Northwest Fishing Reports

Or as we say in the Army: A-Tin-Hut

WDWF has a proposal on the table that will significantly alter fishing in ALL Puget Sound Marine Areas. Included in the just released Puget Sound Rockfish Conservation Plan http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=oct1909a are proposals for a series of Marine Protection Areas (no fishing zones) and a 120' maximum fishing depth limit in Puget Sound. For the purposes of their "Plan" Puget Sound is defined as Marine Areas 5-13 including all of Hood Canal, the Straits and the San Juan Islands.

We are asking as many of you as possible attend the first public meeting at the Mill Creek WDFW office and/or submit comments to WDFW. If you have PSA or CCA gear, please wear it to the meeting. Parking is limited at the Mill Creek facility but there is plenty of parking across the street. Bring your fishing buddies, neighbors, wives and kids.

Our immediate goal is to get the 30 day public review and comment period extended to a full 90 days. Thirty days is too short of a time period for organizations like PSA and CCA to do a complete review and provide comment on behalf of their membership.



• Oct. 29 – From 7-9 p.m. in Mill Creek at WDFW’s Mill Creek office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd.
• Nov. 2 – From noon-2 p.m. in Friday Harbor in the Commons Room at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor laboratory, 620 University Road.
• Nov. 4 – From 7-9 p.m. in Olympia in room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E.
• Nov. 6 – From 4-6 p.m. in Port Townsend in the Raven Room at Skookum Inc., 385 Benedict St.

A minor victory!

Comment period extended, meetings added
on Puget Sound rockfish conservation plan

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has extended the public comment period on a new draft conservation plan for rockfish in Puget Sound and has scheduled three additional public meetings to discuss the plan with the public.
Under the new timeline, WDFW will accept comments on the draft conservation plan through Jan. 4, 2010. The draft conservation plan is the preferred alternative among several presented in a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which is required by the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
The DEIS and draft conservation plan are available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/management/rockfish . Those who would like a copy of the plan on a compact disc or in print can call (360) 902-2844.
"We decided to extend the deadline and add additional public meetings after receiving numerous requests from people to allow for more time to review the plan and provide comments," said Craig Burley, WDFW fish division manager.
The draft conservation plan provides the framework for new strategies and actions in areas including fisheries, monitoring and education to conserve and protect rockfish populations in Puget Sound. Three species of rockfish in Puget Sound - bocaccio, yelloweye and canary rockfish - currently are being considered for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Comments can be submitted by email to SEPAdesk2@dfw.wa.gov , by FAX to (360) 902-2946, or by U.S. Mail to: WDFW SEPA Desk, 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091.
In addition, people can submit comments, as well as discuss the draft plan with WDFW staff, during public meetings scheduled for:
Nov. 30 - From 7-9 p.m. at the Bremerton City Hall, 345 6th Street, Bremerton .
Dec. 2 - From 7-9 p.m. at the Seattle Aquarium , 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle.
Dec. 3 - From 7-9 p.m. in Angst Hall at Skagit Valley College’s Mount Vernon Campus, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon .

Thanks to all who showed up at the public meetings. I guess the WDFW had no idea of what they were getting themselves into by trying to railroad their proposal through the approval process.

Is anyone planning to attend this? Its tomorrow At the Seattle aquarium and thursday at Mt Vernon.


Public Meetings
Public review of the WDFW Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Puget Sound Rockfish Conservation Plan, which is required under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), began on October 19, 2009.

In addition, people can submit comments, as well as discuss the draft plan with WDFW staff, during public meetings scheduled for:

* Bremerton - Nov. 30
From 7-9 p.m. at the Bremerton City Hall, 345 6th Street, Bremerton.

* Seattle Aquarium - Dec. 2
From 7-9 p.m. at the Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle.

* Mount Vernon - Dec. 3
From 7-9 p.m. in Angst Hall at Skagit Valley College’s Mount Vernon Campus, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon.