WHAT ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF US FINDING OUT? In the most recent News release from WDFW are included two item’s that prove they are in the business of BS instead of truly working to solve problems! Rather than have true transparency, they pursue ways to make it appear they are being open! Here are the two items taken from the news release and how we see these as pure smoke and mirrors: • Plenary session: This year, the co-managers have agreed to invite the public to an informal discussion, which is tentatively scheduled to follow a state-tribal negotiating session in early April. Meeting information will be posted on the website listed above. (In the letter that Unsworth sent to Lorraine Loomis, Chairperson, NWIFC, he suggested plenary meetings. WE AT WCS NEVER ENDORSED these as a method to transparency because we heard from others that these are just dog and pony shows and do NOTHING to increase open and fair fisheries. In fact, Lorraine Loomis even gave some insight into how she see’s these plenary meetings being conducted. Here is a direct quote from her reply to Unsworth: “However, we are amenable to your suggestion to re-institute conducting plenary sessions at the meetings throughout the North of Falcon and PFMC process. The tribes would welcome the opportunity to express their conservation issues and management concerns directly to your constituency.” So, even by Lorraine Loomis’ own admission, plenary meetings will do nothing to enhance transparency. They are designed to only muddy the waters) • Conference calls and daily briefings: During the final days of negotiations, state fish managers will hold multiple briefings each day with the public as well as conference calls with constituents who can't attend. (Here is a quote from AAG Mike Grossmann, WDFW legal representative: “As I told the Commission, there is some value in confidentiality when mediating a dispute because it facilitates candid dialogue amongst parties in a court proceeding, and it helps manage litigation risk associated with the matter being mediated.” Mr. Grossmann has repeated this position several times. It seems by his statements he supports secrets in fishery management and therefor, we need to ask, exactly how good is the information which the WDFW intends to “share” with the public. During the RMP negotiations, the department made it very clear they could only share information that the tribes agreed could be shared. So, once again, the department offers these “briefings and conference calls” as a ruse to transparency, rather than working for true, fair and open fish management.) They actually had the stones to add this at the bottom of the News Release: "State salmon managers scheduled these opportunities under guidance from the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor that sets policy for WDFW. Commissioners have instructed WDFW staff to continue to work with their tribal co-managers to make the season-setting process as transparent as possible." REALLY?!? Again, we need to ask. Why is the WDFW, The Tribes and the Commission working so hard to make it APPEAR they are transparent, rather than just BE TRANSPARENT? Why are we letting the department waste OUR MONEY on more senseless meetings and worthless briefings and calls, when the answer is so simple and is already being used? JUST USE A LIVE STREAM VIDEO FEED! Are they so afraid to let us see and hear what they are doing in these meetings that they will go to these great lengths to try and mask their actions? https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/feb1618a/