Input on Puget Sound Dungeness crab policy wanted

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is seeking public input on a revised policy guiding management of recreational and commercial fisheries for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound.

During a public meeting the commission – a ninemember citizen panel that sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) – developed the draft Puget Sound Dungeness crab-management policy.

The draft policy is available for review on the commission’s Web page at wdfw.wa.gov/commission/ policies/draft_c-3609_ 16jul2010.pdf.

Comments can be emailed to commission@ dfw.wa.gov or mailed to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

In addition, the commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed policy at its Aug. 6-7 meeting in Olympia, where commissioners also will accept public comment on alternatives for recreational crab fishing seasons beginning in 2011.

The commission is expected to take action at its October public meeting on a final Puget Sound Dungeness crab management policy and select a recreational crab season that would be incorporated into that policy. The commission selected the three potential season alternatives for further review in June after receiving input from recreational crabbers and WDFW’s commercial and recreational crab fishery advisory groups.

The alternatives are available on the department’s Web site at http://wdfw. wa.gov/commission/meetings/ 2010/06/ps_dungeness_ alternatives.pdf.

Public meetings were held this week, and written comments on the draft policy will be accepted through Aug. 2.