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WA State Slashes Hatcheries

7K views 125 replies 40 participants last post by  Matt Paluch 
#1 ·
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife faces 15% budget cuts - salmon and trout hatcheries to close
News

by
editorial staff
-
14 August 2020
"Why cut something that's going to generate sales tax?". State faces large cuts to salmon and trout production.
The Lens reports that the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is facing deep cuts to its hatchery capacities, mandated by Governor Jay Inslee.
The Governor's Office of Financial Management provided budget development instructions to state agencies, asking them to identify 15 per-cent reduction - around USD 24 million in spending cuts - in State General Fund. For WDFW, those reductions include:
USD 5.2 million slashed from salmon and steelhead hatchery production as well as USD 2 million from trout hatchery production.
"Under the proposed budget reduction plan, six salmon and steelhead hatcheries would be closed, while four trout hatcheries would be closed. The result would be a 7.2 per-cent and 12.3 per-cent reduction in statewide salmon and trout production, respectively. As part of the budget cuts, hatchery maintenance and repairs for critical infrastructure would be reduced by 32 percent," wrote The Lens.
The publication reported that Commissioner Dave Graybill said fewer fishing opportunities would "reduce our ability to sell licenses when we reduce the amount of fish being produced both inland and on Puget Sound and the coast. Wherever these occur it's going to create ill will."
Commissioner Don McIsaac asked, "why cut something that's going to generate sales tax?"
"The lack of sales tax is why we're in this problem. (We) cut $2 million and then cut another $5 million because of the impacts to the state on sales tax," added McIsaac.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife operates dozens of fish hatcheries around the state with fish raised for sport fishing as well as commercial fishing.
 
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#2 ·
50 years ago Washington State had outstanding fishing. The Steelhead used to run up the rivers in schools like the salmon did. Now they come in the rivers one or two at a time. You never see a pair of them swimming together anymore. It's always a single fish. Some do manage to spawn because you used to see the fry swimming in the slack water in the middle of summer. And as the summers are getting warmer all that slack water will dry up along with the fry.

Now with all the money going away. In a few years there will be nothing left to fish for. Plus they will probably raise the cost of your fishing license.
 
#3 ·
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife faces 15% budget cuts - salmon and trout hatcheries to close
News

by
editorial staff
-
14 August 2020
"Why cut something that's going to generate sales tax?". State faces large cuts to salmon and trout production.
The Lens reports that the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is facing deep cuts to its hatchery capacities, mandated by Governor Jay Inslee.
The Governor's Office of Financial Management provided budget development instructions to state agencies, asking them to identify 15 per-cent reduction - around USD 24 million in spending cuts - in State General Fund. For WDFW, those reductions include:
USD 5.2 million slashed from salmon and steelhead hatchery production as well as USD 2 million from trout hatchery production.
"Under the proposed budget reduction plan, six salmon and steelhead hatcheries would be closed, while four trout hatcheries would be closed. The result would be a 7.2 per-cent and 12.3 per-cent reduction in statewide salmon and trout production, respectively. As part of the budget cuts, hatchery maintenance and repairs for critical infrastructure would be reduced by 32 percent," wrote The Lens.
The publication reported that Commissioner Dave Graybill said fewer fishing opportunities would "reduce our ability to sell licenses when we reduce the amount of fish being produced both inland and on Puget Sound and the coast. Wherever these occur it's going to create ill will."
Commissioner Don McIsaac asked, "why cut something that's going to generate sales tax?"
"The lack of sales tax is why we're in this problem. (We) cut $2 million and then cut another $5 million because of the impacts to the state on sales tax," added McIsaac.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife operates dozens of fish hatcheries around the state with fish raised for sport fishing as well as commercial fishing.
I have an idea, why not use the $40 million fund used to help illegal aliens because of the virus? That should cover the shortfall and reduce the pressure on the fishery as well as our other social support systems!
 
#10 ·
Due to covid-19 the state is facing a loss of revenue coupled with an anticipated rise in the need for services. Unlike the federal government the state cannot run a deficit, since they can't issue currency. It appears as though the cuts will be across the board.
 
#16 ·
We need to make sacrifices regardless of the times to get our spending under control. This sucks for fishing in the short term and quite possibly the long run. The problem is that we became used to the good old days that was propped up by an unsustainable system. Now we are paying for it.

Right now my home fishery is Pueblo Reservoir. The fishing in it is mostly for walleye which are hatchery raised, face book is full of limits on stringers and people complaining that the fishing isn't what it was 15 years ago. Pueblo is a deep clear lake and the main source of food is gizzard shad, few crayfish, few panfish. the fish are largely stunted for their age. The habitat and water quality are great there's just no food. I am pretty confident that they'll see a fishery collapse here too. There is not enough supply to meet demand and there is nothing that anyone can do about it except decrease demand.

Wild reproduction is the only way to sustain fisheries. and it's really cheap.
 
#24 ·
A major cut to hatchery funding could be handled with very small impact to WA recreational angling. Hatcheries are the largest line item in the WDFW budget. Yes, you read that right. WDFW spends about $87 million a year on hatchery production. 78% of that is spent raising hatchery salmon and steelhead, mostly salmon. Most of the hatchery salmon are harvested in fisheries in Canada, Alaska, WA ocean commercial, and WA treaty Indian fisheries. Only a relatively small percentage of that salmon production accrues to WA recreational angling. Consequently the biggest gainers in WA from hatchery salmon production are NT commercial and treaty Indian fisheries.

I think zero cuts should occur to hatchery production of trout or other fish that accrue to inland and landlocked, non-anadromous fishing. The reason is because all of those fish that get caught will be caught be WA taxpayers and WDFW license buyers, which is good for the revenue stream. Canada and Alaska pay zero into raising hatchery salmon, so they should not be a factor in the decision making. WA NT (non-treaty) commercial and treaty fishermen comprise less than 2% of the WA state population, so they pay the very least into supporting the hatchery salmon system. So why raise fish for them during an economic crisis? Unless of course they want and choose to chip in enough revenue to offset what they take. I'm not saying WDFW should shut down all salmon hatcheries, only the ones that deliver the fewest salmon to WA recreational fishing, and enough to erase the gap created by the budget cut.

Please don't bring up the Indian treaty fishing right unless you have material to refute that there is no adjudicated ruling requiring WA to pay to raise hatchery fish for treaty Indian fishing. The tribal treaties are federal treaties, and the federal government can fund salmon hatcheries for treaty fishing if they want to. In fact, the feds do fund two hatcheries specifically for tribes, Cook Creek on the Quinault reservation and Sooes River on the Makah reservation.

Of course, WDFW won't employ this line of logic in deciding cuts.
 
G
#32 ·
My understanding is that the WDFW charter is specifically written that their priority is to protect commercial fishing interests. Your comments here seem to indicate they are doing just that. If my understanding is correct, is there a way to change the charter?
 
#34 ·
Please don't fire bomb my house..but, sales tax is a shitty way to generate funds for a government. It's not reliable and is impossible to do an accurate budget with. Washington will always have a monetary crisis because it relies on sales tax. As the economy booms and bust so goes the tax income. So dare I say it...income tax...Also, if the porno president would quit punishing the states for his errors and throw some money at the economy things might be a little better...
 
#52 ·
The WDFW hatchery system does a fantastic job of stocking the lakes here is SE Washington. It's put and take, and i do my fair share of taking. The number of families I see out making use of the resource is heartwarming. It's a well used fishery. My wife only goes out with me when we do this type of fishing. It also provides something for me to do when the rivers are not open.
The steelhead/salmon efforts seem like a complete bust to me.. I've caught 3 salmon and 5 steelhead in the last 3 years, with way too many hours of effort.
The former hatchery manager I met on the river the other day confirmed all the fish I'm getting now are wild production redbands (for the most part).
 
#76 · (Edited)
yup this thread has shown me how extremely well my selective ignore list is working for me.

I can see peoples reactions, and know that what I am ignoring should stay there so I don't get sucked in
.
I have no desire to hear others recapitulate the talking points of whatever news entertainment they choose to consume.

I can always 'Show ignored content' in cases where the thread is sticking to fishing.

@Salmo_g thanks for the excellent content, and for putting up with the rest of us!

Jay
 
#78 ·
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife faces 15% budget cuts - salmon and trout hatcheries to close
News

by
editorial staff
-
14 August 2020
"Why cut something that's going to generate sales tax?". State faces large cuts to salmon and trout production.
The Lens reports that the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is facing deep cuts to its hatchery capacities, mandated by Governor Jay Inslee.
The Governor's Office of Financial Management provided budget development instructions to state agencies, asking them to identify 15 per-cent reduction - around USD 24 million in spending cuts - in State General Fund. For WDFW, those reductions include:
USD 5.2 million slashed from salmon and steelhead hatchery production as well as USD 2 million from trout hatchery production.
"Under the proposed budget reduction plan, six salmon and steelhead hatcheries would be closed, while four trout hatcheries would be closed. The result would be a 7.2 per-cent and 12.3 per-cent reduction in statewide salmon and trout production, respectively. As part of the budget cuts, hatchery maintenance and repairs for critical infrastructure would be reduced by 32 percent," wrote The Lens.
The publication reported that Commissioner Dave Graybill said fewer fishing opportunities would "reduce our ability to sell licenses when we reduce the amount of fish being produced both inland and on Puget Sound and the coast. Wherever these occur it's going to create ill will."
Commissioner Don McIsaac asked, "why cut something that's going to generate sales tax?"
"The lack of sales tax is why we're in this problem. (We) cut $2 million and then cut another $5 million because of the impacts to the state on sales tax," added McIsaac.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife operates dozens of fish hatcheries around the state with fish raised for sport fishing as well as commercial fishing.
This is the best news I've heard in many many years. I'll pay for a chance to drive the dozer right through the middle of them all! Hallelujah!!
 
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