No one is happy with fish and wildlife protection regulations approved Sept. 22, but Island County commissioners are saying they’re a starting point.

“I understand people’s frustration with this,” Commissioner Jill Johnson said. “I straight up get it.”

The ordinance update was required as part of the state’s Growth Management Act and the county has held a total of 30 public meetings over the last year. Its aim is to protect the state’s fish and wildlife such as salmon bearing streams and wetlands.

Farmers have been unhappy with the update because they need to be able to maintain irrigation ditches that may also require strict governmental oversight due to the presence of crucial wetlands or animal habitat.

Farmers pressed commissioners to provide an exemption for existing and ongoing agriculture but county staff said such an exemption would run afoul of the state requirements.

“I can’t believe you guys are trying to regulate the ongoing and existing agriculture so much,” said Central Whidbey farmer Len Engle Monday.

Commissioner Helen Price Johnson stressed that this update begins the larger process of updating the county’s Comprehensive Plan when the issues raised can be reviewed and updated if needed.