Draconian Threats from WDFW 9
As many of you may have heard, the state is proposing license fee increases for hunting and fishing in Washington. First of all, I hate calling these things fees, let's call them what they are, TAXES. That being said, they are a user tax and if there is any tax I can live with then it would be some sort of user tax. Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about the possibility of increasing those taxes. The state will tell you that we have not had a license fee increase in 14 years. I guess that's true if you aren't one of the 190,000 Washington anglers that like to fish for salmon or steelhead on a little river called the Columbia. It seems that I remember an $8.75 fee increase this last year to do so. I mention all of this just to point out how the state tries to frame things to try and justify asking us, the taxpaying hunter and fisherman, to pay for more.
Let's be clear, I have not decided whether or not I will support this proposed increase. I do realize that the cost of doing business is higher now than it was in 1996. However, I also look at the opportunities and access we had in 1996 that we don't have today. I sometimes have to ask myself, what am I paying for? We as recreational anglers spend billions in equipment, bait, gas, ice, fees, licenses, boats, vacations, and whatever else I am leaving out. This generates billions in state sales tax and creates jobs and wages that are then taxed. All of this hard earned money and what does the Governor and State Legislature do? Spend more than they have, increase that spending in times of surplus, and then cut the budget of WDFW when times are rough. So, if I have to lay blame for the cuts, I lay them at the feet of our irresponsible elected officials.
Where I have a problem with WDFW and Director Anderson is in the way they are threatening the existence of our favorite pastime if we don't go along. Proposed cuts include:
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7-11 hatcheries closed.
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Cutting up to 20 wildlife enforcement jobs.
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Elimination of coastal and Puget Sound steelhead fisheries.
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Reduction of marine area selective fishing.
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Closure of up to 700 public access areas.
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Elimination of triploid trout stocking programs.
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Elimination of youth fishing programs.
As you know, I have been a cheerleader for the Director at times and he has deserved those cheers. This time however, I can't cheer. We are all well aware that WDFW has absorbed a 30% reduction from the state general fund. This makes the contributions of hunters and fishers license fees an even greater percentage of the WDFW budget. We are now more than 17% of the budget, generating over $54 million each biennium and this doesn't even factor in our contributions to the general fund. Need I also remind the director that it was the recreational angler that fought to keep WDFW last year? Some in the legislature, under the influence of the commercial industry, proposed having DNR absorb WDFW.
What is the rational behind these proposals? Essentially closing down fishing for a vast portion of Washington anglers. WDFW wants us to go along with increased fees and they threaten to eliminate steelhead fishing, eliminate the fish that we catch by closing hatcheries, and close down our access to what opportunity we have left if we don't go along. What is this going to do to the quality of life in the State of Washington? We already have a crises in this state with regards to hunting and fishing. Since 1990 we have had a population growth of nearly 40 percent and despite that increase, we have seen a decrease in recreational licenses. We have continued to pay more for less. Just this year we have seen a reduction in halibut, the elimination of fishing for rockfish within Puget Sound, reduced bag limits for rockfish in Neah Bay, a reduction in the slot for lingcod and we are constantly dealing with closures of all kinds.
Where are the other proposals for money savings? We need better prioritization of the states fish and wildlife resources. Why are we threatening layoffs for enforcement and nowhere else? Is WDFW spending too much time doing "other" things instead of managing opportunity for the the people that pay for that opportunity? We as recreational anglers have always been willing to pay our share but it's time we see something for it.
Tell the state to quit threatening recreational fisherman and come up with some other ideas. Ask what they are going to do for recreational anglers if we support their license and fee increases? Send an email to director@dfw.wa.gov or write to Director 600 Capital Way N. Olumpia, Wa. 98501-1091. You can also sound off at www.thereelnews.com or tell me what you think below.
Well first of all the state needs to quit grabbing fisheries generated money for the general fund. If they were only allowed to take say 10% just think how they would be motivated to building fisheries.
I believe, we need to somehow change the rules on where our license fee's are sent to. I want to support WDF&W and believe they are doing the best that can with the money that is given to them by the governor. I wish that there was a initiative that was on the ballet that states that "X amount or percentage" of license fee's where given to the WDF&W to run are WDF&W services. I have NO PROBLEM paying for a tax, a fee, or a license as long as I know where that dollar is going. Right now when I go and buy a new fishing and hunting License I wonder what an I really getting? I currently hunt deer and elk in other states for the fact I feel I get more back for my dollar. So lets all get together hire Tim Eyman pay for him to write it up and get it on the ballet.
I already take my hunting dollars to other states maybe its time to do the same with my fishing dollars
I wouldn't even care paying $100 for license. If I spend $5k on fishing a year, which I spend WAY more, what is another $40 dollars. I'd probably even pay $200 without even a hesitation. People pay $600-$700 for a season's pass to ski resorts and thats only for 5 maybe 6 months. Fishing license is for a year. That being said if there is no steelheading in puget sound, you can kiss my $5-10k a year good bye. And I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels this way.
Thank you for your response and for the time on the phone today Director Anderson. This is no doubt a very difficult time for the department and for those of us that spend much of our free time fishing and hunting. It's likely the most difficult situation the department has ever faced. For me personally, I simply can't fathom the thought of losing steelhead fishing in much of the state. It's beyond belief and I've lost a lot of sleep over it, as I'm sure you have. While the message we purvey at the Outdoor Line may make you cringe at times, we're ardent supporters of WDFW and try our level best to activate our listeners on issues such as this one. Sometimes that means stirring the pot a little, or a lot, to get our listening audience motivated. We don't get a "thank you" when we mention that WDFW has the best biologists in the world or tell our listeners about all the extra hours many of the staff in your department work that doesn't end up on their pay check as overtime. I'm friends with some of your staff and they are as passionate as we are about fishing and hunting and they get the job done, no matter how long it takes. When the ##it hits the fan, however, as it did this week with the release of the proposed program cuts due to another huge budget shortfall you can bet we're going to get fired up. Perhaps I/we let a little too much passion overflow onto the show this morning, but in the end we want the same thing for the department that you do. Thankfully for us we're working in interesting times. Good luck with the tough task ahead and we look forward to seeing you in the very near future!
I am sorry you interpreted the types of cuts we are facing as threats, they were not meant to be. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has lost $37 million in state general fund revenue in the last 20 months. Absent some new revenue, we expect to be down at least another 20 million in the next biennium, 10 million from the state general fund and 10 million from what we call the wildlife account which is where most of the license fee revenue goes. What I am trying to tell the sport fishers and hunters, and the commercial fishers of Washington is that these types of cuts will be accompanied by a significant loss of service delivery. I felt I needed put some "examples" out there so people could understand the magnitude of the problem. No decisions have been made but these are the areas where we are currently spending our state general fund dollars so these are the types of activities that will be reduced. When compared to a state like Oregon or Idaho, the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Washington has a much greater contribution of funding that comes from the state general fund. In tight budget times like these, we can expect continued erosion in state general fund dollars coming to our agency. We (all of us working together) have to figure out how to confront this reality. We have several different fee proposals including sport and commercial license fee increases, fees for those people who use our lands or water access sites that don't buy a hunting or fishing license, and fees for those individuals who obtain hydraulic project approval permits from us that currently don't pay a fee of any kind. These ideas are being reviewed by the Governor's Office and will ultimately be considered by the legislature this next session. I look forward to working with hunters and fishers and others who value our fish and wildlife resources in the coming months. We simply must craft a solution that protects our fish and wildlife resources for future generations, allows us to pursue our hunting and fishing passions, and creates ways for all of us to create and looks for ways to bring new family members and friends into our sport. More to come I am sure but thanks for listening Phil Anderson Director, WDFW
Wow Tom, I have been saying that exact same thing -closing commercial fishing anywhere inside the Straight- to all of my fishing comrads. Mostly I get the deer-in-the-headlights stare that says "good luck with that!" I also think the threat to close all Steelhead fishing is one of those BS political games to make us think we got a deal when they enact the $8.50 fee to fish for steelies...
This one really gives me a headache. They seriously want to cut hatchery steelhead production in the Puget Sound. Are you ####ing kidding me! Now that we've wiped out all the early returning wild steelhead and replaced them with hatchery brats we won't have any steelhead fishing in December and January. We'll get a little fishing in February when the rivers are in shape and then steelhead fishing will be closed the remainder of spring. Pretty much the end to sportfishing for steelhead in Puget Sound. Not to mention the intense pressure that will place on the SW Washington rivers and the Olympic Peninsula. Your right Tobeck...it's not like things are getting any better!
Personally, I would not mind paying more for my fishing licenses as long as there were assurances that license fees would go directly to WDFW coffers to stave off hatchery closures and layoffs of vital WDFW enforcement personnel and support staff. Increasing recreational fishing tourism could go a long way to helping our state out of it's current fiscal funk. A first step to boosting tourism? Stop all commercial salmon fishing inside Puget Sound to enhance area fish runs!