The proposed 2005 Dungeness crab rules have been announced for Puget Sound.

The bag limit has been reduced from six crabs to four, with crabbing allowed
only on weekdays and a single day each weekend. It has become rather
predictable for sportsmen to get the short shrift when resources must be
allocated between
pleasure boaters, commercial crabbers, and the indigenous tribes.

The following email message (from Corey Freeman) is making the rounds

I received a call from Lisa Veneroso, crab person for WDFW, today with the
tenets of the Department’s proposal for the 2005-2006 Puget Sound Dungeness
crab recreational fishery. The proposal will be 4 days/week with only one
weekend day and a bag limit reduction from 6 to 4 SOUND WIDE. This is an
attempt to look like the Department is trying to increase opportunity and take
the heat off without addressing the true problem: ALLOCATION INEQUITY. This
proposal has to be vigorously opposed for several reasons. First, the
Department does not have accurate data in which to base their decisions on.
Second, in Marine Areas other than 10 through 13 the problem can be fixed by
adjusting the allocation levels to a more equitable level. Third, if the bag
limit is reduced and the Department obtains accurate data that shows the
reduction was unwarranted the chance of regaining lost ground is virtually
impossible.



During negotiations that spawned the Puget Sound Dungeness Crab Endorsement
Fee, there was an agreement that the Department would not adjust the season
until at least after one full year of improved data. The Department is now
backing out of that agreement and I expect the Department to oppose the Puget
Sound Dungeness Crab Bill that will be introduced this session to deal with the
allocation issue in the Puget Sound.



It is now time to stand up and let the Department and Commission know that any
adjustments to the recreational crab season in the Puget Sound until the
allocation issue is addressed and the Endorsement Fee has gone through a full
year providing more defensible and accurate data is unacceptable.



Commission Email Address:

Commission Mailing Address: 600 Capital Way NE

Olympia, WA 98501