Think we're doing something right? Something wrong? Want to give us your views on a particular issue? Then please write to us. To promote public dialogue on fish and wildlife matters, WDFW Director Jeff Koenings encourages you to drop him a line.You can e-mail the Director at director@dfw.wa.gov, or you can mail your letter to: Dr. Jeff Koenings, Director Washingon Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091

August 25, 2000 Dr. Jeff Koenings, Director Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091 Dear Dr. Koenings: THANK-YOU and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff (Greg Bargmann) for taking "EXTREMELY PROMPT ACTION" to enact an "EMERGENCY CLOSURE" on six-gilled shark fishing in the Puget Sound Region. GOOD JOB!! I have been scuba diving since 1984 and have not had the pleasure of seeing a six-gilled shark in Puget Sound during numerous dives, including SEACREST in Seattle, and fully agree with WDFW's position that protecting the shark species from over-fishing is warranted. I also congratulate the WDFW Marine Protected Area personnel (Mary Lou Mills) for the recent efforts to work with the public and help establish new MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAs) in the Puget Sound region. THANK-YOU! Sincerely, Donald L. Larson Kitsap Diving Association Bremerton, WA The following is an email message that was distributed by Greg Bargmann, WDFW Groundfish Manager: Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000, 10:00 Subject: Fishing for six-gills "WDFW is enacting an emergency closure which closes harvest of six-gilled shark by recreational angling in Areas 5-13, effective today at midnight [August 15th, 2000]. The reason for this closure is that a targeted fishery for these sharks is developing in Elliott Bay. This fishery is receiving a good deal of attention and may have the potential to grow rapidly. We have no information on the abundance of six-gills or their ability to withstand a directed harvest. We are also preparing a proposal to include this closure in the permanent sport fishing rules. This proposal will go through the normal public process and then appear before the Fish and Wildlife Commission sometime this winter."

Back to "We Get Mail" 2000 archive