ACTION ALERT: Appoint Commissioners Who Will Prioritize Conservation
In the next few weeks Governor Inslee will appoint two new people to serve on the state Fish and Wildlife Commission. Send a letter, email, or call to urge that qualified candidates who put conservation over consumption are appointed.
What is the State Fish and Wildlife Commission and why does it matter?
The Commission of Fish and Wildlife is a governor-appointed commission that establishes policies to protect, preserve, and perpetuate fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while also providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities (fishing, hunting). The commission consists of nine members appointed by Governor Jay Inslee that serve a six-year term. The Commission holds meetings and hearings throughout the state and offers opportunities for the public to weigh in on wildlife issues.
In the past, Commissions have been dominated by special interest groups that put commercial interests above conservation and recovery efforts. More recently, Governor Inslee has appointed several well-qualified Commissioners who have prioritized science and humane policies. Special interest and commercial groups are pressuring the state to appoint commissioners who will put consumption ahead of conservation.
How does this impact the whales?
The critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) are on the decline and face multiple threats which include a lack of food. The SRKW’s primary diet is Chinook salmon, also known as King salmon, which is a protected species and has multiple stocks that are listed on the Endangered Species Act as Threatened or Endangered.
In order to recover the SRKWs, it is vital that we protect their food source. The Commission of Fish and Wildlife establishes policies and controls the Washington Department of FIsh and Wildlife These policies have the ability to shape salmon and habitat recovery.
How and Where to Submit an Email or Letter:
To contact Governor Jay Inslee:
Email: GovernorBoardsandCommissions@gov.wa.gov
Phone Number: (360) 902-4111
Tips for how to write an email or letter:
Be respectful and polite in your email or letter.
Get personal, share your experiences and why you care. Personal messages carry more sentiment and weight which are more meaningful and can have a bigger impact on policymakers.
Avoid pre-written copy-and-paste templates. New practices have passed that make it so pre-written templates only get counted once. Meaning if multiple people submit the same exact comment, letter, or email, it will only be recorded once. Make it personal and unique to make sure it is counted.
Include suggestions for any candidates you support and explain why you support that candidate. (List of select candidates at the end).
Cite relevant data that supports your comment
Suggested talking points:
The remaining 73 critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales depend on healthy salmon stocks. By appointing Commissioners who prioritize science and conservation over consumption is crucial to aiding in the recovery efforts of the Southern Residents and the wild salmon on which they depend.
The previous appointees have been staying true to science and better represent the true values and interests of the Washington people. Please keep this momentum going by appointing Commissioners who will put wildlife conservation, the environment, and Washington people above commercial gain.
This is the chance for Washington State to lead by example for the rest of the nation by modernizing fish and wildlife departments.
In order to fight the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we need educated and informed Commissioners who understand these threats and will prioritize fish and wildlife and not commercial or special interests.
Governor Inslee has taken much bold action to address climate change. By appointing Commissioners that prioritize science and conservation, we can continue the efforts and all the work that has been done to combat climate change.
The time for reform of the Department of Fish and Wildlife is now. The Department has a track record of manipulating science and data to suit the needs of special or commercial interest groups. (Examples include Department employees speaking out via internal surveys and the 2021 auditor’s report). This is not acceptable and cannot continue.
Meaningful policies and action are needed in order to successfully recover the SRKWs, wild salmon, and the ecosystem on which we all depend.
It is in the best interest of wildlife, Washington residents, recreational/commercial hunters and fishermen to preserve wildlife so we don’t deplete threatened or endangered wildlife and lose them forever. There will be nothing left to hunt or fish if we do not protect and recover them today. Extinction is forever.
Commissioner Candidates with Conservation and Science Backgrounds:
Commission Chair Barbara Baker, Thurston County (at-large seat). Chair Baker has been
leading the Commission in the right direction, and at the beginning of her term, she was often
the lone voice for conservation. Chair Baker co-authored a draft Conservation Policy for the
Department, a document that would guide the Department in addressing the dual crises of
climate change and biodiversity loss. With the appointment of two strong Commissioners, we
believe that Chair Baker will be empowered to make more rapid progress toward
conservation goals, including approval of her Conservation Policy.
Tim Coleman, Ferry County (eastern WA seat). Mr. Coleman is an avid outdoorsman who
has dedicated his life to conservation. He is the executive director of the Kettle Range
Conservation Group, was a co-founder of the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition, and
has served on the boards of the American Lands Alliance, the Washington Environmental
Council, the Loomis Forest Fund, and the White Cloud Council. Mr. Coleman is an ethical
hunter and angler, and has the highest respect for wildlife, believes in the importance of
science and maintaining the integrity of wild ecosystems, and is an outspoken advocate on
behalf of the state’s carnivores. For many years, Mr. Coleman served on the Department’s
Wolf Advisory Group, where he was a strong voice on behalf of wolves before he was
dismissed for challenging the Department’s policies. Mr. Coleman has long followed the
Department closely and understands how it works, has a deep understanding of and
appreciation for science.
Toby Cooper, San Juan County (western WA seat). Mr. Cooper has two Masters of Science
degrees, in zoology and wildlife management. He worked as the director of national issues
for Defenders of Wildlife before moving into a career as a financial advisor. He continued to devote
himself to conservation causes, including by serving on the boards of the Mountain Lion Foundation,
the Friends of the San Juans, Orcas Recycling Services, the Marin Wildlife Center, Peninsula
Conservation Center, and the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor.
Mr. Cooper is a lifelong environmental advocate with a strong scientific background and
experience in financial advising that could benefit the Department as it searches for
sustainable funding sources.
Pete Soverel, Snohomish County (western WA seat). Mr. Soverel is the founder and board
chairman of The Conservation Angler, an organization that fights to protect wild fish
populations throughout the Northwest. He is a lifetime hunter and angler and a highly
decorated Navy officer who has dedicated the past 30 years to salmon and steelhead
conservation. Mr. Soverel has served on multiple Department advisory groups on policy and
conservation matters over the past 20 years.
Mr. Soverel understands the complicated science and politics of fishery management. He will
advocate for the Department to take the actions necessary to save Washington’s wild fish
populations and all the wildlife that depends on them, including the Southern Resident killer
whales.