Resident Native Trout Management meeting

[Brian Miller]

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is hosting an online public meeting Jan. 9, 2025, to share its first draft of the resident native trout harvest management policy and hear public feedback. This is the third public town hall on the new policy, designed to increase public participation opportunities in policy development.
Anglers and anyone interested in the ongoing development of the resident native trout harvest management policy are welcome to attend this public meeting Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be recorded. Future public input opportunities will be available on the WDFW
“The draft policy prioritizes science-based conservation principles while providing diverse and sustainable fishing opportunity,” said Steve Caromile, WDFW’s inland fish program manager. “We’ve listened to public feedback throughout this process and look forward to continued conversations about the draft during the January town hall.”
Members of the public can register to participate in the virtual Jan. 9 meeting. Pre-registration is required for all. For more information on this and other upcoming virtual town halls, or to provide comments or suggestions online, please visit

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All members of the public are invited to share their perspectives and participate in WDFW public feedback opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.

This thread regarding Resident Native Trout Management meeting was incorrectly started in the Lakes forum where it probably is not getting the attention it should. I request a Mod move-merge it to the "Trout: Rivers, Streams and Creek" forum.

Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission resident native trout fisheries policy development process

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wdfw.wa.gov

At the bottom of the page is a link to the latest revision draft policy document presented last night

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/draft-native-trout-policy-fish-committee-12-12-24.pdf

Last night's meeting objective was to review and take public input on the draft policy to guide Resident Native trout harvest management.

What caught my attention in page 2 of the document was paragraph 1 bullet 2, sub-bullets 1 & 2, and *bullet 3* under "Policy Objectives";

• Maintain science-based conservation principle for the assessment and management of resident native trout.
• Develop and implement appropriate fishing rules;
  • As a priority, fishing rules should seek to achieve conservation objectives for resident native trout
  • Where appropriate, fishing rules may provide for diverse and sustainable recreational fishing opportunities.
• Use best available science when developing fishing rules.

and bullet 1 under "Guiding Principles";
...The department will promulgate fishing rules that:

• ensure the majority of native trout have spawned at least once

paragraph 1 bullet 1, and sub-bullet 1 sounds good, but a couple of the first public comments were by individuals who seem to be known by the WDFW managers and pointed out that data on resident native fish health and abundance is lacking in many, most (all?) watersheds. There was No dispute from WDFW.

They also pointed out that bullet 1 under "Guiding Principles";

• ensure the majority of native trout have spawned at least once

might be better if the number of spawn occurances was increased to enhance fish abundance from the increased egg capacity of larger, older fish.

Several comments from the public input seemed to be more focused on "the "rules" (i.e. C&R) themselves which was beyond the scope of the meeting because they aren't that far in the process yet.

In my mind *bullet 3*; Use best available science... is rather vague (if not downright deceptive). I commented in light of a lack of "data" for maintaining "science-based conservation principle...", a change in language for sub-bullet 1;

• As a priority, fishing rules should shall seek to achieve conservation objectives for resident native trout

and that there should be acknowledgement and additonal policy language to further define direction when "science" is lacking to achieve bullet 1 under "Guiding Principles".

However, I can imagine that presenting a policy that will "Maintain science-based conservation principle..." for approval to the (reportedly dysfunctional?) Commision admitting "the science" may be (is) lacking (without budget to improve it) could be "counterproductive".

They may post a recording of the meeting on the webpage above in the coming days.

 

[Brian Miller]