Remember that "The Tribes" are not a monolith, single entity and that NWIFC has no power or standing.

NWIFC is an organization that coordinates tribal actions, negotiation, etc. It does not decide for the tribes; each Tribe does that. Those history fans will remember how well the US of A functioned under the Articles of Confederation where the colonies were a collection of independent states. Or, for a more modern application, the NWIFC is the UN of Tribes. As long as they all agree.

Long way to say that one tribe, objecting to one fishery, can throw out the agreement. The Tribes will work hard to present a united front, cast actions as conservation, so open meetings showing one or two objectors derailing the negotiations is not good.

And WDFW? If they get no season they sell damn few licenses which results in a much smaller and less functional (teed that oe up for ya all) organization. They have to get something to survive.

Anybody know, if after last year's fiasco, if WDFW sent proposed bass, perch, resident trout fishery reg package to NOAA for approval? Those don't need to be hung up on ESA/salmon so they must have done so. Right? They might also have tried to develop their own package and be ready to submit if things go south. That would at least get NOAA in DC's headlights now.