Originally Posted By: ReefSkunk
Looks to me like the state may end up with the 2 week season they wanted in the first place, if we’re “lucky!”


Hiring the employees to run a presumptive 6 week season, well before the season length was set or approved, seems like a pretty big blunder by WDFW on several fronts. I know I’d get fired if I hired a bunch of employees without knowing if or when I’d actually need them.

I’d be curious to know if those people are being paid to perform other tasks, if they’re being paid to do nothing, if they’re sitting around waiting to maybe work etc.


The state didn't ever advocate for a two week season. That was the remark of the regional biologist before he was given the authorization and budget to hire technicians to do the monitoring work.

It takes time to hire and train personnel, so WDFW hired technicians on the time frame provided to them by NMFS. They really expected to be able to begin the fishing season around the first of March. Clearly, NMFS dropped the ball. The technicians have been assigned to other, but lower priority, work until the fishing season opens or the funding runs out.

Sg