Originally Posted By: Salmo g.

Because a small number of non-treaty commercial fishermen and a couple seafood buyer/processors are better connected politically and financially and don't want to give up their welfare subsidy fishing, courtesy of WA state taxpayers.


Besides the commercial fishing industry is so much more efficient in providing the complimentary seafood essential to a legislator's cocktail party. Like the theme from Ghost Busters, "When the party's on, and you need some fish, Who you gonna call?"

Is this practice going on now, I don't know. Has it gone on in the past? According to one of my hunting/fishing partners, who was a lobbyist in both Washingtons, it did, and it helped explain the symbiotic relationship between our elected leaders and the commercial fishing industry.