New Shrimp policy-Nov 9, 9 AM WDFW Comm meeting

[Fishnut]

Revised with date and time:
The WDFW Commisison meeting will be on Nov 9 at 9:00 am for you to speak or support our new policy that we have been working on. We need massive support at this meeting. Hope to seee everyone there.

The meeting will be at:
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St SE
Room 172-first floor
Olympia


Hello to all!
It’s time for the WDFW Commission to adopt a new shrimp policy for the Puget Sound, San Juans, and Straits. Several of us were selected several months ago to be WDFW shrimp advisors on behalf of the recreational fishing community. Ten years a similar panel was established, but the ultimate policy decision did no go in our favor. It is currently up for review again, and we need your support for greater access to the spot shrimp resource.

On November 9th at 9:00am, the WDFW Commission will meet in Olympia to discuss the new policy and hear public testimony. As of right now the agenda is not set so we do not know the exact time and day of the shrimp discussion. Please show your support by attending and wearing your PSA, CCA, Bloodydecks, etc., attire.

This is the one and only time to testify in person to the commission. If you would like to testify, the following points need to be made:

• I support the recreational advisors’ allocation position of 75% recreation/ 25% commercial. Ten years ago we left with a 60% rec/40%coml split, but language was not included to tie down future quota increases. As a result, a large percentage of the quota increases were in the straits where the commercials were able to able to average a 20,000 pound increase per year, effectively shifting the allocation In 1995 recreational fishers had a 75% share, which is the share that the recreational advisors are currently proposing.
• I would like to see the commercials moved entirely out of the Puget Sound MA areas 8-13.
• (If it applies to you) I would like additional opportunity to fish for shrimp in the the San Juans and/or Straits, Because of the difficulties with tides and weather, I would like the season to extends throughout the summer.
• Shrimping is one of the best and exciting fisheries we have to share with family and friends. Tell of your own personal positive experiences and what it means to you and your family.
• I support the ocean spot shrimp quota proposal change to 200 per person per day. It is too costly at the current limit of 80 per person per day to justify the time and expense required to gear up for ocean fishing. This is the current daily limit in Canadian waters.
• I support a minimum 5-year duration for the new Puget Sound Shrimp Policy.
• I want the state shrimp policy managed on an overall percentage split. If there are future quota increases or decreases, they should be allocated between the two harvest groups in such a manner that maintains the overall policy split.


Effects of the recreational advisors’ recommendation of a 75% Recreational / 25% Commercial split:

• Moves the last two commercial shrimp fishermen from Puget Sound to the San Juans and Straits where the other commercials are currently operating. There are a total of 18 commercial licenses which are owned by 16 individuals.
• Makes MA 8-1,8-2,9,10,11,13 100% recreational. Marine Area 12 is already 100% recreational. Tribal fishing will still continue with the current 50% harvest target as dictated by the Rafeedie decision.

Estimated increase in recreational shrimping days:

Region 1=MA 7 (Southern edge of San Juan Islands and north to the Canadian border) Proposed allocation changes the days of fishing from 6 in 2012 to 36 days.
Region 2=MA 8-1,8-2, 9. Season length in 2012 was 2 days, should increase to 4-5 days. 100% recreational.
Region 3=MA 5,6, and western 7 (Straits and Western San Juans) 2012 season shrunk to 68 days, should increase to 136 days. 30% rec/70% com.
Region 4=MA 10. Season in 2012 was 2 days, should increase to 4 days. 100% recreational.
Region 5=MA 12 (Hood Canal) Unchanged as we already have the entire non-tribal share. Season in 2012 was 4 days. With more opportunity in other regions, the season length in Hood Canal could increase as more people fish closer to home.
Region 6=MA 11,13. Season in 2012 was 2 days, should increase to 5 days. 100% recreational.

Simple facts:
A couple of years ago we were going to lose fishing opportunity due to budget cuts and increased costs to manage our fisheries. We sat down with WDFW and said we would support fee increases to keep our fisheries open. We also said we needed increased recreational opportunities in exchange for the fee increases.

In 2002 we were paying $7.62 per shellfish/seaweed (crab and shrimp) license. Today we are paying $25.05. While our license fees have tripled, the total days of shrimping have decreased by 81%.

The commercial shrimping license fee is $290 per year which results in only $5220 income for the State. This does not even close to what the recreational fees generate.

The recreational community averages between 31,000 to 35,000 shrimping trips per year over the last several years. WDFW calculated the amount spent per angler trip for crabbing in 2012 at $49 per trip. This equates to $1,617,000 spent on recreational shrimping per year. And as most recreational fishers realized the cost for a shrimp fishing trip costs considerably more that for a crab trip.

Increasing recreational opportunities for shrimping helps benefits all of us. Even though we are recreational fishers, we are a huge industry that cannot be treated as a sport only. Our numbers generate significant license income, equipment expenditures, and economic stimulus to small support businesses throughout our State.