The Process For Setting Salmon Season's Could Change Forever

[Bay wolf]

For those that are not aware, the process of setting salmon season's is known as the North of Falcon (NOF). It is a series of meetings and negotiations that culminate in our salmon seasons, harvest quotas, restrictions and closures. For some time now, there has been a lot of concern about the method these "rules and regulations" are agreed upon. Especially surrounding the Tribal / WDFW negotiations that are held behind closed doors, prohibiting the public from knowing what is agreed to until after it's done and the list of approved fisheries (LOAF) is released. By then, it's a done deal and we can't protest.

This years NOF was particularly bad, since the Co-managers refused to discuss any Puget Sound fisheries other than Chum and forced WDFW to concede on decisions in the 11th hour in the backroom of a California hotel.

Two lawsuits have been filed in Thurston County Superior Court that challenge this process and allege that WDFW is in violation to the Open Public Meetings Act.

If these lawsuits are successful, it will dramatically change the way our salmon seasons are set, as it will force WDFW to make all decisions in an open and transparent manner, giving us back the power to be at the table again.

If you would like to see more details about these lawsuits you can visit the Open NOF Petition Website here: http://chng.it/9N9ZYCQbqL

Or visit the Twin Harbors Legal Issue Web Page Here: http://thfwa.org/legal-issues