AuntyM and Ramon

I think Dave Croonquist's letter needs to be out in the open because it is a concise response to why he, as an individual, cannot support WT on the lawsuit issue. I think it is also important to know that the Puget Sound Anglers board of directors has agreed as a group in a unanimous vote representing some 3,000 members that we cannot support WT on this lawsuit issue. That certainly doesn't mean that we don't have members who disagree it only means we haven't heard from any of them if they do.

Here is Dave's response to Ramon:
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Listed below is one of the Puget Sound Anglers response to the above letter


Ramon,

Thank you for your response. I am relatively new to the Puget Sound Anglers (PSA) and have been back in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years since I retired. I am generally familiar with the issues revolving around salmon recovery and know that it has been and will continue to be an interesting and challenging process.

Your communication has been passed along to the PSA Board. Our next Board meeting is scheduled for October so any information that needs to be passed along to the PSA chapters concerning the Washington Trout Notice of Intent to Sue will be moot by then.

My response to you, and Washington Trout, tonight is as an individual. I am not speaking on behalf of either the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of PSA nor the PSA State Board and its affiliated chapters.

I have reviewed the WT Notice of Intent to Sue. While I do not deny that there are issues with hatchery vs. "wild/native/locally adapted" salmonid stocks, your Notice of Intent to Sue is, in my opinion, very disturbing in its structure and if it should end up going to court - win or lose, has the potential to sound the death knell for all private, state, federal, or tribal hatchery programs. This is one issue where I cannot, do not, and will not agree with Washington Trout.

As a species, mankind has done an excellent job of manipulating ecosystems and damaging or destroying many other species. As far as hatchery production is concerned you can look at any other state or country and see the results of mankind trying to manipulate fisheries stocks "for the better". Carp, German Brown Trout, Stripers, Shad, Tench, Walleye, the list goes on and on. The releases were done because someone or some group or some agency thought that local fishing could use a shot in the arm by introducing a new or hybridized species. The WDFW does not stand alone in making mistakes with fish production and to single them out in this Notice appears to be self-serving. There are 38 other state, federal, tribal, and private hatcheries whose production is also impacting listed species, yet they are not listed in your Notice.

You argue that WDFW is not meeting NMFS guidelines in a timely manner, yet your organization is also challenging NMFS on some of its actions. It appears to me that your organization is working on fringe issues rather than coming to the table and working together with the necessary/appropriate agencies and non-governmental organizations to address the issue of habitat loss, ocean conditions, high seas harvest, and related issues that must be corrected before we can even begin to consider the modifications of hatchery
production.

Additionally, your Notice comes at a time when WDFW is in the middle of the Hatchery Scientific Review Group (HSRG) investigation into how the WDFW and the other tribal and federal agencies can adapt existing programs to help recover wild salmon and to continue the very important facet of providing for a sustainable fisheries. The HSRG recognizes the potential threats to ESA listed species and is already working with the appropriate state, tribal, and federal managers to see that the various programs be operated to minimize the risks to endangered fish. WTs stated purpose, in your press release, of shutting down all state-run Chinook hatcheries, would have far-reaching consequences, not only on any recovery projects, but also on local economies and would also curtail license purchases, thus impacting the WDFW budgeting. I would hope that WT would come to the table with the HSRG
to provide its perspective on the issues rather than trying to drive a wedge into the process and diverting WDFW personnel and money to defending itself against your Notice.

I appreciate your taking the time to listen to some of my concerns. I expect that there will be issues in the future where I can support your objectives. This isn't one of them.

Sincerely,

Dave Croonquist