continuing on...

While trying to compare the differences between the success of Florida and Washington’s failure with out of state fishing tourism in one word, I could not believe the word came up as “hostile.” The hostile environment in Washington due to rules and regulations etc. has a direct impact regarding the availability, reliability, and quantity of fish while vying for the potential non-resident anglers dollars.

Hostile is unreliable marine and river seasons around Puget Sound and the state;

1) Hostile not only to both in and out of state sport anglers but the whole recreational industry itself affecting jobs /employment while manufacturing and selling boats and sporting goods etc.

2) Hostile to the many smaller moms and pop tackle shops and larger sporting good stores too that have gone out of business one-by-one.

3) Hostile to fishing guides and to their out of state or state clients that book reservations and put in for vacation well in advance just to find out the fishery is closed.

Hostile is allocation issues using Puget Sound halibut as an example where the Alaskan ground fishing fleet, managed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and with the blessing of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), catches and dumps many times more dead halibut overboard as by-catch than the whole Puget Sound allocation--- where the PS season is measured in days.

Hostile is the state legislature cutting funding to WDFW by 10’s of millions of dollars over the past 8 years, and now wants to dump this biennium shortfall of $25 million on the sport angling citizens and their families with a major proposed increase in license fees. The 1987 legislative finding and intent found under notes of RCW 77.04.020 states adequate funding for proper management, now and for future generations, is the responsibility of everyone.

Then look what pops up along the Pacific coast recently putting another nail in the coffin with regulations reducing season length and harvest regarding rock fish and the like.

Apparently, subsidized commercial ocean fisheries must be protected by all cost, while at the expense of potential economic benefits to the state and local government through tourism and out of state fishing fees.

And the list could go on and on…

It sure would be nice if my home state would give us the ability to be able to live and fish in a much less “hostile” environment.