Photo by: Tony Grover, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
OLYMPIA – The Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife will invite public comments at an informational meeting scheduled May 30 to discuss to possibility of opening limited recreational sturgeon fisheries next month in the lower Columbia River.
The meeting will be held at the Heathman Lodge at 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive in Vancouver, Wash, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The lower Columbia River has been closed to sturgeon retention since 2014 due to concerns about population status. While the juvenile population is still reduced in size, tagging studies show a steady rise in the abundance of legal-size fish.
Following the May 30 meeting, the departments will hold a public Joint State Hearing on May 31 to discuss potential adoption of a fishery.
A draft of the proposed fishery structure will be posted for public review on Friday, May 26 at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/
People who cannot attend the hearing can send comments by email to [email protected]
