This has been very informational and addresses several very serious issues. But Drifter and Sebastes have put me in a dilemma. Do I believe that WDFW fines should go back to the agency? The argument for doing this is that it will make writing tickets worthy of the officers' efforts and help fund additional LE - something we seem to desire to stem wanton criminal behavior and thereby protect our wildlife resources. The other side of the argument is that officers who are dependent upon that revenue will be more inclined to write pissy tickets over issues that should have been, instead, an opportunity for informing the public - a positive experience. In order to steer a middle ground I suggest that where there is a ticket issued for failure to obtain some type of permit or license that the fine include the cost of the missing permit/license and that only that portion go back to the agency (if that is not already the case).

As for the CRC I have a real problem with that endorsement being morphed into an ongoing and increased revenue source. Keep in mind that it was created at the request of the recreational crabbing community to document the actual amount of crab caught recreationally in Puget Sound for the express purpose of addressing the grossly unfair allocation of the State's share between commercial and recreational crabbers. That goal has been achieved.

If the intent is that we now want to use that instrument to provide ongoing LE and technical positions then I have the following thoughts:

1. Recreational crabbers already pay exponentially more to WDFW per crab caught than does the commercial fleet. Maybe we need to see a substantial increase in the commercial license fees and/or landing fees and be sure that all of that money goes into the management of the overall crab fishery.

2. All recreational crabbers must purchase a shellfish license. If we are going to morph the P.S. endorsement into a vehicle for funding ongoing management of this fishery then I suggest that this approach be applied to all other activities licensed by WDFW (note: this seems to be the situation with the Columbia River and tribs endorsement). How about a razor clam endorsement to fund LE and technical efforts for that popular activity? Deer endorsement? Elk endorsement? And the list goes on and on.....Is this really what we want to do?

I also agree with JohnQ that outside monies should not be subject to the 15% Financial Management fee. Period. And that any across the board cuts should apply only to General Funds monies. Looks to me like WDFW is being punished because of the amount of outside monies coming into the agency. We need to remember that much of that outside money is generated by Federal taxes on manufacturers of certain outdoor related goods. Those empowering Federal Acts and their taxes were initiated and supported by sportsmen and sportswomen; safe to say it is OUR money.

Finally, it is apparent that WDFW LE folks are increasingly being utilized as general law enforcement either as first responders or support. My problem with that is the funding. Maybe WDFW should be able to be reimbursed by the State for LE time plus OH for any general LE efforts (that is, any that are not directly related to enforcement of our fish and wildlife regulations).

My head hurts thinking about this.....