Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Stewards of the state's natural heritage

• Ensuring the survival of Washington’s native fish and wildlife species
• Providing sustainable fishing, wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities
• Supporting local communities and small businesses through fish- and wildlife-related recreation and tourism.

These are the mandates of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the agency responsible for protecting and perpetuating our state’s biodiversity.

More than a million people go sport fishing, hunting or wildlife viewing each year in Washington. These activities contribute nearly $3 billion annually to the state’s economy, while commercial fisheries add another $3.8 billion. Healthy fish and wildlife populations are central to the quality of life and the heritage of Washington citizens.

But as the state’s population grows and natural land is converted to human use, we can no longer assume the animals we enjoy today will be here tomorrow. Dozens of native species are listed for protection as threatened or endangered and many others are candidates for listing. Ensuring their survival and carefully managing fishing and hunting opportunities to sustain the resource, is the daily work of WDFW biologists, lab technicians, enforcement officers, hatchery workers, land stewards and others.