WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE Print Version
NEWS RELEASE
600
Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 |
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December 03, 2008
Contact: Susan Yeager, (360) 902-2267
Commission will consider proposals
for Columbia River chinook fisheries
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider adopting new catch-sharing plans for Columbia River spring and summer chinook salmon on the second day of a public meeting scheduled Dec. 12-13 in Olympia.
The meeting, which will include several public comment periods, will be held on the first floor of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. An agenda for the meeting is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/com/meetings.htm on the commission’s website.
Prior to that meeting, the Washington commission will meet Dec. 11 with the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in Portland to discuss recommendations developed by a joint working group for apportioning fishing opportunities for chinook salmon between sport and commercial fisheries in the lower Columbia River.
Key goals of the plan, which has not yet been finalized, are to provide greater stability for spring and summer chinook fisheries, while meeting conservation goals for wild salmon.
The joint meeting will be held from 12:30-3:30 p.m. in the Embassy Suites Portland Airport in the Oak Room, 7900 N.E. 82nd Ave. The public is invited to attend, but there will not be a public comment period at the joint meeting.
The Columbia River Fish Working Group was created by the two state commissions to develop policy recommendations on joint issues, starting with allocation policies for spring and summer chinook salmon. Three commissioners from each state serve as voting members, joined by top fishery managers and citizen advisors representing sport and commercial fisheries, as well as local communities, in Washington and Oregon.
The Oregon commission is scheduled to consider adoption of the group’s recommendations on chinook salmon Dec. 12, a day after they are presented at the joint meeting.
In addition to possible action on a chinook-allocation policy, the Washington commission will consider proposals at its Dec. 12-13 meeting that would:
- Extend the current sturgeon-management policy on the lower Columbia River through 2009.
- Update facility requirements for oiled-bird rehabilitation activities.
- Allow the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife two acquire two properties for wildlife conservation in Okanogan County and a right-of-way for bridge improvements in Yakima County.
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