THERE’S STILL HOPE of salvaging a recreational salmon fishing season inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca, according to Brandon Mason of Mason’s Olson’s Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu.
“I just got a phone call that there’s potential for a deal by Tuesday,” Mason said Wednesday.
“That’s the scuttlebutt, for now.”
Rumor aside, the truth is a week remains for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and treaty tribes to reach an agreement on salmon fisheries inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and their tributaries.
The National Marine Fisheries Service must approve any plan and provide listing on the Federal Register by Thursday, April 28.
Mason, who represents Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) as an adviser to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, attended last week’s North of Falcon negotiations in Vancouver, Wash.
No deal for salmon seasons in inside waters was achieved between Fish and Wildlife and treaty tribes at those meetings, nor in talks held Tuesday between the state and tribes.
In fact, Fish and Wildlife issued a news release that state fishery managers have decided to separately secure the federal permit required to hold salmon fisheries this season.
“We had hoped additional conversations with the tribes would result in fisheries that were agreeable to both parties,” Fish and Wildlife director Jim Unsworth said in the release.
“Unfortunately, that did not happen, but our door remains open to further discussions.”
Tribal fishing interests have already submitted a tribal fishing plan for federal approval.
The prospect of a summer with no salmon fishing is a grim one for the populations of Sekiu and Clallam Bay.
“It’s not officially official yet. And the WDFW says the door is still open,” Mason said.
“But a shutdown would be pretty scary. Scary for the whole community out here. It’s the sports fishermen that keep these little towns going.”
Mason said he knew the chances of seeing a coho season approved were slim to none when he set out for the meetings.
“I knew it was going to be tough to get a coho fishery, but I went with the expectation that we would work, find a compromise on chinook and conduct a fishery,” Mason said.
But the gap between the state and tribal concerns was too great to come to an agreement.
“There are so many players that are involved in these negotiations, it makes it so tough to find a consensus,” Mason said.
“It comes down to needing to get a better season-setting system, one that makes it more fair for everybody to enjoy the natural resources.
“And I support conservation efforts because we need to ensure that we have fish for future generations.”
Fish and Wildlife’s decision to go it alone in negotiating salmon seasons drew support from recreational fishing groups such as the Puget Sound Anglers, Coastal Conservation Association, the Northwest Marine Trades Association and the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association.
Those groups crafted a statement in support of breaking off talks.
“We especially want to express our appreciation for the effort of director Jim Unsworth as he attempted to make the North of Falcon co-management process a success,” Pat Pattillo, spokesman for the Puget Sound sport fishing industry and former Fish and Wildlife fish policy biologist, said in the statement.
By working closely with the recreational fishing community, Pattillo said that Fish and Wildlife constructed a scientifically sound and cautious fishing plan to address the predicted critical condition of coho and the ongoing Endangered Species Act-listed status of regional chinook.
“Unfortunately, the tribes refused to consider Fish and Wildlife’s very reasonable plan that called for the tribes to craft similarly conservative seasons for their own fisheries,” Pattillo said.
Pattillo said proven resource management techniques such as mark-selective and catch-and-release fisheries also were offered and dismissed.
“The tribal rejection of Fish and Wildlife’s proposed fishing plan challenged a fundamental tenet of the North of Falcon co-manager negotiation process — respect of each party’s needs and acceptance of the unique but different values placed on how fisheries are conducted,” Pattillo said.
“Fish and Wildlife and the recreational community support the tribes’ right to conduct tribal fisheries in any manner or by any method they might choose.
“Clearly the North of Falcon process needs a fundamental change.”
Mason agrees and also understands the frustration felt by recreational anglers who may have to sit out salmon season.
There also is considerable support from recreational anglers to stay firm in any further negotiations this year in a bid to improve prospects at better seasons in future years.
“That’s right to an extent, but I look at it a lot different than anybody else. All we have is fishing, and a little bit of fishing is better than none,” Mason said.
Mason said concerned anglers should contact decision makers with the state.
“The more people that can reach out to the right officials, it sure would help,” he said.
A few important email addresses with Fish and Wildlife are: director Jim Unsworth at jim.unsworth@dfw.wa.gov; assistant fish director Ron Warren at ron.warren@dfw.wa.gov; salmon policy lead John Long at john.long@dfw.wa.gov.
The email address for J.T. Austin, Gov. Jay Inslee’s policy advisor on fish management, is jt.austin@gov.wa.gov.
Beath knows halibut
Expert fisherman John Beath will offer tips, tricks and techniques tailored to catch halibut in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) at the tonight’s meeting of the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
The meeting will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., at 6:45 p.m.
The state’s short halibut season is planned for just eight days this season, and will open Saturday, May 7.
Beath, a chapter member and guide, will cover tides and currents, top baits, lures, anchoring, chumming, drifting and jigging, and share images, local charts and video of halibut fishing.
Beath is the owner of SquidPro Tackle, www.Halibut.net and www.HalibutChronicles.com.
For more information about Puget Sound Anglers, visit www.psanopc.org.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
