Presidents Message

Hit the Reset Button! "The Gamechanger"

PSA is working with key people and government staff to fix our fisheries. We tried to change others opinions and couldn't, so we went on our own.  Fighting over the last fish or stealing from others is not a proper solution. We will all be on the beach soon. Some sooner than others.

PSA started a working relationship with Northern Tribes. I met Ray Fryberg, Scott Schuyler, and Randy Kinley (who has recently past) at Senate meetings in Olympia. We had a lot in common and understood todays problems. Also what was needed to fix them. We became great friends and a coalition was formed-PSA, Lummi, Tulalip, and Upper Skagit Tribes. We started to tackle issues pulling off some huge victories, that all of you benefitted from. The intent was to expand this coalition with the rest of the tribes. We picked different issues to work on. My portion was to break down the walls between us. My message was simple. We blamed fishing demise on nets in rivers. To the individual this was the easiest to comprehend because what is below cannot be seen:

1. Alaska and BC take major percentages of our fish. Tribes and us fight over the scraps and ESA is paid for at the home waters only!

2. Washington hatchery production was cut severely. Between 1992 and 2016 our Coho and Chinook Salmon production was cut by 160 million. ESA, funding cuts, and HSRG were the culprits.

3. Predators eat our salmon and steelhead. NOAA has info showing that at least 10 million smolts are eaten just trying to get to the salt. A tagged steelhead study done in PS rivers showed between 8-9 out of every 10 steelhead had their tags show up in seal scat!

We have always worked and helped manage our ocean fisheries, working with coastal communities and commercials. We also worked with WDFW, WDFW Commission, NOAA, Governor's office, Senators, Representatives, Federal Senators and Reps, to turn the tide. Formerly we worked with Mark Cedergreen of Westport Charter Boat Association. After he retired we worked with great friend, Butch Smith of Illwaco Charters.

At North of Falcon this last session, we had a plenary session with the tribes. They came into the room with us. I didn't expect much but it could not have gone better. Lorraine Loomis, NWIFC Chair and Craig Bowhay talked about habitat loss. I had my chance and welcomed them to work with us and brought up the three items above. We all agreed and not one person made a negative comment. I followed up with Lorraine about next steps to assure her it was not lip service.

Lorraine invited me to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission meeting with the 20 treaty tribes. They gave me a very warm welcome. I had no idea how big this was! Non-tribal people rarely are allowed in, other than governmental staff. In this meeting we discussed our problems in depth and by working together we could to fix them. Long overdue! Ed Johnstone from the Quinalt Nation called it "The Gamechanger!" The tribes working arm in arm with recreationals and commercials to bring back our fisheries. I was very humbled and appreciative they allowed me to talk to them. Big wins will come out of this meeting and it has already begun.

HSRG or Hatchery Science Review Group, has been allowed to dominate our fishery issues today for the worse. It has gone beyond ESA requirements and spread it everywhere, even where not required. It's cut hatchery production so bad that it is going to be a challenge to rebuild fisheries. HSRG was supposed to be a tool and not a rule. We have to fix this as it is broken.

HSRG was called in for review and challenged at the June 15,  WDFW Commission meeting. It's been 10 years and we now have less wild fish than ever in history. Are we fishing more now than when HSRG was brought about? NO.  Do we have more wild fish than 10 years ago? NO. Would you rather go back to what we were doing before HSRG was implemented? YES.

The tribes sent a letter to the Governor calling HSRG into question. Our commission had this letter at the meeting.  There was a presentation shown by two HSRG members. During this presentation came out that under HSRG, wild Coho and Chinook would be rebuilt in 500 years if all conditions were perfect! 500 years?!? Yes 500 years!!! With our current predators we have no more than 10 years before our salmon go extinct. This presentation criteria used the best pristine habitat, water quality, ocean conditions, etc. with no allowances for poor habitat, warm blob, lack of food, and more.  We have none of this. So basically HSRG is not going to bring back wild fish. We have interbred river stocks of salmon throughout Washington for over 100 years. So how can you bring back a pure DNA strain of fish that doesn't exist? The commission voted 9-0 to suspend 3 points of the HSRG Policy right then. This is for 6-12 months and a review is to be done per the commission. Governor Inslee budgeted money for hatchery production increases for the orca. Per this vote they can start taking eggs to make more fish immediately.  The reset button has been pushed! We are going to start making fish for all again.