WDFW Meetings on Lead Ban of Fishing Products

Comment

Comment by Mark Byrne on July 26, 2010 at 7:43am

Yes; Jon you are so right!

Comment by Mark Byrne on July 24, 2010 at 5:09pm

Yes it is just ask the trappers here in Washington, oh wait a minute there are no sport trappers now. The attacks on their sport started just like this!

Comment by Jim Knapp on July 24, 2010 at 8:36am

Is this a big problem? Or just a feel good campaign from someone appeasing a Sierra Club Democrat party contributor?

Comment by Mark Byrne on July 24, 2010 at 4:03am

Time to rally the troops; to all user groups this is an attack on our fishing rights, lifestyle and their first step in closing sport fishing in Washington State! There is a meeting on the east side and the west side, lets pack these meeting rooms! Trout, Salmon and Panfish guys this means you too!
Mark Byrne, Conservation Director
BASS of Washington (BASS)
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/
July 22, 2010
Contact: John Whalen, (509) 892-7861
Meetings scheduled to discuss fishery
management on 13 lakes with loons
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will hold two public meetings later this month to discuss proposed fishery-management alternatives on 13 Washington lakes where common loons nest.
The meetings are scheduled on:
• July 27 - From 6-8 p.m., at the WDFW Eastern Regional Office, 2315 N. Discovery Place, in Spokane Valley.
• July 29 - From 6-8 p.m. at the WDFW North Puget Sound Regional Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., in Mill Creek.
During the meetings, WDFW staff will explain fishery-management alternatives developed with an 11-member ad hoc citizen advisory group. The alternatives are expected to include options ranging from status quo to prohibiting the use of small lead fishing tackle in recreational fisheries on lakes with loons, said John Whalen, regional fish program manager for WDFW.
Earlier this year, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission requested that the department seek additional public input on the impacts of small lead fishing tackle on common loons, which could be harmed by ingesting small lead weights and jigs lost by anglers.
"After we receive input from the public at the two upcoming meetings, we plan to meet again with the advisory group and develop a final set of recommendations," Whalen said.
WDFW fishery managers are scheduled to brief the commission - a nine-member citizen panel that sets policy for WDFW - on the final set of proposed fishery-management alternatives during the commission’s meeting in October. The public also will have an opportunity to provide comments on the alternatives during that commission meeting.
The lakes where loons breed include Ferry, Long and Swan lakes in Ferry County; Calligan and Hancock in King County; Bonaparte, Blue and Lost lakes in Okanogan County; Big Meadow, South Skookum and Yocum lakes in Pend Oreille County; Pierre Lake in Stevens County; and Hozomeen Lake in Whatcom County.