So while effective management may begin with solid science, it often ends in tough negotiations.

That doesn't mean that economic interests are always at odds with sustainable fish and wildlife resources. In fact, I trust that all of us can cite successful examples of how both those goals have been advanced through effective negotiations and solid partnerships. We'll be hearing about those strategies - and lessons learned - throughout the day and in the round-robin discussion tomorrow morning.

My main point here is simply that none of us can afford to ignore the social and economic implications of the work we do as resource managers. And I thought it would be a good topic for us to explore at this year's conference.

So how important are our fish and wildlife resources to the economy? According to the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Americans spent $108 billion dollars in 2001 to fish, hunt and observe wildlife. That represents slightly more than 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product for that year, which is almost equivalent to the earnings posted by the Top 3 Fortune 500 companies combined.

In Washington State, residents and visitors spend more than $2 billion every year on recreational activities focused on fish and wildlife, while the state's commercial fish fleet hauls in nearly $300 million in wholesale and retail sales.

• Nationwide, Washington was 8th in the nation in terms of expenditures for sport fishing in 2001.
• 7th in terms of both commercial fish landing and expenditures for wildlife viewing, and;
• 9th in sales of boats, motors and accessories.

More than 48,000 jobs in Washington were directly dependent on recreational fishing, hunting and wildlife watching opportunities available in 2001. That's a lot of jobs, and many of them are in rural areas of the state historically dependent on resource-based industries.

Do I consider that when I make decisions about resource management? Yes, I do. This year, for the first time, fisheries co-managers approved a selective pilot fishery for chinook salmon right out here in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

It's a tricky proposition, because some of the chinook passing through the Strait are wild salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act. However, under selective fishing rules, anglers can only keep chinook salmon whose adipose fin has been clipped at the hatchery for identification. Any unclipped chinook - or coho, for that matter - must be released, before they are brought into the boat.

Right now, we have more than 50 selective fisheries for salmon and steelhead in the state, but this is the first time we've tried it with chinook salmon in a saltwater fishery. We've had a 98 percent compliance rate with other selective fisheries, and we're going to see how it goes here in the Strait with chinook. Our enforcement officers have been out in force, and if anglers don't follow the rules then it's all over.

So far, reports from both our own biologists and area marinas have been good. People are generally complying with the new regulations and taking home some nice hatchery salmon.

Why chance it? Because there hasn't been a true chinook fishery in this part of the Strait for the better part of a decade, and local communities have felt the impact. We've had good success with selective fisheries in other areas, and I think it's worth a try here. I want to make sure we're doing everything we can to consider the concerns of anglers and support the local economy - provided that doesn't interfere with the recovery of depressed stocks of wild salmon.

The growing public interest in wildlife watching also offers new opportunities to support local economic development. Later this summer, I'll be meeting with representatives from a number of local governments to see what more we can do to expand and promote eco-tourism in our state. I think all of us recognize the tremendous opportunities bird watching and other non-consumptive activities offer in terms of economic development.

But is it our job to consider economic factors in making decisions about the resource?

It is in Washington. Under state law, the Department's first responsibility is to "conserve the state's wildlife and food fish, game fish and shellfish resources in a manner that does not impair the resource." But it then goes on to say the department and its governing commission should seek to maximize recreational fishing and hunting opportunities and seek to maintain the economic well-being of the commercial fishing industry.

At least in our state, there's a clear expectation that fish and wildlife resources will be available to the public to the fullest extent possible.

Of course, balancing economic and environmental interest is no mean feat. And, as I said before, none of us works in a vacuum. Lots of people, with different and valid points of view, have a seat at the table - especially when it comes to issues affecting critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Conservation groups, the forestry industry, hydropower, state and federal agencies, agriculture and municipal water suppliers - not to mention traditional hunting and fishing organizations - all have to have a voice in those decisions.

(Billy Frank, Jr., Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission)

So do Washington's treaty tribes, who serve as co-managers of the resource and are key partners in virtually all aspects of fish and wildlife management in Washington state.

As Billy Frank can tell you, it hasn't always been that way. As chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for more than 20 years, Billy helped to move fisheries management beyond the argument over "who gets to catch the last fish" to one of conservation and sustainability.

Together, we've worked to improve the science on which we make our joint management decisions. Billy could write a book on the art of successful negotiation, and I hope someday he does. Billy, it's great to have you with us today.

(Jim Waldo - Water policy advisor to Governor Locke)

I can't think of an issue more difficult - or as universal - for us in this association that that of water policy, in all its various manifestations.

Jim Waldo is Governor Locke's chief advisor for water policy and leader of the Resource Strategies Group at the law firm of Gordon, Thomas and Honeywell. He is also lead facilitator of the Puget Sound Hatchery Scientific Review Group, which reviewing all state hatcheries to ensure their operations are consistent with wild salmon recovery goals.

In these and other roles, Jim Waldo has earned a reputation as something of a "smokejumper" in some of the most difficult natural resource policy issues facing Washington - or any other western state or province. Jim, thank you for joining us today.

(Bill Wilkerson - Washington Forest Protection Association)

Eleven years ago, the listing of the Northern Spotted Owl under the federal Endangered Species Act resulted in the lost of thousands of timber jobs in this state - many of them right here in Port Angeles. Bill Wilkerson, director of the Washington forest Protection Association, didn't want to see that happen again when seven populations of Northwest salmon were listed for ESA protection in 1999.

Rather than just accept federal intervention, Bill joined with the Department and the tribes to develop a state plan that provides real protection for critical salmon habitat along with an "adaptive management" provision that allows for revision of the rules as new scientific information becomes available.

Indeed, the state's Forests and Fish Agreement is widely recognized as a model of scientific integrity and negotiated agreement. Bill, too, understands the art of "Getting to Yes" and I'd like to welcome him here today.

We all recognize that resource preservation is a shared responsibility and that public education is an essential step toward broad-based stewardship of our resources.

None of us will ever has enough staff or enough resources to address even the more critical needs of our fish and wildlife populations if the human population isn't even aware of what those needs are.

Today, we'll hear from two leaders in natural resource education who are approaching that challenge in different - and interesting - ways.

(Evelyn Nelson, Project CAT)

Evelyn Nelson is Superintendent of the Cle Elum-Rosyln School District, which is our partner in a relatively new project to involve K-12 students in an effort to monitor the movement of cougars in their area of the state. It's called "Project Cat," and enlists the help of students in monitoring and recording GPS signals from radio collars placed on area cougars as well as participating in field work.

I'm not sure which is more valuable - the data we receive from the school district or the lessons school kids are learning about modern-day science-based wildlife management.

But I'm looking forward to an update from Evelyn on how things are going with this novel, multi-jurisdictional research project.

(Dean Sutherland, Clark Public Utilities)

We'll also hear from Dean Sutherland, whom I've also billed as an educator. Actually, that's just one of ways that Dean has contributed to resource stewardship in our state. After 14 years as a state legislator, Dean went to work for Clark County Public Utilities where he started a community-outreach program that now includes everything from a watershed-restoration program to a major environmental education center.

Dean's going to talk today about "resource synthesis." I think I know what that is, but I'm going to be talking notes.

(Fish and wildlife enforcement)

You know, we policy makers and resource managers can issue all the directives we want, but the success of our initiatives is ultimately measured by what happens on the ground, in the real world. For a real-world perspective, I can't think of a better group of folks than enforcement officers responsible for ensuring our policies are put into effect.

This afternoon, we'll hear several perspectives on the development and enforcement of fish and wildlife policies from several veterans in the field.

We'll start with observations from Bruce Bjork, Chief of Enforcement for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Dayna Matthews, West Coast ESA Law Enforcement Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries. They will offer state and federal perspectives on fisheries enforcement in Washington.

After the break, they'll be joined by the authors of two case studies in natural resources enforcement - one highly successful, the other less so. Joining Bruce and Dayna will be Dr. Nicholas Lovrich, Director of Governmental Studies and Services at Washington State University in Pullman, and Michael Gaffney, Assistant Director of Governmental Studies and Services at WSU.

Finally, Mike Bireley, who retired from WDFW's enforcement program after 28 years of service, will join in the discussion. He too is now associated with Washington State University and is working to develop a conflict-resolution center for natural resource issues there.

It's going to be a full day, and I'm looking forward to it. To get things rolling, it's my pleasure to introduce the Honorable Glenn Wiggins, mayor of Port Angeles, who served as a pilot in the US Navy, worked for more than 40 years in forestry and has lived here in Port Angeles since 1969.