It would be a mistake to assume that NOAA is trying to do anything here except provide an incentive for the Tribes and WDFW to reach an agreement in NoF. That is exactly the role NOAA should be playing. The message here is that failure to reach an agreement brings enormous risks (legal, economic, political) to both WDFW and the Tribes. So it's in the best interest of all parties to reach an agreement. Indeed, if they fail, both parties will be wrapped in bureaucratic red tape rather than fishing. And they won't be able to cut thru the red tape until the fishing season is over.

But NOAA also points out that non-Tribal fisheries in Puget Sound seems to have exceeded their Chinook allocation in 2015. And that's not good. But that's just the facts.....

Lastly, the acronym of the day: LOAF - List of Agreed Fisheries. LOL.

Only in government.......