Why does Washington leave thousands of harvestable salmon impacts on the table every year?

In Episode 6 of The Badger Fishing Show, Phillip and Alex take a deep dive into one of the biggest problems facing Washington’s recreational salmon fisheries: fishery managers who fail to maximize opportunity.

Topics include:

• Why Marine Area 5 was projected to leave a significant amount of quota unused.
• Why advisors questioned why a 2 fish limit wasn’t considered sooner.
• How test fishery boats collect data and whether two boats can accurately represent hundreds of anglers.
• Why salmon quotas remain unused despite recreational demand.
• The role of sublegal encounters and wild encounters in season management.
• Whether current management methods accurately reflect what anglers experience on the water.
• The importance of maximizing opportunity while still meeting conservation goals.
• Updates from the WDFW Budget and Policy Advisory Group and what future state budget cuts could mean for recreational fishing.
• Why recreational fishing generates major economic benefits for Washington and why funding decisions matter.

If you care about salmon fishing, hatcheries, fisheries management, transparency, and accountability in Washington State, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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