FOR JUST THE second time in more than 90 years U.S. and Canadian members of the six-person International Pacific Halibut Commission adjourned their annual meeting in Portland last week without reaching agreement on how to make conservation cuts in the annual harvest.
Surveys indicate declines in the numbers of young halibut that represent the future of the fishery. Both U.S. and Canadian commissioners believe that harvest cuts are required, but the panel of three Americans and three Canadians disagreed on which nation would bear more of the brunt from cuts.
Halibut anglers shouldn’t panic; the disagreement won’t scuttle the upcoming season.
The fallback position when there is no agreement is to revert to the previous year’s harvest numbers. The U.S. did impose cuts over the 2017 quota, a 10,000-pound reduction for Area 2A (Washington, Oregon, California), but those three states will share 1.32 million pounds.
Sequim angler Dave Croonquist attended the meeting with John Beath, Croonquist representing the Coastal Conservation Association, and Beath the Puget Sound Anglers.
They provided information from the week-long meeting.
“With an allowance for discard and bycatch mortality, we should have about 1,190,000 pounds for 2A,” Croonquist said. “If my calculations are correct the tribes will get 35 percent or 391,650 pounds. The remaining 65 percent is split four ways — with the non-tribal commercial fleet getting 254,573 — the Washington sport fleet getting 258,937, minus the sablefish fleet share (up to 50,000 pounds) which will leave the Washington sport share at 214,110 pounds; Oregon will have 216,023 and California will have 29,094 pounds.”
More canal clamming
The sport clam season has been extended on Point Whitney Tidelands based on increased populations of all species of clams.
The Point Whitney Tidelands are near Brinnon, on the west side of Hood Canal in Jefferson County.
Results from population, harvest and effort assessments contributed to the decision.
The clam season at Point Whitney Tidelands runs concurrently with the clam season at Point Whitney Lagoon from Jan. 1 through April 30.
Trophy trout talk
A slide presentation, “Washington Trophy Trout,” will be offered by Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishers members Don Wilcox and Ross Antipa at the club’s Monday meeting.
Wilcox and Antipa will focus on productive waters to fish in Washington.
Their talk will be followed by a fly-tying demonstration by Bob Coons. Coons will tie the “Mini Intruder” fly.
The fly fishing club will meet at the Campfire USA Clubhouse, 619 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, at 7 p.m.
Master Hunter Permit
Fish and Wildlife will accept applications for its Master Hunter Permit Program through Feb. 15.
The program is designed to promote safe, lawful and ethical hunting, and to strengthen Washington’s hunting heritage and conservation ethic.
Fish and Wildlife enlists master hunters for controlled hunts to remove wildlife that damage property.
Master hunters also participate in volunteer projects involving access to private lands, habitat enhancement, data collection, hunter education and landowner relations.
“To qualify for the program, applicants must demonstrate a high level of skill and be committed to lawful and ethical hunting practices,” said David Whipple, hunter education division manager.
Hunters enrolling in the program must pay a $50 application fee, pass a criminal background check, pass a written test, demonstrate shooting proficiency, provide at least 20 hours of approved volunteer service and meet other qualifications described on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/masterhunter/
Whipple encourages individuals who enroll in the program to prepare thoroughly for the written test, because applicants are allowed only one chance to re-take the exam.
There are approximately 1,650 certified master hunters currently enrolled in the program, which is administered by WDFW’s Wildlife Program.
For more information, or an application, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-MasterHunter18.
Cougar talk today
As a proud Washington State University graduate, I couldn’t let a lecture on cougars go without a mention.
The social interactions of cougars is the topic of today’s free Studium Generale presentation in the Little Theater at Peninsula College.
The talk will be held at 12:35 p.m.
Recent scientific research is showing the cougar, long belived to be a solitary mammal, is far more social than previously understood.
Dr. Mark Elbroch, lead scientist for Panthera, a conservation organization that supports research and sharing science, will deliver the talk.
Elbroch and his team found that interactions between mountain lions are largely driven by reciprocity.
A cougar that shares a kill with another mountain lion is 7.7 times more likely to receive a meal from the same cougar in the future, the research found.
“That kind of shattered everything we thought we knew about the animal,” Elbroch said.
Elbroch’s presentation will include video clips of cougars interacting in wild.
On the prowl
Quilcene’s Ward Norden, a former fisheries biologist and owner of Snapper Tackle Company, passed along a game camera photo of a cougar.
“Thought you might enjoy this photo of this fellow about 100 feet from our house,” Norden said. “This is the best time of year to purposefully hunt these majestic predators in our area. Since using dogs is no longer legal, a good call is required.
“Because all the leaves are off the bushes and the grass laid flat, this is the best time to see the cat coming your way. I call this season the ‘hungry time’ for predators when food is hard to come by so they have to keep moving.
Cougar hunting is based on harvest guidelines inside the state’s game management units. Some game management units have reached their harvest guideline, while others still have animals remaining for harvest until the guideline is reached or April 30, whichever occurs first.
For updated information on cougar hunting, visit wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/cougar.
