08-11-2010, 11:10 AM
OLYMPIA - Recreational and commercial crabbers shared their views on the management of Dungeness crab fisheries in Puget Sound during the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting Aug. 6-7 in Olympia.
The commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), listened to nearly two hours of public comments on a draft Dungeness crab management policy and alternatives for recreational crab fishing seasons.
Sport fishers called for an increase in recreational crabbing opportunities in Puget Sound, while commercial crabbers said significant reductions to their catch quota would harm the future of the industry.
The commission is expected to take action on a final Puget Sound Dungeness crab management policy and select a recreational crab season that would be incorporated into that policy at its Oct.1-2 public meeting in Olympia.
The draft Dungeness crab management policy is available for review at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/policies/d...ul2010.pdf, and the alternatives for recreational crab fishing seasons can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2...atives.pdf.
For more information about future commission meetings, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/.
The commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), listened to nearly two hours of public comments on a draft Dungeness crab management policy and alternatives for recreational crab fishing seasons.
Sport fishers called for an increase in recreational crabbing opportunities in Puget Sound, while commercial crabbers said significant reductions to their catch quota would harm the future of the industry.
The commission is expected to take action on a final Puget Sound Dungeness crab management policy and select a recreational crab season that would be incorporated into that policy at its Oct.1-2 public meeting in Olympia.
The draft Dungeness crab management policy is available for review at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/policies/d...ul2010.pdf, and the alternatives for recreational crab fishing seasons can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2...atives.pdf.
For more information about future commission meetings, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/.