Sturgeon decision
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has revised its schedule and now will adopt new lower Columbia River sturgeon management guidelines on Saturday, Jan. 8, instead of Friday, Jan. 7.
The citizen panel will convene both days at 8:30 a.m. in Room No. 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. Olympia.
Adopting a policy to guide the Department of Fish and Wildlife in negotiating a joint three-year sturgeon agreement with Oregon is the second item on the Jan. 8 agenda.
State biologists are recommending a 30 percent cut in sport and commercial harvest guidelines from 2010, which were a 40 percent cut from the 2009 guidelines.
Final decisions on sturgeon seasons will be made at a joint state hearing in early February.
After the sturgeon decision, the commission will be briefed on Puget Sound crab issues, then have a public hearing on a three-year Columbia River summer chinook policy, including splitting of the catch between sport and commercial interests.
