Washington and Oregon fishery managers have scheduled six public meetings this month to discuss possible changes in the white sturgeon fisheries in 2013 and ensuing years. The meetings will include an update on white sturgeon populations and a public discussion of possible options for future management of the fishery.
With recent declines in the white sturgeon population on the Columbia River, both states have reduced catch guidelines by 30 percent to 40 percent in each of the past three years. Harvest levels have also declined for sturgeon in coastal fisheries and in Puget Sound.
Among the key topics of discussion will be season length, number of retention days per week, fishing gear and catch allocation.
Among the meetings are:
July 26: Mill Creek, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., 6-8 p.m., 425-775-1311.
July 31: Montesano, City Hall, 112 N. Main St., 6-8 p.m., 360-249-4628.
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