Why does the WDFW not heavily recruit the world-class talent that comes out of the #1 fisheries school in the nation? Why do most of those talented graduates tend to work for NOAA or other agencies? You'd think WDFW would be camped out at the doors...especially around this time of year when a lot of world class talent is graduating.

I don't think the data is outdated. The tribes or the state has the data. WDFW is outdated on their models/science and seems to be a bit lacking in the ability to get them updated. The talent is there and in place, but generally their ideas are squashed by upper management.

As was mentioned before....the WDFW can have the best modeler, quantitative guru, genomics expert in the world, but if their bosses don't/won't listen to them due to their own career gains and/or political agenda, that talent goes to waste, or put to use on other projects.

Add in a lot of politics and bureaucracy and I'd say that's your answer.