Any objective evaluation will recognize the utter management failure that the new WB policy has been. We took the top small boat chinook recreational chinook fishery and one of the top commercial non-treaty chinook fisheries in the state and have essentially eliminated them both, while spending more money on hatcheries, and realizing no conservation benefit. It is the definition of perfect mismanagement-- they have simultaneously minimized benefit for all competing sectors with their decisions. Who would have thought that was even possible a decade ago?

I am afraid there will be no change in WB until there is a major shakeup in senior management at WDFW. It is clear the senior managers have decided the course is irrevocably set, that facts are irrelevant, and WB fisheries are expendable. That was apparent about 6 years ago and nothing has changed since.

The commission apparently lacks the courage for any substantive change in management approach, so we're stuck with this mess.

The only meaningful recourse would appear to be political or legal. Logic, reason, and data carry no weight at WDFW when it comes to WB.

The whole thing is so very very disappointing.