Director Suswin briefs commission on tight salmon allocations, North of Falcon and Skagit relicensing settlement

Director Kelly Suswin delivered a report that focused on fisheries negotiations and agency partnerships. He summarized outcomes from North of Falcon public meetings and Pacific Fisheries Management Council discussions, characterizing 2026 as a year with particularly tight conservation constraints for several Chinook stocks in Puget Sound and the Columbia River.

Suswin said model runs and mixed-stock constraints forced reductions in some marine-area allocations but noted isolated openings for coho and limited Chinook opportunity in Bellingham Bay and Marine Area 5. He described the work as intensive, with staff running multiple scenario models to balance conservation and fishing opportunity.

Suswin also previewed a Skagit River relicensing settlement with the city of Seattle that will be signed May 12; he described that agreement as a significant restoration and fish-passage package tied to three dams on the Skagit and said the estimated investment over the license period is in the order of $1,000,000,000 for restoration and passage work.

He closed by listing ongoing engagements with tribes (Swinomish, Upper Skagit, Sauk) and federal partners, noting strong federal delegation support for agency priorities. Commissioners asked questions about tribal engagement on the Skagit and the status of petitions such as spring bear and cougar season; Suswin said petitions had been acted on and reported the department had four pending petitions.