Draft Joint WDFW/Tribal Wild Salmonid Policy Brief Summary

The Wild Salmonid Policy for WDFW was developed through public input, scientific review and in negotiations with the Western Washington Treaty Tribes (WWTT). It provides policies that, when implemented, will lead to sound stewardship of Washington's wild salmonid through improvements in harvest management, genetic conservation, habitat protection, and ensuring that fish culture operations complement wild salmonids.

The legislative directive for this policy is ESHB 1309 that directed the WDFW to develop a wild salmonid policy jointly with the Tribes that "...shall ensure that department actions and programs are consistent with the goals of rebuilding wild stock populations to levels that permit commercial and recreational fishing opportunity."

The Department staff and Fish and Wildlife Commissioners have both received written input and meeting with Washington citizens, tribal policy members and technical staff through a variety of forums to develop the policy concerning wild salmonids. Where WDFW and the WWTT could all agree on joint language, the policy statements, performance standards and action strategies were incorporated into a joint policy. On issues where agreement was not possible at this time, The WWTT and WDFW deferred these issues to be dealt with individual Tribes and citizens in specific watersheds and regions. Entire sections were excluded from the joint policy and specific policy guidance to WDFW staff on these issues is contained in the Additional Policy Guidance document. We anticipate that individual tribal fisheries staff will have additional guidance from their governing bodies also. Significant points include:

• The Wild Salmonid Policy is not a "turn-key" deal. It will require implementation by Tribes, the Department, other governments and citizens.

• There is explicit direction for management that addresses treaty rights to ensure that the Department staff considers tribal proposals, relevant facts, and applicable law in implementation.

• There is explicit direction for working with interested citizens and public groups on Wild Salmonid Policy implementation, for both habitat and fish management processes.

• The policy provides an initial road map for wild salmonid protection and recovery that will be reviewed and adapted further as it gets implemented in regions of Washington.

• Success depends on the ability of the Department, Tribes, other governmental agencies, and citizens to find ways to protect and restore wild salmonids throughout Washington.

• The Department will not have "two policies." Department staff will use both the jointly agreed Wild Salmonid Policy and the additional policy guidance together in all parts of Washington.