The above comparisons are just for license revenues since that was the thread topic. But that is only a part of the crab value story so for those who may have missed it:

The WDFW used 2006 economic values for recreational activity ($43.00/day) and still came up with the 2009/2010 recreational value at $15,255,000 (352,148 estimated angler trips). Adjusting for inflation it should have been $16,475,400. THAT WAS FOR 1/3 OF THE STATE'S PORTION OF P.S. CRAB!

The WDFW provided a consumer price index adjusted ex vessel (payment to fishermen) average of $6,251,767 (2007-2009). THAT WAS FOR 2/3 OF THE STATE'S PORTION OF P.S. CRAB!

For true comparison take the 2/3 commercial ex vessel value of $6,251,767 and half it to $3,125,884 for a 1/3 value.

Thus a commercial ex vessel 1/3 is $3,125,884 whereas the recreational 1/3 has a value of $16,475,400 - both in current dollars. That is a ratio of 1:5.27.

Remember that only 40% of commercially caught P.S. crab are marketed within the State whereas 32% goes to other States and 28% goes out of country.

One more tidbit for consideration:

The three year (2008-2010) average for issuance of P.S. endorsements was 223,188. The average recreational catch over the same period was roughly 1,276,800 pounds or 672,000 crab at 1.9#/crab. On a pro rata basis each Puget Sound recreational crabber would harvest three (3) crab!

Please consider these when evaluating who is in line for increases in license fees and the amount of those proposed increases. I am willing to pay my fair share and more but I have a real problem when the commercial extractor is essentially paying pennies to our dollars.

Edit Note: My figures vary somewhat from LL's in large part because I used 1.9 pounds/crab which is a number also provided by WDFW. As I recall the SAO audit report made a recommendation that WDFW needs to have one weight per crab (they had two in play as average crab weight varies by area). I also used a three year average for endorsements.