To be honest I don't really see how both user groups fishing would work out any other way than letting the tribes go first. Their fisheres are a few days at a whack, usually 24-48 hours depending upon landings. We want to have a July 1 - September season that runs most of every week. We can't expect them to go get their commercial share AFTER Septemeber.... Having them go first keeps gear conflict down, and allows us our long drawn out cushy season that is very poorly monitored.
If you're worried about quota overages I think the rec crabber needs to take a long hard look in the mirror. Recreational crab harvests in PS are one of the most under-monitored fisheries with the highest derelict gear bycatch and most "cowboy" harvest taking place from beach homes....
Just be happy they let us go!
"One of the most undermonitored" as compared to what?? As a beach property owner I know I have been checked more than enough times to take exception to both the undermonitored comment as well as the "cowboy" harvest assertion. Got any facts to back up that accusation? Oh, and when they aren't actually checking they are watching! Where do you think most of the endorsement money is being spent?
As to bycatch, again compared to what? Yes, there is bycatch but mortality is fairly low given the required escape mechanisms. Those features are checked when WDFW makes a contact on crabbers over which it has authority and WDFW LEO reports indicate a low rate of violation.
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