Yesterday's election marked only the latest in an ongoing, and increasingly ugly, battle over the fish harvest in this state. Although Nelson, sponsor of I-696, is bowing out, he says other groups will come forward. There'll be another. Nelson and his volunteers plan to clear out their leased office in Renton tomorrow, gathering up their Save Our Sealife posters and pulling down gruesome photos of sea lion carcasses that appear to be strangled in nets. Supporters of the measure may back an effort to protect salmon by regulating the logging industry, Nelson said.
Opponents vow to return as well.
Ed Owens would like to see the state's initiative process limited. With the election behind them, commercial fishermen expect to return to the seas. They will continue to work for restoration of salmon habitats, said Knutson, co-chairman of Fish For All. Our plans are to keep doing what we've been doing. Because the state limits such fishing to a handful of days each year, few commercial fishermen make their living exclusively in Washington waters.