Leadership has its price. The WSC may have initially alienated some potential members due to its advocacy of statewide wild steelhead release. I expect that many of those who are really dedicated to their fishing will eventually come around and support the organization.
Consider that when the Skagit River CNR season began in 1981, the rate of angler participation was quite low. People weren't used to it, some thought that if the run couldn't support a kill fishery then the river should be closed, and others probably hadn't formed an opinion. As word began to spread of very successful fishing experiences, many who initially opposed the CNR season became very active participants.

Similarly, when B.C. switched to wild steelhead CNR as a conservation measure, it was not widely supported by the angling public, either. However, people got used to it, and realized that wild steelhead populations could no longer support the combined demands of commercial net interceptions, Indian subsistence fishing, habitat degradation, in addition to large scale angling mortality. Now, unless you travel to Kamchatka, most people belive that B.C. offers the world's premier wild steelhead fishery. B.C.'s steelhead management has stood the test of over 20 years on some of its rivers. One simply cannot say that wild steelhead CNR doesn't work. If there is any habitat left, and other sources of mortality are not excessive, it works.

So WSC has selected that as an initial goal. It certainly got the WDFW Commission and managers' attention. The fact that it wasn't adopted in December is not a failure of purpose. Just as Rome was not built in a day, most conservation measures are successful over time through persistence and just simply being right.

This and other conservation measures will eventually be adopted by society. The alternative is for society to write off wild steelhead as a meaningful element of our state's heritage. WSC can be a powerful unifying force by helping to retain angling opportunity while implementing effective conservation measures. This action helps keep anglers dedicated to conservation, rather than taking up golf and forgetting about the fish. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. If the state simply closes fishing, the majority of anglers who support conservation issues are likely over time to lose interest and move on to other interests and activities. Then who will advocate for wild fish?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.