Can anyone give a reasonable reason why the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association has come out against the initiative? I just re-read Trout Unlimited official opinion regarding I-696 and even more so than the first time feel their answers and responses are very weak and I would challenge anyone who signed it to a disussion regarding the issue. I, too, sent off my ballot today and it felt good. (And I am an ex-Alaskan commercial fisher)

I've been told the official I-696 position of both groups you've mentioned is neutrality. Being neutral means you don't have to do anything, but can sit on your lazy butt while others gather signatures, dig deep into their pockets, attend debates and meetings, write letters,etc. Fortunately, many individuals in groups listed as neutral or opposed to I-696 are donating time and money to get this initiative passed. A leader of a TU chapter told me he only knew one chapter member who wasn't voting Yes on 696. A Sierra Club friend gathered numerous signatures and gave me a generous check to help get the nets out. The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association has ties to commercial fishermen. The political webbing that ties some of these groups together is not only hard to see, it's hard to figure out.