BAKER SOCKEYE WORKSHOP – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
10 A.M. TILL NOON
MILL CREEK REGIONAL OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
16018 MILL CREEK BLVD, MILL CREEK, WA



We need to show the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, that we are serious about the department insuring that sports anglers get a fairer shake on Baker Lake sockeye harvest opportunities. Sports anglers fishing Baker Lake for sockeye this summer were very disappointed with the inequity in the 2014 harvest of Baker sockeye as it now appears that the tribal harvest share may have approached 80%. Preliminary data suggests that the tribes harvested 12,000 to 13,000 sockeye with the recreational harvest being in the range of only 3,000 to 4,000. The strong public blow-back has led to an agreement with the department to hold a public workshop, scheduled for Saturday morning, November 1, 10 a.m. till noon, at the WDFW Mill Creek Regional Office (16018 Mill Creek Blvd, Mill Creek, WA 98012), to discuss how this unfortunate problem can be avoided in future years. The pre-season 2014 Baker forecast was 35,377 sockeye. The actual run estimate is expected to have come in near 27,000. This is the second year in row that the pre-season estimate of the Baker sockeye run was much too high, resulting in another harvest inequity because the lake anglers are the last in line to fish for the sockeye. As sockeye not harvested in Skagit River tribal fisheries enter the Baker River trap at Concrete, an in-season update of the run estimate can be made while it is still possible to make adjustments in fisheries. Tribal harvest numbers are available relatively soon after each of their fisheries. No in-season run update was made this year until it was too late to avoid the overharvest of sockeye by the tribes. A buffer in the pre-season run estimate could mitigate the problem to large degree with last minute adjustments made in both tribal and sport harvests in either direction based on a timely in-season run update. if used in conjunction with a pre-season buffer as is now done with Columbia River spring Chinook fisheries. The workshop will allow the public to help the department develop a better harvest management model that would still allow the tribes to get their fair share of the harvest, but also provide more equitable sharing by the sports. Interested Baker Lake sockeye anglers are encouraged to attend the workshop. We need to get a good turnout to validate this special time with the department or there might not be another similar opportunity. Encourage your Baker sockeye fishing friends and relatives to show up. Contact Frank Urabeck at 253-208-7323 or urabeck@comcast.net, or Michael Bakke, at 360 – 510-1427 if you have any questions or thoughts.