WDFW -- Draft Joint WDFW/Tribal Wild Salmonid Policy: Questions and Answers

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Draft Joint WDFW/Tribal Wild Salmonid Policy
Questions and Answers

Q: What action is the Commission considering?
A: The Commission is considering adoption of a Wild Salmonid Policy that consists of two documents. One was developed jointly by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Western Washington Treaty Indian Tribes. It provides for a number of agreed policies concerning wild salmon runs and management of fisheries. The other complementary document is additional policy guidance to the Department staff that addresses certain fishery management matters that were deferred in the jointly developed document or matters where salmonid protection requires additional guidance.

Q: Is there a need for protection of wild salmonids?
A: Washington's salmon and trout populations are disappearing and the decline threatens the economic and social fabric of our Pacific Northwest society. The causes of the decline are many and are debated intensely. The status of the salmon and trout populations has created the need for a coordinated approach to the habitat, fishing, hatchery, and other problems that have led to an alarming loss of wild salmonids.

Q: Why is the Commission considering a joint policy with Indian Tribes?
A: Many Western Washington Tribes have treaty rights to take salmon. These treaty rights were the subject of litigation in the 1970s and 1980s. The courts have ruled that the Tribes may take 50% of harvestable amounts of salmon runs and that Tribes participate in the management of their treaty fisheries. As a result of this "co-management" of salmon fisheries, the Commission and Tribes have developed mutual, agreed policies that both believe are needed for protection and recovery of salmon and the needs and goals the Tribes and other citizens.

Q: Why would the Commission adopt policy guidance in addition to that jointly negotiated by the Tribes?
A: The problems facing salmon vary in different regions, and the policies of individual Tribes also vary. Some matters were dependent on regional biology or fishing rights and therefore were not made part of the general joint Wild Salmonid Policy. On issues that were deferred or where general agreement was not reached by all Western Washington Treaty Tribes and WDFW, the individual tribes and WDFW retained the right to develop additional staff guidance that will be addressed in regional or more localized agreements. To guide the Department staff in addressing these issues, the Commission is adopting additional policy guidance.

Q: Is the Commission providing the same guidance for Department staff in all parts of Washington, both areas with treaty rights and those without?
A: Yes. However, within different areas and among different Tribes, there will be different proposals or issues affecting salmon. By using the Wild Salmonid Policy guidance, Department staff will turn to a common set of scientifically based standards for evaluating fish population management, fish culture operations, and habitat issues. However, the scope or nature of Department actions will reflect the relevant facts and address the treaty fishing rights of Tribes. The goal will be to have consistent treatment of issues when working on implementation strategies with comanagers and citizens, addressing local issues and the rights and goals of the Tribes.

Q: Will the Tribes have additional policies?
A: Tribes will undoubtedly have additional policies and guidance for their planning and fishery management staffs.

Q: How will the Wild Salmonid Policy be used to protect salmonid habitats?
A: The Wild Salmonid Policy is internal guidance to both Department and Tribal staff regarding habitat needs of salmonids. It is not a new law that would be applied to the public, although it will guide the Department and Tribes in their actions. By identifying the vital habitat needs of salmonids, the Department and Tribes will use existing authorities and habitat protection protections to promote proper protection and restoration of habitat. Additionally, the Department and Tribes will work with a variety of other government agencies, citizen groups, watershed planning groups, and legislative work groups to ensure that appropriate measures are considered for salmonid protection. The Wild Salmonid Policy may thus lead to actions by citizens and other governmental agencies that are needed to protect salmonid habitats.

Q: How does this proposed Commission action relate to the Environmental Impact Statement or "EIS" for a proposed Wild Salmonid Policy issued in September?
A: The EIS studied various elements of potential policies relevant to management of salmonid populations, fisheries, hatcheries, and habitat measures. The action that the Commission is considering is adopting the specific combination of fishery management, hatchery management, and habitat policies that were based on recommended elements of the EIS as "alternative three." By adopting both those policies developed jointly and the additional staff guidance as the Wild Salmonid Policy, the Commission will have consistent coordination between the Department and tribal fishery management efforts that incorporates effective public input. This policy approach was discussed in the EIS as a potential action by the Commission, and it was found to be the most likely way to ensure effective implementation for fish population management and habitat protection.

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Q:	What action is the Commission considering? A: The Commission is considering adoption of a Wild Salmonid Policy that consists of two documents. One was developed jointly by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Western Washington Treaty Indian Tribes. It provides for a number of agreed policies concerning wild salmon runs and management of fisheries. The other complementary document is additional policy guidance to the Department staff that addresses certain fishery management matters that were deferred in the jointly developed document or matters where salmonid protection requires additional guidance.
Q:	Is there a need for protection of wild salmonids? A: Washington's salmon and trout populations are disappearing and the decline threatens the economic and social fabric of our Pacific Northwest society. The causes of the decline are many and are debated intensely. The status of the salmon and trout populations has created the need for a coordinated approach to the habitat, fishing, hatchery, and other problems that have led to an alarming loss of wild salmonids.
Q:	Why is the Commission considering a joint policy with Indian Tribes? A: Many Western Washington Tribes have treaty rights to take salmon. These treaty rights were the subject of litigation in the 1970s and 1980s. The courts have ruled that the Tribes may take 50% of harvestable amounts of salmon runs and that Tribes participate in the management of their treaty fisheries. As a result of this "co-management" of salmon fisheries, the Commission and Tribes have developed mutual, agreed policies that both believe are needed for protection and recovery of salmon and the needs and goals the Tribes and other citizens.
Q:	Why would the Commission adopt policy guidance in addition to that jointly negotiated by the Tribes? A: The problems facing salmon vary in different regions, and the policies of individual Tribes also vary. Some matters were dependent on regional biology or fishing rights and therefore were not made part of the general joint Wild Salmonid Policy. On issues that were deferred or where general agreement was not reached by all Western Washington Treaty Tribes and WDFW, the individual tribes and WDFW retained the right to develop additional staff guidance that will be addressed in regional or more localized agreements. To guide the Department staff in addressing these issues, the Commission is adopting additional policy guidance.
Q:	Is the Commission providing the same guidance for Department staff in all parts of Washington, both areas with treaty rights and those without? A: Yes. However, within different areas and among different Tribes, there will be different proposals or issues affecting salmon. By using the Wild Salmonid Policy guidance, Department staff will turn to a common set of scientifically based standards for evaluating fish population management, fish culture operations, and habitat issues. However, the scope or nature of Department actions will reflect the relevant facts and address the treaty fishing rights of Tribes. The goal will be to have consistent treatment of issues when working on implementation strategies with comanagers and citizens, addressing local issues and the rights and goals of the Tribes.
Q:	Will the Tribes have additional policies? A: Tribes will undoubtedly have additional policies and guidance for their planning and fishery management staffs.
Q:	How will the Wild Salmonid Policy be used to protect salmonid habitats? A: The Wild Salmonid Policy is internal guidance to both Department and Tribal staff regarding habitat needs of salmonids. It is not a new law that would be applied to the public, although it will guide the Department and Tribes in their actions. By identifying the vital habitat needs of salmonids, the Department and Tribes will use existing authorities and habitat protection protections to promote proper protection and restoration of habitat. Additionally, the Department and Tribes will work with a variety of other government agencies, citizen groups, watershed planning groups, and legislative work groups to ensure that appropriate measures are considered for salmonid protection. The Wild Salmonid Policy may thus lead to actions by citizens and other governmental agencies that are needed to protect salmonid habitats.
Q:	How does this proposed Commission action relate to the Environmental Impact Statement or "EIS" for a proposed Wild Salmonid Policy issued in September? A: The EIS studied various elements of potential policies relevant to management of salmonid populations, fisheries, hatcheries, and habitat measures. The action that the Commission is considering is adopting the specific combination of fishery management, hatchery management, and habitat policies that were based on recommended elements of the EIS as "alternative three." By adopting both those policies developed jointly and the additional staff guidance as the Wild Salmonid Policy, the Commission will have consistent coordination between the Department and tribal fishery management efforts that incorporates effective public input. This policy approach was discussed in the EIS as a potential action by the Commission, and it was found to be the most likely way to ensure effective implementation for fish population management and habitat protection.