OLYMPIA - A bi-state fisheries advisory group will meet Monday, Nov. 17 in Vancouver, Wash., to develop a recommendation on a catch-sharing plan for sport and commercial fisheries on the lower Columbia River.
Created by fish and wildlife commissions in Washington and Oregon, the Columbia River Fish Working Group will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Region 5 Office, 2108 S.E. Grand Blvd.
The meeting is open to the public, although no public testimony will be taken during the group's deliberations.
The group's first charge is to recommend a new plan for apportioning harvest opportunities for spring and summer chinook salmon between sport and commercial fisheries in the lower Columbia River.
The fish and wildlife commissions for Washington and Oregon will consider the group's recommendation at a joint meeting Dec. 11 in Portland. Each commission will take action on a joint catch-sharing plan at subsequent meetings.
Three fish and wildlife commissioners from each state serve as voting members of the advisory group. Non-voting members include two fishery managers from each state and a total of 10 citizen representatives from communities on both sides of the Columbia River.
More information on the Columbia River Fish Working Group is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regions/reg5/stakeholder/index.htm .
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428
