The slope is slippery. Moving to GFS removes/reduces the direct input of the consumptive user.

I started out in WDG, pretty much entirely fee-based. And was made clear from day 1 that we worked for the license holders. Our job was to provide them with fish to catch. Conservation was somewhat secondary to harvest.

I moved to WDF, they were GFS-based. I think, back then, that their licenses were free. In any case, the mindset my workgroup had was that the escapement goal was sacrosanct. IF we met or exceeded it then we would preserve fisheries. We had this mindset because we were employed by the whole State, just not the users.

WDFW needs major help interns of funding, not only the sources but the amounts. They need a wholesale change in management paradigms and accountability.

I am not for simply giving this group more money and hoping (as Sen. Collins said) "they learned their lesson". We need a reasonable idea of how to get the change we need accomplished.