Northwest Fishing Reports

SUPER URGENT

THIS COMING THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9 AT 1:30 P.M. WE NEED MANY PUGET SOUND ANGLER MEMBERS TO SHOW UP AT AN INITIAL HEARING BEING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE OF WASHINGTON HOUSE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE HELD IN HOUSE HEARING ROOM B – JOHN L O’BRIEN BUILDING, STATE CAPITAL. WE ARE FIGHTING HARD ON YOUR BEHALF AND YOUR PRESENCE IS URGENTLY NEEDED TO SUPPORT OUR STATE BOARD PRESIDENT RON GARNER AND HIS WING MAN FRANK URABECK AS THEY PRESENT OUR ORGANIZATION’S VIEWS ON HB 1647 – SPORT FISHING AND HUNTING LICENSE FEE INCREASE LEGISLATION. THIS LEGISLATION MAY VERY WELL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE FUTURE OF FISHING AND HUNTING IN OUR STATE. RON AND FRANK, AFTER TALKING TO PSA MEMBERS, OTHER GROUPS AND DELVING INTO THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR WDFW HAVE TENTATIVELY CONCLUDED THAT:
WDFW must be adequately funded to meet conservation requirements and provide fishing and hunting opportunities important to State of Washington economy and way of life.
Sport fishing and hunting license fees may need to be increased but fairly and judiciously.
At this juncture we cannot accept HB 1647 as written.
We can say we are willing to work with other user groups, the department, and the legislature to produce a substitute license fee increase bill that is fair and has reasonable chance of gaining public acceptance if there is reason to believe that our key issues will be addressed, concrete improvements gained in sport fishing opportunities, and better balance is likely in the tribal/non-tribal sharing of harvestable salmon during the 2017 North of Falcon salmon season setting process.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND OR WANT YOUR THOUGHTS CONSIDERED, PLEASE EMAIL FRANK AT URABECK@COMCAST.NET. HE CAN ALSO BE REACHED BY CELL PHONE: 253-208-7323. Thanks very much for your consideration and support. Please sign in as a PSA member. Do not indicate support for HB 1647.

Ron Garner
PSA State Board President