Editor,

I just read your article from June on the return of the sand shrimpers. I live on Witter Beach, just south and around the point from Sandy Point Beach. Two years ago, before the shrimping ban was imposed, the commercial shrimpers drove almost 100 stakes into the sand just south of our beach 3 feet under the sand and 3 feet above in order to prevent the whales from getting the shrimp there. Our friend took pictures and gave them to us and we turned them over to someone else and a chain was made whereby the ban was put in place.

Since the ban was lifted we have had the shrimpers back almost every day. Before the ban, they never came onto our tidelands. Now they do. They come right in front of our house. We called the police and they spoke with them and they supposedly have permits, which after reading your article, I guess they do.

I believe this particular man is from a tribe. Tribal members have the right to shrimp our tidelands, but how can that be? Shouldn’t property rights be beyond race? Shouldn’t the environment be for all of us? I have to say, there has been such an increase in the shrimping and we have not had whales in front of our house for a very long time. Last year we had some again, but none this year, not one.

I am going to tell you, they are raping it out here in front of us and in our tidelands. How can that happen? There will be no whales out here for a long time if this is allowed to continue.

SHARON WANDLER

Langley