Washington wildlife officials will devote “significant effort’’ in 2016 to identifying potential hunting and fishing license fee increases and other funding options for the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
That’s among the messages in this month’s progress report on the “Wild Future’’ initiative of state fish and wildlife director Jim Unsworth.
Former deputy director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Unsworth took over as Washington director in February of 2015.
Wild Future is a multi-year effort to build a stronger Department of Fish and Wildlife. Unsworth began the public process with a series of six regional forums this fall asking Washington citizens to share thoughts on where the agency should focus its efforts in the next 10 to 20 years.
The Vancouver forum in mid-October had the largest turnout of the six. One more forum is planned in Pacific County in early 2016 along with meetings with local governments, tribes and the department’s key constituents.
“From population growth to changing climate, we face major management challenges over the next several years, and for us to be successful we need the public’s perspective and assistance,” Unsworth said. “Candid conversations with anglers, hunters, outdoor recreation groups, commercial fishers, and others interested in fish and wildlife are a great way to start tackling these challenges.”
According the department’s Wild Future progress report, fishing and fish management generated the most comments at the Vancouver meeting, ranging from barbless-hook requirements to hatchery production on the Kalama and North Fork of the Lewis rivers.
Other fishery-related comments in Vancouver included:
• Expediting the testing of seines and pursuing a buyout program as steps toward restricting gillnetting in the lower Columbia River to off-channel areas.
• Boosting coho salmon production.
• Expanding youth fishing events.
Hunting-related comments in Vancouver included:
• Concerns over access restrictions on industrial timber lands and spraying of herbicides by private timber companies.
• Concerns about poaching, predatory wildlife, plus a desire to use dogs during fall turkey hunting and praise for the pheasant-release program.
There also were comments about reducing fees for senior citizens and free licenses for wounded veterans.
Statewide, more than 400 residents attended a forum and about 2,500 email and online comments were received. Most of the emails were generated through single-issue advocacy campaigns.
Unsworth has tasked his six regional managers to review specific suggestions and identify practical changes that can be made without additional funding or revisions of state law.
However, many of the public’s ideas will take more money. In addition, several laws which provide specific direction and dedicated funding sources are scheduled to expire within the next two years.
Among those is the $8.75 Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement.
