CRAB VOTE BY THE COMMISSION IS IN!!! 11

Oct 01, 2010 by Rob Tobeck

AND WE WON!!!!  The commission made some minor modifications to Option A to underscore the need for better reporting, enforcement and education to increase reporting.  Then, by a vote of 7-2 they adopted Option A. Let's give credit to all of the groups that were involved in getting this done.

I also want to give credit to the legislators that sent a letter to the commission recently as well.  You can see that letter and their signatures on Nelly's blog.

Here's how the votes went down:

Smith – NO
Orr – NO
Perry – YES
Chew – YES
Douvia – YES
Mahnken – YES
Jennings – YES
Schmitten – YES
Wecker – YES

By the way, in typical fashion the commercials pulled out all stops after threatening to sue the commission if they voted today.  They also brought babies, attorneys, "save our jobs" signs (ignoring the thousands of jobs in the sportfishing industry of course), and stickers trying to delay or beat back the rule change.  The have already said that they will make good on the threat to sue.

Below is a description of Option A and a brief history on Puget sound Recreational Crabbing done by CCA.


Option A

Recreational fishery managed using a fixed season

• July – Labor Day

• 5 days per week, including weekends

• October – December Winter Season (7 days/week)

• 5 crab daily bag limit

CCA Washington Policy Statement
Puget Sound Recreational Crabbing

The “Three S” Dungeness crab management has been in place for decades in Washington State. Season, Size, and Sex selective harvest has resulted in one of the state’s most sustainable fisheries. 
In excess of 90% of the total harvest is taken commercially and this is to a certain extent justified since it mainly occurs in coastal waters that are largely inaccessible to recreationalists.  However, a disproportionate commercial harvest also occurs within the protected waters of Puget Sound where, due to limited opportunities in other fisheries, the interest in recreational crabbing has rapidly grown. 
Since the fishery resources of Washington are the property of all its present and future citizens, CCA Washington supports a policy that prioritizes and increases the recreational share of the sustainable crab harvest in the waters of Puget Sound.
 In adopting the above policy, CCA Washington:
 
• Recognizes that conservation should be the driving consideration in the management of Puget Sound Dungeness crab.

• Opposes increasing the overall Puget Sound Dungeness crab harvest unless corresponding increases in abundance are achieved through other conservation measures. 

• Recognizes the tribal rights to 50% of the harvest.

• Supports increased efforts and funding to remove derelict gear.

• Supports development of new gear techniques to minimize the deadly effect of derelict pots.

• Supports proportionate increases in the Puget Sound Dungeness crab endorsement fees provided they are used to manage and enhance the recreational crab fishery and are accountable to the public.
 


Crabbing Background

Background

In 1995 management of the Dungeness crab fishery within Washington State changed substantially.  The 9th Circuit Court delivered an order known as the Rafeedie Decision, based on the Stevens Treaties signed between the State of Washington and certain Tribes in the territory during the 1850s. The 9th Circuit Order required that the harvestable surplus of shellfish in Washington be allocated equally (50/50) between the Treaty Tribes and State fisheries.

Prior to the Rafeedie Decision, the Puget Sound recreational fishery was a year-round fishery with a daily bag limit of 6 male Dungeness crab.  There was also a concurrent commercial fishery that was limited by a set pound limit.  The commercial crab fishery averaged 1.8 million pounds annually from 1984-1993.

After the Rafeedie Decision, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) decided that it would allocate roughly 1/3 of the total non-tribal share of available harvest for a year round recreational fishery, thus giving 2/3 of the Puget Sound non-tribal crab catch to the commercial fishery.  The current WDFW policy (C-3609) states that the department shall “provide for an economically viable and stable commercial harvest…and maintain a quality recreational fishery”.

In the last decade the Puget Sound recreational crab fishery has grown in popularity.  Due to this popularity and in order to maintain the 1/3 allocation split, the WDFW has had to reduce the recreational season down to less than 3 months per year with a daily limit of 5 adult male crab in Puget Sound. 
 

Facts

The annual Puget Sound Dungeness crab harvest for recreational, commercial and tribal fisheries in the state is roughly 8 million pounds.  Tribal fisheries have treaty rights to half this catch, or 4 million pounds.  In 2009 recreational crabbers caught approximately 1.5 million pounds compared with a non-tribal commercial catch of over 3.0 million pounds.  Meanwhile, the commercial harvest of Dungeness crab in coastal waters outside of Puget Sound averages approximately 9 million pounds annually.  

Currently there are 181 commercial crab fishers holding the 250 limited entry commercial permits in Washington.  This is compared to over 236,000 (2009) recreational crabbers in Puget Sound.  Combining the ocean and Puget Sound catches, over 90% of the total non-tribal harvest is taken annually by non-tribal commercial fishing. Yet current independent economic analysis demonstrates greater financial benefit is afforded to the State by recreational fisheries as compared to commercial. 


CCA Washington Policy Statement
Puget Sound Recreational Crabbing

 


Harvest

-Since 1991 the total Puget Sound recreational, commercial and tribal crab harvest has increased from approximately 2.5 million pounds to over 8 million pounds in 2008. 

-Non-tribal commercial harvest from 1991- 2008 has increased from over 1.2 million pounds to over 3 million pounds (150%) while recreational harvest has only increased from under 1 million pounds to around 1.5 million pounds (50%) during the same period.

-Average crab harvest for non-tribal commercial harvesters in Puget Sound from 2000 – 2008 was approximately 33%  the state share, compared to recreational harvest of 17

 

11 comments

ryan schank on Oct 05, 2010 at 11:18 am said:

Well said tobeck and nurm.

Reply
Tom Nelson on Oct 02, 2010 at 9:53 am said:

Well Mr. Mulholland, for my family our outdoor traditions are not merely sport, they're our way of life. The Rafeedie decision reduced my families crabbing opportunity by 85% (down to 50 days/year from 365). This weeks WDFW Commission crabbing allocation decision did not come down "...because folks want to have more fun", it came down to basic fairness and the economics of State government. The monetary benefit of sportfishing to the State budget and the regional economy is just too big for the State to continue to ignore. I recognize and regret the impact that this decision might have on you and yours. My question for you is: Did you have the same feelings when the recreational seasons were slashed 15 years ago?

Reply
Tobeck on Oct 01, 2010 at 11:46 pm said:

Commercials still have a higher percentage of the take even after this vote. As far as jobs are concerned, when looking at the economics of it, the recreational crabber employs and pays for more. It's not even close. What about the jobs that are created there?

Reply
martin mulholland on Oct 01, 2010 at 8:42 pm said:

As a commercial crabber for the last 20 years investing in the business of bringing food to Washington stores. I lost half of my opportunity with the Rafeedie decision and now alot more with option A. For my family this is not sport, it is our way of making a living. Its tough enough to make a living these days,without losing it because folks want to have more fun - thanks neighbours.

Reply
Tobeck on Oct 01, 2010 at 6:54 am said:

We had great success the last weekend of the summer season crabbing right out of Everett. 3 limits for six pots soaked. We also threw back quite a few keepers that were softshell or too small. I think tuna was the key.

Reply
HighTides on Sep 30, 2010 at 2:39 pm said:

I know my catch success off Everett diminished considerably between the opener and late August. I can only imagine how it will be next year after the new Sunday fishing rule goes into effect. I’d also like to watch how the three-year-old child, who possesses a free license, gathered that limit of five crabs, just like Mom and Dad. And, it is interesting how the proposed increase in sports harvest is accompanied by a fee increase of 150 percent. Once again in Washington State: It is all about the money.

Reply
THOM GUNN on Sep 30, 2010 at 4:13 am said:

I remember 11 years ago discovering that well over 95% of the crab grown in this state goes to less than 1000 commercial license holders (white and non white) And it went on year after year. And few people realized it. Wow and when it changed I didn't hear about it until today -- HEY THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO DID HELP CHANGE OUR LOCAL WORLD while I was pulling weeds. Next step: All White Commercial Crabbing should end. It's over. It cannot be justified. Pay them off. Say goodbye, Those people have picked our pockets for decades. And then, if whites can't fish commercially, what does that do to the "in common" clause? very interesting. considering their population size, composition & casinos, Indians should not consider being a game hog as a sign of equality. the resemblance between the Indians of yore and ours is minimal. And letting them be pigs like Weyerhauser does not mean they have overcome anything other than their better natures.

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Tobeck on Sep 30, 2010 at 1:50 am said:

Agreed Brian

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BrianF on Sep 30, 2010 at 12:36 am said:

A great step! Thanks to all involved, including those here, CCA, PSA and to the WDFW commissioners and the "Stand up 10" reps who wrote the commission. Remember the arguments that worked here: the vastly larger economic value of recreational fishing (vs. commercial), the disproportionate licensing fees we bear vs the small portion of the statewide catch we take, and the intrinsic fairness of distributing natural resource access broadly as opposed to concentrating it for a few. These arguments are WINNERS. They are the blueprint for the rise recreational fishing as a major player at the table. Congrats again to all involved!

Reply
Tom Nelson on Sep 29, 2010 at 11:48 pm said:

What a red letter day for the recreational fishing industry here in Washington!!! Thank-you CCA, PSA and the Wildlife Commission!

Reply
Tobeck on Sep 29, 2010 at 10:46 pm said:

This is CCA's official release. Today, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to bring more fairness to the Puget Sound Dungeness fishery by adopting "Option A" for its new Puget Sound Crab policy. This long overdue policy change rightfully recognizes the importance of recreational crabbing in Puget Sound and provides a SIGNIFICANT increase in fishing opportunity for Puget Sound crabbers. The commission's decision increases equity in the crab allocation and is a victory for recreational crabbers. This is a huge milestone for the recreational angling community and the citizens of Washington State. The new policy adopted by the Commission will provide a summer recreational season from July 1st to Labor Day open 5 days a week - including both weekend days. It will also provide a October - December winter recreational season open 7 days a week. Both seasons will employ a 5 crab daily bag limit. These changes are expected to increase the recreational share of Puget Sound crab harvests and will accommodate increases in recreational participation in the crab fishery in future years. This was a hard fought battle with commercial interests lobbying hard against even a modest shift of a relatively small portion of the state crab harvest to recreational crabbers. Thanks to You – the members of CCA – and our partners, this meaningful change in recreational opportunity was possible. Through our membership and the active involvement of CCA leadership we were able to focus the Commission on the facts rather than the same old tired arguments. Through our Action Alert, CCA members sent hundreds of e-mails to the Commission allowing them to hear directly from us. Our members also made their voices heard when public comment on this issue was taken by the Commission in Olympia. We also enjoyed positive media coverage of this issue and our efforts. This is not our victory alone though. We worked with several other groups and many individuals, all of whom played a critical role in this victory. We also enjoyed the support of elected officials, including 10 legislators who recently wrote a letter to the Commission in support of the change. Finally, a large majority of the Commission took a strong and courageous stand for fairness in the face of profanity and other intimidation tactics. This is a great example of working together, focusing on the facts and carrying out a strategic plan to achieve a great outcome for recreational anglers. A sign of great things to come! You have received this message because you have subscribed to a mailing list of CCA Pacific Northwest. If you do not wish to receive periodic emails from this source, please click below to unsubscribe.

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