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04/14/2008: "Fisherman Oppose Aquatic Reserve"

(Andy Holman watches as Robert Wilson presents a letter of opposition to Council Staff member Maureen See)

The San Juan Island Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers hand delivered a letter to the SJC Commission last week, stating the Anglers’ association “strongly opposes the proposal submitted by the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee to establish an Aquatic Reserve in the San Juan Islands”

Representatives from the group plan to attend a scheduled County Council 11:10 agenda item on Tuesday, labeled an “Aquatic Reserve Update” from Mary Knackstedt, the coordinator for the MRC.

The MRC had listed the “Development, with both local citizens and a marine managers technical group, of an Aquatic Reserve Proposal for submittal to DNR Aquatic Reserve Program” in a presentation to the County Council back in February of 2008 as one part of their 2008 Work Plan.

The Council was asked by the MRC to send a letter to the DNR in support of the Reserve, and in a split vote in August of 2007, the Council did approve the MRC to send a letter of intent to DNR “ to apply for the Aquatic Reserve program”.


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While Lichter had joined the majority in voting against Councilman Kevin Ranker's motion to move forward, Lichter expressed his concern that the Council “be sure the Council would not be obligating the County, with the letter of intent, in any other way than to move ahead with optimism to look at the program the DNR would develop for SJC”.

Councilman Rich Peterson was the lone nay vote, stating he “felt it was a triggering event and couldn’t support taking this step.” By last Monday (4-7-08), it appeared some on the Council may have begun to have second thoughts, and at the very least were critical about how the process was proceeding, and what the impacts might be on San Juan County.

With respect to the expressed concerns on fishing, Councilman Kevin Ranker had informed the Council that ““there is ZERO ability for DNR Aquatic Reserves to have any oversight over fishing, so all the hype about fishing is off base”; but the fisherman are not convinced, and point out that Fish & Wildlife are involved in the proposal, and they do have something to do with fishing.

Robert Wilson is the president of the local Anglers chapter, and he stated that if DNR (Department of Natural Resources) were to accept the Reserve proposal made by the MRC (San Juan County Marine Resources Committee), the DNR would manage it for the next 90 years; and that is an “unacceptable and unnecessary relinquishment of local control in San Juan County”.

The Council has the right to open up the Tuesday agenda item to public comment, but have not stated if they will follow normal procedure and restrict public input, or allow it..