The annual North of Falcon (NOF) process is underway and it appears to be filled with good will, or at least better will than years past.
NOF is the process of meetings and negotiations between state, tribal and federal governments to set salmon fishing seasons each year.
As fish runs have declined, so did some of the empathy often disparate groups had for one another. Finger pointing and blame monopolized conversations.
This year appears to be different, or at least it was on Tuesday at a meeting in Lynnwood. Representatives from the state, tribal governments and fishing groups seemed to agree that if they don't work together, the salmon will disappear.
The meetings come after Governor Inslee signed an executive order to keep the Southern Resident Killer Whales from disappearing. The whales only eat fish, and mainly Chinook salmon which are also now on the endangered species list.
The fish are facing habitat loss, pollutants and predation along with pressure from fishing.
The way forward still appears ambiguous but Tuesday's meeting showed a will to unify from all groups, recognizing that salmon belong to no single group, and if they disappear, they will certainly belong to no one.
