And another that is in !!!!!



Commissioners:

has been a long public process that was designed to develop a management framework for Willapa bay salmon fisheries. WDFW persists in maintaining that the foundation for management decisions be science. To that end the process included the use of the most up-to-date tools, including the All-H-Analyzer (AHA model). Repeated iterations showed that the MAXIMUM terminal exploitation that would allow for recovery on a 20-year time frame for Chinook was 14%. Based on this, Grays Harbor-Willapa Advocacy and numerous advisers developed and supported a management plan that aimed at a 14% exploitation, knowing full well that the WDFW track record in Willapa bay has been to severely underestimate actual exploitation.

WDFW staff did not even provide the Commission with this scenario, much less an explanation as to why the only model to show recovery was not at least presented.

Willapa Bay is unique in Washington. It is the only area where management is the sole responsibility of WDF. The Federal Government is not involved as there are currently no ESA-listed salmonids and the are no co-managers. To that end, Willapa Bay should be a shining example of how well WDFW can manage salmonids, can achieve HSRG goals, can achieve escapement targets. There should be no excuses for Willapa Bay not being a shining example of how salmon management can be done. Unfortunately, without strong direction from Commission that emphasizes long-term conservation over short-term ease this will not occur.

I urge the Commission to adopt the 14% maximum Chinook exploitation for Willapa Bay and further direct WDFW staff to exercise hands-on management to ensure escapement goals are met.