PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles has joined the city of Port Angeles in its efforts to extend the halibut fishing season.
Port commissioners said a three-day — May 4, 6 and 11 — season for 2017 in Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and off the coast of Neah Bay, La Push and Westport was too short.
On Tuesday, the port commissioners approved a resolution nearly identical to the city’s resolution, which was approved earlier this month.
The port commissioners’ resolution calls for a fixed 2018 annual bag-possession limit of six fish per person compared to the one-per-day, three-per-year currently in effect.
It also calls for a far lengthier, pre-2006-type season from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October.
The halibut fishing season has dwindled from a 70-day season in 2006 to 12 days in 2014, 11 days in 2015, eight days in 2016 and now three days in 2017, according to the port.
The problems with the short season, according to the port, include substantially reduced local business activity, economic losses and safety concerns should bad weather coincide with assigned fishing days.
Port Commissioner Connie Beauvais said the three-day season has the potential to force anglers into rough weather if they’re determined to catch halibut this year.
“People should be able to go out and fish when it’s reasonable to do so,” she said. She also said the seasons shouldn’t be limited to three days “because someone thought it might be easier to manage those three days.
“To me, that’s a poor excuse.”
Port Commissioner Colleen McAleer said it is a quality-of-life and economic issue for the state.
Later that day, city council members lauded the port for passing the resolution.
During the council meeting, Mayor Patrick Downie mentioned the city had extended an invitation to Fish and Wildlife for the city’s Feb. 7 meeting to pass the resolution, but it appeared the invite went to someone who no longer works with the agency.
Michele Culver, intergovernmental ocean policy manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, has said the agency would have welcomed the opportunity to attend.
________
Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
