Regarding the recent letter in Peninsula Voices (“Fish quotas,” March 19), I would like the community to be aware of some additional information about this matter.
The Washington sports fishery has been capped at 214,110 pounds of halibut for many years.
The commercial sablefish fishery has seen an average of 40,000 pounds annually given to them from the sport fishing quota for the “incidental catch of halibut” during their fishery.
The sport fleet should have had an extra 93,000-plus pounds this year and is getting just over 23,000 pounds added to our base, with the sablefish fleet getting 70,000 pounds.
As a Port Angeles city councilman, I advocated for a resolution in support of recreational halibut fishers.
My No. 1 concern is safety on the water.
A three-day season means that many fishermen will go out in any kind of weather, even if it’s dangerous, because it is the only time they can fish.
It’s worth noting that the U.S. Coast Guard in Seattle shares these same safety concerns.
Our recently adopted city council resolution is asking the International Pacific Halibut Commission, working through the federal and state agencies, to give consideration to managing the sportfishing share on a per-fish basis, not pounds landed.
We’re advocating for one fish per day and two fish in possession in the field.
An annual limit of six fish, within a longer season structure, will get the sport fleet away from the current derby mentality.
Such a season structure will also have positive economic impacts on the North Olympic Peninsula and coastal communities, something we sorely need.
I’m proud to hang my hat with the recreational fishermen.
Lee Whetham,
Port Angeles