The past year was busy and productive as Department of Fish and Wildlife employees showed their resourcefulness and dedication in a series of initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable fish and wildlife while providing new recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers.

Initiatives included expanded environmental education and volunteer programs; a training program for women learning how to fish and hunt; a new lands restoration effort aimed at preserving and restoring valuable fish and wildlife habitat; deployment of more employees to field offices for better public service and development of an agency website to allow Internet users to access agency information.

Of all the initiatives undertaken in the past 12 months, one of the most important was the agency’s development of a Wild Salmonid Policy. Adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission in December 1997, the policy is intended to serve as a beacon, guiding efforts to halt the downward spiral of our state’s wild salmonid stocks and rebuild them to healthy, sustainable levels.

The policy was pursued with the recognition that these are critical times in the salmon restoration effort. With many of the state’s salmon and steelhead stocks already at extremely depressed levels, some wild fish could face extinction unless recovery strategies are immediately put in place. Federal endangered species listings for troubled wild fish species loom over much of the state. Time is running short. Chances to preserve fish and wildlife are vanishing along with habitat.

The Wild Salmonid Policy, which spells out various strategies to bolster wild fish productivity, was not developed in a vacuum. It was adopted following many public meetings and months of negotiations with western Washington treaty tribes. The policy reflects the expertise of department scientists and the concerns, ideas and suggestions of thousands of people from all walks of life who became involved in the adoption process.

Of course the policy is not a static document. It undoubtedly will evolve over time to reflect changing science and other factors; public input will be part of that evolution.

But the policy is a major first step. It comes at a time when the Governor’s office, other state natural resource agencies, county and city governments, the tribes, recreational and commercial fishers, farmers, private and public landowners, corporations, environmentalists and others are joining together in an unprecedented effort to save our fish. It is the department’s hope that the Wild Salmonid Policy will serve as an important tool in this critical endeavor.

With initiatives such as the Wild Salmonid Policy the department will continue its mission of preserving fish and wildlife resources as well as future recreational opportunities.