TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE RECOGNIZES KURT BEARDSLEE, WASHINGTON TROUT

Washington Trout has been recognized as a
regional leader in wild fish preservation and recovery.

In a New Year’s day front-page article, the Tacoma News Tribune named WT Executive Director Kurt Beardslee as one of twenty Puget Sound Area residents most likely to shape the coming century.

In naming Kurt, the News Tribune acknowledged how profoundly salmon recovery efforts will shape this region in the next hundred years, and the leading role Washington Trout will continue to play in those efforts. According to the paper, Washington Trout’s salmon restoration methods, "may become the standard that all others follow."

Kurt Beardslee helped found Washington Trout in 1989, and has served as its Executive Director since 1991. He has led the fight for more effective enforcement of environmental laws, to improve management policies, and to preserve and restore wild fish habitats. Along the way WT has chafed against government agencies, commercial and sport fishers, developers, and timber companies, but ultimately our thoroughness and unbiased approach has earned the respect of almost everybody involved with wild salmon issues.

Quoting USGS national wildlife research coordinator and former WDFW Director Bern Shanks, the News Tribune cited Washington Trout’s science-based agenda, and its willingness to take unpopular positions on behalf of the resource. Shanks called Washington Trout’s approach "courageous and extraordinary" in the face of "political and commercial agendas and misinformation."

Kurt Beardslee was the only regional environmentalist included in the News Tribune list. He acknowledged the honor by saying, "I’m very proud because this is really recognition of Washington Trout’s entire staff. We have always striven to keep the focus on the needs of the fish, and to base our actions on science, not political calculation or the agendas of any user group. I applaud the News Tribune for recognizing the importance of that approach."

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