NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091
Internet Address: http://wdfw.wa.gov
January 25, 2005 Contact: Guy Norman, (360) 906-6704


Ilwaco meeting to discuss
Columbia River steelhead impacts


OLYMPIA—A proposal to provide greater flexibility in setting incidental impact rates on Columbia River wild winter steelhead will be discussed during a public meeting Feb. 2 in Ilwaco.

The meeting will run from 6 to 8 p.m., in the cafeteria of Ilwaco High School at 404 School Road. The school is located off State Route 101, just north of Ilwaco.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will present information on the steelhead incidental impact proposal.

State fish managers are seeking greater flexibility in determining limits on wild steelhead inadvertently caught during salmon fisheries on the Columbia River, as part of its effort to provide sustainable salmon-fishing opportunity while upholding recovery goals for wild winter steelhead.

Other meetings on the steelhead impact issue included a recent Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission public workshop, a public meeting of WDFW fishing advisory groups earlier this month in Longview, and a public meeting of the Puget Sound Anglers scheduled for tomorrow (Jan. 26) in Tacoma.