Even if it's scientifically correct to include surfperch with bottomfish (for which fishing is to be closed), it's not a good idea to do that in a communication meant to "clarify" that surfperch are still open.

WDFW communications dept. has been bad about publishing confusing and misleading announcements of late. Hope they shore that up, because they're communicating more and more emergency changes all the time, and it's not good to confuse people when enangered species and citizens' rights often hang in the balance.

What complicates things is that by law (not science), surfperch is a bottomfish.

WAC 220-16-340

General definitions—Bottomfish.

The term "bottomfish," unless otherwise provided, is defined as including Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, Pacific hake, walleye pollock all species of dabs, sole and flounders (except Pacific halibut), lingcod and all other species of greenling, ratfish, sablefish, cabezon, buffalo sculpin, great sculpin, red Irish lord, brown Irish lord, Pacific staghorn sculpin, wolf-eel, giant wry mouth, plainfin midshipman, spiny dogfish, six gill shark, soupfin shark and all other species of shark, and all species of skate, rockfish, rattails and surfperches except shiner perch.

[quote=FleaFlickr02), it's not a good idea to do that in a communication meant to "clarify" that surfperch are still open.

WDFW communications dept. has been bad about publishing confusing and misleading announcements of late. Hope they shore that up, because they're communicating more and more emergency changes all the time, and it's not good to confuse people when enangered species and citizens' rights often hang in the balance.[/quote]

I'm thinking that "clarify" is not taught in the college classes that many people get in a college degree.

For sure, WDFW has a recent history of "publishing confusing and misleading announcements" has been on the increase the past few years".

I went to college 1964-1964, majored in Business.....in any of the writing classes I took.......the "KISS" philosophy was followed......Keep It Simple Stupid !!!! To this day I try to follow that!!!!!

Don't try to Wow people with pages of bullshxt.....KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!!!

Not sure why a nearshore/pelagic fish would be defined as a "bottom fish" or demersal species..... I guess they just had to lump them in somewhere.

WAC's are not "laws", they are rules made by WDFW and can be changed by WDFW through the rules process. RCW's are "laws" passed by the legislature.. So, if bottom fish are defined in a WAC it is very easy for the Department to change it.