them if they can't get the job done, 23+ years, let the QIN take the lead.

Actually I said something about WDFW sitting around with their finger up their ass and not getting things done.

DW did the best job of telling 'em how he REALLY felt.

Interesting read. The tables breaking out the dollar amount by user groups are available if anyone wants them. This is for hatchery production but in the case of Grays Harbor the values would cross into the natural origin harvest and with Coho at 5 or 6 to 1 W / H. Lot of Rec $$$$.


TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM (FINAL)


April 28, 2009


Memo to: From:

Andy Appleby, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Tom Wegge , TCW Economics


RE: Economic Analysis of WDFW 's Hatchery 2020 Plans


The Hatchery Scientific Review group (HSRG) retained TCW Economics to conduct an economic assessment of the State's Draft Hatchery Action Implementation Plans (Hatchery 2020 Plans). This memorandum summarizes the final results of the economic assessment , and describes the methods, including data sources , used to conduct the assessment.

Accompanying this memorandum is an excel workbook that includes the data used to analyze WDFW's 120 salmon and steelhead hatchery programs, and the economic impact estimates for each program.

Results

As described in more detail below, the analysis of economic impacts focuses on measuring the expected effects of each program on generating local personal income from affected commercial and sport fisheries in different economic regions of the state. The estimates are considered minimum contributions due to the methods used to estimate freshwater sport catch, including lower than optimum levels of sampling in some marine commercial fisheries.

State-operated hatcheries for salmon and steelhead evaluated in this analysis are located in watersheds in the Puget Sound region, Coastal region, and Lower Columbia River region. The commercial and sport fisheries where hatchery-produced salmon and steelhead are harvested also occur in these three regions, as well as in more distant fisher ies located outside of state waters (e.g., southeast Alaska , British Columbia, and Oregon coast). For this analysis, however, only effects associated with the harvest in Washington State waters were evaluated .

Puget Sound Hatchery Programs

The contribution to local personal income of salmon and steelhead hatchery programs located in the Puget Sound region is shown by watershed in Table 1. Local personal income generated from Puget Sound hatchery production is estimated at $11.4 million annually in commercial fisheries and $18.4 million in sport fisheries.



TCW Economics
Econom ic Consulting for Natural Resou rce Managemen t and Land Use Plan n ing 2756 9111 Avenue Sacramento, CA 9581 8 916/45 1-3372 fax: 916/451-1920 e-mail : twegge@tcweco n .com

For hatchery produced fish that are harvested in commercial fisheries, the Puget Sound marine and freshwater net fisheries account for $10.9 million, or about 96 percent of the total personal income generated . Hatchery production of chum accounts for about 53 percent of the total personal income generated and hatchery production of Chinook accounts for about 38 percent.

For hatchery produced fish caught in sport fisheries, $11.4 million of the total $18.4 million in local personal income is associated with sport fishing activity in freshwater areas of the Puget Sound region. Puget Sound marine sport fisheries account for about $6.5 million and ocean sport fisheries account for about $627,000 in local personal income. Hatchery produced coho caught in both marine and freshwater sport fisheries generate about $7.8 million annually , steelhead sport fisheries generate about $6.7 million, and Chinook sport fisheries generate about $3.9 million in local personal income. Hatchery programs in the Snohomish watershed contribute about $5.1 million annually in local personal income in the Puget Sound region and hatchery programs in the Payullup/White watershed contribute about $3.4 million annually.

It is estimated that commercial and sport fisheries in the Puget Sound region that depend on hatchery production support an estimated 532 full- and part-time jobs throughout the region. This number of jobs does not include hatchery jobs or other jobs indirectly supported by operations at hatchery facilities.

Coastal Hatchery Programs

The contribution to local personal income of salmon and steelhead hatchery programs located in the Coastal region is shown by watershed in Table 2. Local personal income from coastal hatchery production is estimated at $1.5 million annually in commercial fisheries and $7.6 million in sport fisheries. Almost all of the local personal income generated by the harvest from coastal hatchery programs occurs in the State's coastal economic region.

For hatchery produced fish harvested in commercial fisheries, coastal net fisheries account for 97 percent of the total personal income generated . Hatchery coho production accounts for $1.0 million of the $1.5 million in annual personal income. Although not reported in Table 2, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of the local personal income is captured in the Westport area, which is the primary port associated with catch area 2.

For hatchery produced fish caught in sport fisheries, $6.8 million of the total $7.6 million in local personal income is associated with sport fishing activity in coastal freshwaters . Ocean sport fisheries account for about $821,000 and Puget Sound marine sport fisheries account for about
$25,000 in local personal income. Hatchery fish caught in steelhead sport fisheries generate about $4.2 million annually , Chinook sport fisheries generate about $876,000, and Coho sport fisheries generate about $2.6 million in local personal income. Hatchery programs in the Wynoochee watershed contribute the most personal income ($1.9 million), followed by hatchery programs in the Solduc/Quillayute and Humptulips watersheds ($1.3 million each).

It is estimated that commercial and sport fisheries in the Coastal region that depend on hatchery production support an estimated 277 full- and part-time jobs throughout the region. This
number of jobs does not include hatchery jobs or other jobs indirectly supported by operations at hatchery facilities.

Lower Columbia River Hatchery Programs

The contribution to local personal income of salmon and steelhead hatchery programs located in the Lower Columbia River region is shown by watershed in Table 3. Local personal income

from Lower Columbia River hatchery production is estimated at $1.5 million annually in commercial fisheries and $27.9 million in sport fisheries.

For hatchery produced fish harvested in commercial fisheries, the Lower Columbia River net fisheries account for about $974,000, or about 67%, of the total personal income generated . Hatchery production of coho accounts for about 53 percent of the annual $1.4 million in personal income generated and Chinook accounts for about 47 percent.

For hatchery produced fish caught in sport fisheries, $14.5 million of the total $27.9 million in local personal income is associated with sport fishing activity on the Columbia River mainstem and about $10.5 million is associated with sport fishing in terminal areas (tributary fisheries) of the Lower Columbia River . Ocean sport fisheries account for about $2.8 million and Puget Sound marine sport fisheries account for about $74,000 in local personal income. Hatchery fish caught in steelhead sport fisheries generate about $13.7 million annually , Chinook sport fisheries generate about $3.7 million, and coho sport fisheries generate about $10.5 million in local personal income. Hatchery programs in the Cowlitz River watershed contribute the most personal income at $14.8 million annually , distantly followed by hatchery programs in the Lewis River watershed ($5.7 million) and Kalama River hatchery programs ($2.8 million) .

It is estimated that commercial and sport fisheries in the Lower Columbia River region that depend on hatchery production support an estimated 1,108 full- and part-time jobs throughout the region. This number of jobs does not include hatchery jobs or other jobs indirectly supported by operations at hatchery facilities.

Reposting this bit as this Friday is the first public meeting and I urge anyone who can to attend.



Below is the WDF&W Region 6 District 17 schedule for the review and modification of the Grays Harbor Management Plan ( GHMP ). So in plain English how does this effect everyone? Well in very blunt terms the GHMP is about who catches what fish (in-river sport / bay sport /commercial ), where they catch the fish, and how ( fishing rod or net ). After completing this process ( outlined below ) the WDF&W Commission will adopt policy guidelines WDF&W Region 6 District 17 will then follow in the allocation of harvest and management for escapement ( spawners ) in the future.

It is pretty much a given that most folks cannot make all these meetings so which one you might ask? November 1 at Montesano City Hall ( high lighted in Red below ) would be my first choice. It is a citizens opportunity to speak their mind and it is important. Yeah right another " dog & pony show " is the likely response most will have to this concept. The difference this time is that the WDF&W Commission will have the GHMP on their agenda for the next four months monitoring this process prior to adopting " policy guidelines " in February.

So bottom line is that it is that time. If you want the Salmon resources in Grays Harbor and the Chehalis Basin managed in a reasonable manner citizen participation is more important than ever. As harsh as it sounds you snooze you will loose in this process.



WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
October 17, 2013
Contact: Ron Warren, (360) 249-1201
Public meetings scheduled to discuss
Grays Harbor salmon management
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled eight public meetings this fall and winter to discuss and develop a new draft policy for managing salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor.
The public meetings are part of a nearly five-month process to develop the new draft policy specifically for Grays Harbor salmon management. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for WDFW, is scheduled to consider adopting the draft policy in mid-February.
Salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor are currently managed under a framework that was initially developed in 2007, in conjunction with the commission's North of Falcon policy, said Ron Warren, regional fish program manager for WDFW.
"We would like to further refine the management of Grays Harbor salmon fisheries to help ensure we can meet spawning goals for wild salmon returning to the basin, as well as give anglers and commercial fishers a clearer picture of what fishing opportunities they can expect each year," Warren said.
The public meetings include three workshops and five Grays Harbor Advisory Committee meetings. The advisory committee discussions are open to the public, and those in attendance will have an opportunity to comment at the end of each meeting.
The public meetings are scheduled for:
• Oct. 21 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Oct. 28 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 1 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
• Nov. 13 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 18 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Nov. 26 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
• Jan. 13 - Grays Harbor Advisory Committee, from 6-8 p.m.; public input from 8-9 p.m.; WDFW's Montesano office, 48 Devonshire Road.
• Jan. 15 - WDFW fishery managers will host a public workshop from 6-8 p.m.; Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street, Montesano.
WDFW fishery managers are scheduled to brief the Fish and Wildlife Commission on the development of the draft policy during the commission's November meeting in Olympia.
Warren said WDFW will develop a range of policy options that will be discussed during the December commission meeting in Olympia. The commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the draft policy options during its January meeting in Olympia.
The commission is scheduled to make a final decision at its February meeting in Olympia.
Throughout the process, WDFW will periodically update its website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/grays_harbor_salmon/ with more information on the development of the draft policy.
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Bump!

A bump so all are aware of this process.