Home – Puget Sound Anglers State Board

Would like for everyone to know that our inner workings with our tribes pulled off one of the biggest wins in a while. The animal rights people have been trying to overthrow our Commission through the last governor which we have been fighting against for quite some time. We worked together to stop this from happening. Without the tribes we would have lost control of our commission.

Through our Hatchery Coalition (Lummi Nation, Tulalip tribe, Upper Skagit Tribe, Squaxin Tribe, Ilwaco CBA and PSA) we have been working together on WDFW Commission appointments for a few years. We started working these last appointments probably over the last 6 months. We were trying to get pro-fishing and pro-hunting advocates installed as commissioners. Inslee on the way out the door dropped two appointments on Ferguson, that were not as favorable to hunting and fishing. Tribes had the clout to push back. They also took this to the NW Indian Fisheries Commission where they joined our fight to save previous commissioners Jim Anderson and Molly Linville, while removing prior commissioner Tim Ragen and newly added Lynn O’Conner.

We started working with new Governor Bob Ferguson and Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Chair Mike Chapman, to remove the two Inslee appointees as soon as he was elected. We met with Senator Chapman immediately. The hunters helped too. Conservation Coalition of Washington, Howl, Hunters Heritage Counsel, and Congressional Sportsman Foundation, were working the other side to remove them too.

Tribes went behind the scenes and educated legislators individually. They came out with a 47-0 vote to remove the two! That is a monumental statement!!! I asked for a quick clarification from the Governor’s office if Ragen could still work as a commissioner since his seat was not filled yet. Some of the commissioners needed him to move forward on some issues. Answer was no as his paperwork was returned to the governor. So that stopped that.

If you remember our Governor”s PSA Q and A to Dave Reichert and Bob Ferguson we put out while they were both running for governor. Ferguson held his word. He reappointed Jim and Molly and brought in another appointment, Victor Garcia. I was fortunate enough to have a friend that knew Victor Garcia and reached out to him to call me. We talked and I have a great feeling about our new revised commission. Victor is an avid sport fisher and a citizen scientist. He has worked for NMFS, commercially fished in Alaska, was a school teacher for 30 years including Ocosta and Anacortes. The great thing about him living in Ocosta, was that he understands what the destruction of coastal communities when there is a lack of salmon.

I am excited to work with the new make-up of the commission. Without the help of the tribes fishing and hunting would take a back seat and we would have moved towards more animal rights. The good thing is that this commission should now satisfy the “dysfunction” that was stated by the Ruckelshaus findings. The new appointments will follow their mandate unlike some of the others that tried to change it.

Join your local PSA chapter. We are working to restore fishing for you, your kids, and your grandkids.

· Ron Garner President PSA