February 3-4, 2012 Minutes Special Meeting

MEETING MINUTES
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WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE
COMMISSION MEETING
February 3-4, 2012

Natural Resource Building, Room 172
Olympia, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission
Public
Miranda Wecker, Chair
Ron Chase
Gary Douvia, Vice Chair
Lewis Boyd
Larry Carpenter
Ralph Zaleck
David Jennings
Jerry Lowe
Jay Kehne
Gene bonderman
Connie Mahnken
Diane Gallegos
Rollie Schmitten
Vinton Waldron
 
Ken Crews
Commission Staff:
Brian Allison

Tami Lininger
James Walton
Erin Gariépy
Lawrence Bucklin
 
Daryl Rother
Department Staff
 
Phil Anderson, Director
 
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director
 
Nate Pamplin
 
Dave Ware
 
Joe Shorin
 
Bill Frymire
 
Jair Reitsma
 
Rich Childers
 
Dan Budd
 
Will Moore
 
Scott McCorquodale
 
Captain Dan Brinson
 
Joanne Eide
 
Deputy Chief Mike Cenci
 
Chief Bruce Bjork
 
Craig Burley
 
Heather Bartlett
 
Chad Jackson
 
Chris Donley
 
Charmane Ashbrook
 
and other department staff
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Chair Wecker called the meeting to order at 8:25 a.m.

1. Call to Order:

a. Commissioners’ Discussion

  • Legislative Meetings with Senators Morton and Hargrove and  Representatives Kretz and Orcutt–
    • Land Management Funding
    • Wolf Management and Conservation Plan
  • Colville Meeting

b. Approval of minutes

  • No minutes were presented

c. Director's Report

  • Permanent Rules adoption for Pink Shrimp Trawl Fishery
  • Joint Sturgeon Management Accord with Oregon
  • Wolf Management and Conservation plan
    • Wolf Activity
    • Colville Meeting
    • Steven’s County Cattlemen’s Association upcoming meeting
    • Implementing MOU to share Wolf data with Colville Tribe
    • Staff changes for Wolf Management and Conservation plan for implementation stage
    • Jair Reitsma designing Project Management plan for implementation
    • New Wolf Bio 2 & Sci-Tech positions
    • Training sessions by U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist, Carter Niemeyer
  • Puget Sound Hatchery Action Advisory Committee
  • Delegation of Authority
  • Performance Agreement
  • International Pacific Halibut Commission
  • Lawsuit – Catch Sharing Plan
  • Deputy Director’s Report
    • Legislative Update
  • Supplemental item for agenda

2. Open Public Input:
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. The following individuals provided testimony during this portion of the meeting:

Ron Chase - Sturgeon
Lewis Boyd - Sturgeon
Gene Bonderman – Crossbow
Ken Crews - Crab
Vinton Waldron – Crab
Brian Allison – Crab
James Walton – Crossbow

3. 2011 Puget Sound Crab Season Results, Management & Enforcement – Briefing
Rich Childers, Shellfish Policy Manager  & Deputy Chief Cenci, Enforcement Program provided the Commission with the annual report required by Policy C-3609 summarizing the performance, harvest, enforcement and management of both commercial and recreational fisheries during the 2011 season.

4. Puget Sound Recreational Clam & Oyster Season Changes – Briefing/Public Hearing
Rich Childers, Shellfish Policy Manager  briefed the Commission on the proposed changes to the recreational clam and oyster seasons on Puget Sound public beaches and recommend changes in order to maximize recreational opportunities while preventing overharvesting.
No one signed up to provide public input for this item.

5. Proposed Land Transactions - Decision
Dan Budd, Real Estate Section Manager, Wildlife Program,presented a land transaction recommended by the Department for the protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat, enhancement of public recreation opportunities and responsible property management:

  • Proposed acquisition of 165.65 acres in Okanogan County

No one signed up to provide public testimony for this item.

Commissioner Schmitten moved, seconded by Commissioner Jennings to defer item to the February 17, 2012 Conference Call.  Motion passed unanimously. 

6. Multiple Season Big Game Permits – Rule Action
The Commission considered approval of the Department’s recommendation to increase the number of hunters drawn for multiple season deer and elk permits in WAC 232-28-294 as presented by Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program.
Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Kehne to approve the amendment to WAC 232-28-294, increasing the number of hunters drawn for multiple season deer and elk permits.  Motion passed.   

7. Wildlife Program Overview – Briefing
At the request of the Commission, Nate Pamplin, Assistant Director, Wildlife Program briefed the Commission with a summary of the organizational structure, staff positions and expertise, budget sources, and wildlife conservation and management priorities.

8. Colockum Elk – Briefing
At the request of the Commission, Will Moore, Wildlife Biologist, Region 3 and Scott McCorquodale, Ph.D., Deer and Elk Specialist briefed the Commission on Colockum Elk.  Including harvest trends over the past 10 years, road closures, review of true spike, status of reserve, and impact of the Yakama Tribe.

9. Sanitary Shellfish Enforcement Strategy – Briefing
Captain Dan Brinson, Enforcement provided an overview to the Commission of the responsibilities of the Enforcement Program for providing adequate enforcement of the Department of Health rules and regulations pertaining to the sanitary control of shellfish.

10. Enforcement – Agency’s WAC Overhaul – Briefing
Joanna Eide, Administrative Regulations Analyst and Deputy Chief Cenci, Enforcement Program provide an overview to the Commission on the agency WAC overhaul project currently underway, why the overhaul is needed and the benefits to rectifying the code.

Supplemental Item
Director Phil Anderson requested the Commission adopt a permanent rule amending WAC 220-69-240 (a)(b), (9)(c), (14)(c)(ii), and former (14) relating to sardines and anchovy.
 
Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken to adopt a permanent rule amending WAC 220-69-240(9)(b), (9)(c), (14)(c)(ii), and former (14), as highlighted in the draft numbered OTS-4609.  Motion passed unanimously

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 5:08pm.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012

11. Sportfishing Regulations 2012-13 – Rule Adoption
The Commission considered the 2012-13 Sportfishing Regulation changes for adoption as presented by Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager.

Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Schmitten, to adopt permanent amendments to:

  • WAC 220-12-090 Classification--Nonnative aquatic animal Species
  • WAC 220-55-220 Two pole endorsement
  • WAC 220-56-100 Definitions--Personal-use fishing
  • WAC 220-56-235 Possession limits—Bottomfish
  • WAC 232-12-019 Classification of game fish
  • WAC 232-28-619 Washington food fish and game fish—Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter to amend WAC 220-56-282 Sturgeon--Areas, seasons, limits and unlawful acts to read it is lawful to retain white sturgeon in Puget Sound and all Puget Sound tributaries from June 1 through June 30 and September 1 through October 15. Amendment Motion passed.

Motion Passed Unanimously.

12. Inland Fish Stocking Strategy and  Marketing Plan- Briefing
Heather Bartlett, Hatcheries Division Manager, and Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager provided an overview on the Integrated Fish Management Strategy and the outcome of their work over the last 18 months. 

13. Open Public Input
The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. 
No one signed up to provide public testimony for this item.

14.  Commission Committee Reports
The Commissioners discussed recent activities of the various Commission committees.

  • Wildlife Committee reviewed
    • Rule Proposals
    • Colockum Elk Herd
    • Roads
    • Tribal
    • Cougars
  • Fish Committee
    • Sturgeon
    • Coastal
    • Kettle River
    • Skagit River
    • Puget Sound Spot Shrimp
    • Summer Chinook
    • Sea Urchin / Sea Cucumbers
  • Enforcement
    • Staffing Study

15. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief
The Commission discussed the following items that arose immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda was published:

  • Wolf Position Statement
  • Translocation Discussion
  • Blue Sheet Requests:

  • Pheasant Program Update – Presentation to Commission and Report
    Commissioner Schmitten moved, seconded by Commissioner Jennings to request a presentation and report.  Motion passed unanimously.

    Overview of Mainstem Columbia River – Presentation to Commission
    Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Schmitten to request an overview of Mainstem Columbia River presented to the Commission.  Motion passed unanimously.

    Comprehensive Review of Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Fishery and Commission Policy - Briefing
    Commissioner Schmitten moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken to request a comprehensive briefing on Puget Sound Spot Shrimp Fishery and Commission Policy.  Motion passed unanimously.

    Get Out West Program – Briefing
    Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Schmitten to request a briefing on Governor Gregoire’s Get Out West initiative.  Motion passed unanimously.

Chair Wecker adjourned the meeting at 11:38.