Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
Shellfish management, poaching a WDFW priority
Shellfish poaching is an expensive problem. In a two-hour tide, a poacher can make anywhere from $200 to $800 and sell their take at a reduced price, edging out legitimate businesses. Even worse, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) enforcement are in constant pursuit and they can't catch every offender.
This and other findings were shared with a group of about 30 people in a presentation by the WDFW's Rich Childers and Mike Cenci at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce member lunch meeting Monday, July 13.
The pair outlined the well-being of Puget Sound shellfish and how it seems to be in flux as recreational fishing is increasing, biotoxins are spreading farther south than ever before and poaching is prevalent and increasing.
“The incentive to poach is of course on the buying end,” said Cenci, the WDFW deputy chief of enforcement. “There is a propensity to buy illegal shellfish because it’s cheap. People like to have a good deal.”
Cenci estimated about 60,000 pounds of crab can go unreported by one vessel alone. Worse yet, geoduck poaching sees millions of pounds extracted illegally every year. Cenci said ever since China developed a taste for it around 2006, demand has skyrocketed and poaching has been there to match it.
In one case involving Richard Finch of G&R Quality Seafoods, an estimated $5 million in oysters and $200,000 in clams was stolen from Puget Sound. He is currently serving 66 months in prison and 17 other people connected to the case are on schedule to go to trial, Cenci said.
Cenci said cases of poaching – either on a large scale or smaller – are on the rise. Things like jurisdictional complexity, not enough law enforcement staff and more sophisticated poaching techniques all play a factor.
“We need some help from the Legislature,” Cenci said. “That’s the bottom line.”
He said people can help their efforts by reporting suspicious activity to WDFW.
SHELLFISH MANAGEMENT
In 1994, a federal district court reaffirmed a prior treaty agreement between Washington and native tribes that allotted tribes 50 percent of shellfish harvest.
As the shellfish manager for Puget Sound, Childers said navigating these agreements proved difficult at times, which no doubt contributes to how poachers are able to hide between jurisdictions.
“We have us – the Department of Fish and Wildlife – the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Health, State Parks and 14 treaty tribes,” Childers said. “Each one of those treaty tribes, they don’t come to the table as a collective, they come as individual governments.”
Childers outlined recreational harvest between the different shellfishes. As no surprise, crab is one of the most popular in the Puget Sound area, especially around Hood Canal where “on the Saturday when the [crabbing] season opens, there are 2,000 boats,” Childers said.
Childers said that last year 104,000 pounds of crab were extracted from Hood Canal over the four days recreational crabbing season was open. The quota is five crab per person, per day.
Tribes share the recreational quota with citizens. For Discovery Bay, the quota is 530,000 pounds, half of which goes to recreational harvest, the other half commercial. This means the public and tribes split 265,000 pounds – 132,5000 each.
Childers said tribes are allowed to fish for sustenance year round.
BIOTOXINS
According to Childers, closures in Puget Sound shellfish harvesting due to biotoxin levels are the worst he’s seen in years. Biotoxins are absorbed by shellfish as part of their filter feeding and are undetectable by smell or taste and can lead to sickness and even death. Algae and other organisms contribute to biotoxin levels in shellfish.
The Department of Health has a map of shellfish health status throughout Washington State. As of July 14, closures for all shellfish species blankets many parts of Puget Sound with areas in the southern part of Hood Canal being some of the worst.
“We’ve never had it this bad in Hood Canal before,” Childers said. “It’s pretty scary.”
He said WDFW is unsure why the biotoxin levels are so high, though it could have something to do with ocean acidity. According to an EPA study, as carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere rise, ocean pH becomes more acidic meaning warmer climate could play a factor.
“Something is going on, that’s for sure,” Childers said. “There are more biotoxin closures now than ever before.”
He wasn't confident in giving a date of when overall levels of toxicity might improve.
To check out the shellfish health status map, go to 1.usa.gov/1QmdXoF.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Thursday, July 9, 2015
MYSTERY BAY AND KILISUT HARBOR CLOSED DUE TO MARINE BIOTOXINS
Shellfish samples from Mystery Bay have been found to contain elevated levels of marine biotoxins that cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). As a result, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has closed Mystery Bay and Kilisut Harbor for recreational shellfish harvest. The closed area includes all of Kilisut Harbor up to the southern edge of Fort Flagler State Park. Mystery Bay was previously under a seasonal closure. A danger sign has been posted at Mystery Bay, warning people not to consume shellfish from this area.
Shellfish harvested commercially are tested for toxins prior to distribution and should be safe to eat. The closure includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops and other species of molluscan shellfish. This closure does not apply to shrimp. Crabmeat is not known to contain the biotoxin but the guts can contain unsafe levels. To be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts (also known as the “butter”).
Marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing. People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring marine algae containing toxins harmful to humans. Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begins with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing, and potentially death. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care provider immediately. For extreme reactions call 911.
In most cases the algae that contain the toxins cannot be seen, and must be detected using laboratory testing. Therefore, recreational shellfish harvesters should check the DOH Shellfish Safety Map at doh.wa.gov/ShellfishSafety.htm or call the DOH Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington State. Recreational harvesters should also check Fish and Wildlife regulations and seasons at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish or call the Shellfish Rule Change Hotline 1-866-880-5431.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Burn ban on recreational campfires is local & statewide
Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) cautions all county residents to be mindful of the updated Burn Ban issued by Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on June 26.
The heightened ban states, in part, “. . .outdoor burning, including campfires in fire pits and the use of charcoal briquettes is banned on all forest lands within the State of Washington under DNR’s fire protection through Sept. 30, 2015.”
The same emergency rule banning fires in recreational firepits, using wood or charcoal, applies locally.
The Jefferson County Fire Chief's Association, which includes District 1 (East Jefferson Fire Rescue), District 2 (Quilcene Fire Rescue), District 3 (Port Ludlow Fire Rescue), District 4 (Brinnon Fire Department) and District 5 (Discovery Bay) have issued burn bans that include recreational fires, wood or charcoal.
“There is growing concern about wildland-interface fires occurring in neighborhoods in the county with our current high temperatures and dry conditions,” said Bob Hamlin on July 2, Jefferson County Emergency Management director.
“Additionally, current conditions are a bit windy on the peninsula and Fourth of July celebrations are ahead of us,” Hamlin stated.
Here is a wrap on local and regional burn bans:
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
With the July Fourth holiday weekend approaching, Olympic National Park officials remind the public that there a ban on open fires in the park’s wilderness backcountry, including all locations along the coast.
Campfires are permitted only in established fire grates at established front country campgrounds. Camp stoves may still be used in the park's wilderness backcountry, but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST
Olympic National Forest has implemented fire restrictions: no building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, unless the fire is in an established fireplace approved or constructed by a public agency and located within a developed recreation area. Briquette fires are not allowed in the restricted areas.
Campfires, including wood or charcoal fires, are allowed only in developed campgrounds within fire rings. Campfires are not allowed in the following campgrounds due to the extreme fire potential: Lena Lake and Elkhorn campgrounds on the Hood Canal Ranger District; Campbell Tree Grove and Littleton Horse Camp campgrounds on the Pacific Ranger District. (These campground rules are subject to change.)
Stove fires are allowed. Stove fires are fires built inside an enclosed stove or grill, a portable brazier or a pressurized liquid gas stove; these include space-heating devices. Pressurized liquid gas stoves are still allowed.
STATE DNR LAND
The state Department of Natural Resources has banned all fires on state land it manages through Sept. 30, 2015. This burn ban prohibits campfires in state forests, state parks and anywhere else on the 13 million acres of Washington forestlands DNR protects from wildfire.
The expanded statewide ban prohibits all fires, including wood and charcoal fires in designated campground fire pits or campfire rings. Gas and propane cook stoves are allowed.
The DNR burn ban does not cover federal lands such as national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges or other areas administered by federal agencies.
JEFFERSON COUNTY/PORT TOWNSEND
Effective June 29, no outdoor burning in Jefferson County is allowed, including campfires in county parks. This total burn ban includes all outdoor fires and wood or charcoal briquette barbeque grills. The only barbeque grills currently allowed are gas-fired.
The City of Port Townsend also has year-round rules against outdoor burning.
POPE RESOURCES
Some companies have implemented bans of their own. Olympic Resource Management, a Pope Resources company, announced in a press release that it is temporarily closing all general public access to its Hood Canal Tree Farm properties in Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties on June 26.
These properties include access to the recreation areas of Sandy Shore, Horseshoe and Ludlow lakes near Port Ludlow. Pope Resources did, however, say that access to Tarboo Lake would still be open since it is on a county road, although timberland and trails to each side are closed.
NO FIREWORKS
Fireworks and incendiary devices, such as exploding targets, sky lanterns, or tracer ammunition, are always illegal on all DNR-protected forestlands, including state parks.
All fireworks are banned from national forests, national parks, state parks and county parks.
The City of Port Townsend has a fireworks ban.
Emergency responders urge that people who do use legal fireworks, where they are allowed, use them carefully with the "Three B's" in mind: Be Prepared with water nearby and pets indoors; Be safe - only adults should light fireworks; and Be responsible - fully extinguish and clean up fireworks debris.
In terms of reporting problems with fireworks, it is important to remember that calling 911 should be reserved for: injuries, fires, and the in-progress use or presence of illegal (explosive) fireworks. Non-emergency calls or questions about fireworks are best made to local law enforcement or fire districts, not the emergency 911 number, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal's Office.
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