So… I have a couple of thoughts that run around in my head… so… let’s see if this plays out…

If someone was a racist (or whatever) 10 years ago, and there has been know sign of a mindset change, and today they say I am not a racist anymore… do we just believe that or do we need to see a sign of a change?

Here is why I ask … I found this on the web and it is old but I wonder if the mindset has changed… http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/news/1998/5-28-98.php

“…."Clearly, we dispute Canada's claim that there is 'irrefutable evidence' of a region-wide coho crisis. However, to the extent there are problems this year, Alaska will step up to the plate and address conservation needs," said David Benton, Alaska's commissioner to the Pacific Salmon Commission.
Coho harvest in southeast Alaska average 2-3 million fish per year. The vast majority are of Alaska origin. Dr. Jeff Koenings, head of Alaska's Coho Response Team, and author of the report noted that any conservation actions taken by Alaska will come at a significant cost to Alaska's fishing families. …”

I understand that we need to be concerned about the welfare of families (and people first) but, the logic says if you fish the fish to extinction those families then would have nothing to do either… so wouldn’t a bit of logic say “we need to do something about the resource that these families are dependent upon for their livelihood…”?

Another thing would be that… it needs to be a bit of give and take… not just a childlike behavior of “if I don’t believe you then I am not going to do the right thing or anything”… stomp my feet. Or is this just a justification for still just doing what you want… and justifying it in your own mind?

“…"How can we trust the validity of a Canadian report that doesn't account for all of the Canadian catches," said (David) Benton(Alaska's commissioner to the Pacific Salmon Commission). "That's why we are again asking Canada to finally begin monitor all their fisheries to adequately measure coho harvests, something Alaska has done for years."…”

So, Now using their logic… “How can we as Washington Sports fishermen trust the validity of reports, by WDFW, that don’t account for all the Commercial catch and bi-catch? That is why we are asking the WDFW to begin a realistic monitoring of commercial harvest, not self monitored or reported.” … What do you suppose the departments response would be?

And lastly…. “…"This report is significant because Alaska has maintained a willingness to address Canada's concerns if conservation problems are identified, but the available information does not support Canada's claims of a region-wide threat to coho salmon," said Jeff Koenings, PhD, Special Assistant. "We will pay attention to inseason information and are prepared to address legitimate conservation concerns as they arise."

So… again it sounds like Dr. Koenings is more that willing to listen to people, ooops… only if he agrees with what they are saying or presenting. And again it sounds like a childlike position… “If you don’t play the game by my rules then, I am going to take my ball home and not play!” Stomping my feet.

Just some thoughts … have a beer… and relax… trust us we are doing the right thing for you….

Tight lines… and Cheers

Shawn

A leopard will not willingly change his spots unless we remove his hide by force and make him cloth accordingly. We do that by being political animals ourselves and forcing politicians to give us appropriate scientific representation by who is appointed to make the decisions, including what a Director will and will not do.

If it bugs him, he can always leave.

The bigger problem is the feds, who wrote the rules on how the ESA is applied to fish and it's apparently NOT adequate, and neither are their BIOPS. When the court ruled against Washington Trout/Salmon Spawning Alliance etc a few weeks ago over PS chinook, I think that energized the feds to continue with business as usual.

The fish are running out of time.

I believe there is a ying for every yang. DFW Staff's going to get what they deserve.

I plan to outlast this mindset. Every year since I seperated from the military I've volunteered as an aquatic education instructor. I'm passing my experience forward. I've touched thousands of lives. One of these fitfh graders will grow up to fight the good fight.

Mindset = HARVEST HARVEST HARVEST.

Some things never change.

Well, yeah, but fishing is fun!

All kidding aside, you're right but there's no $$$ in right.

Of course that's the mindset... that's all these folks hear. Gimme, gimme, gimme. People, many of 'em here on this site, wear their jaws out telling their elected officials about how import this fishery is or how necessary that fishery is. Everyone has a fishery that they cann't live without.

So what does that mean? ALL fisheries are important because ALL fisheries have someone that think that "one" is the most important.

Did anyone go over to SeaTac and listen to the testimony before the PFMC this week? Fish pops are expected to be below escapement needs. But people still testified for that little fishery that would maybe be enough to keep these small busniesses afloat till better times come along.

It happens every year up and down the coast. Of course they are going to want harvest because thats what we tell them we want. Its the same reason that taxes won't go down. We want things from the government... city, county, state, federal. Our representatives pass laws that make our government do things. And guess what? None of 'em... and I mean zero... are free. They ALL cost money. And each fishery costs fish.