Appointments made to Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission

FISH and WILDLIFE — The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will be soon be back to full strength with the pending addition of a new member and reappointment of another to fill a recent departure.

Andy Walgamott of Northwest Sportsman reports that Donald McIsaac, a retired longtime director of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the citizen panel that sets policy for and oversees the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Larry Carpenter, the vice chair, has been reappointed to Miranda Wecker’s seat for the duration of her term through 2018, Walgamott writes. Wecker announced her resignation late last month after 12 honorable years on the citizen panel.

Effective dates for the appointments will be confirmed when required paperwork is processed, said Tara Lee, a spokeswoman in the Governor’s Office.

Here are a few insights from Walgamott’s reporting:

• Tony Floor of the Northwest Marine Trade Association says he’s known McIsaac for over three decades, and worked with him promoting Willapa Bay in the 1980s. He termed McIsaac “an outstanding selection” and a “fair, open-minded guy….” He’ll instantly become a very important, experienced and knowledgeable biological voice” on the commission, Floor said.
• Carpenter’s reappointment gives the recreational fishing community some hope to gain back significant erosion of West Side sport fishing opportunity, said Frank Urabeck, a longtime sportfishing advocate. He said Carpenter is able to “work with all the players” and is the “most respected, most knowledgeable about fish management issues, and has the experience and capability to provide the leadership desperately needed right now.”