[ODFW-News] One Year Plan Reached for Col R. Sport Sturgeon

[ODFW News]

NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, Washington 98501-1091
Internet Address: http://www.wa.gov/wdfw
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
2501 S.W. First Ave., Portland OR 97201
Internet Address: http://www.dfw.state.or.us
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February 6, 2003  Contact: WDFW: Brad James, (360) 906-6716
          or Margaret Ainscough, (360) 902-2408
       ODFW:  Anne Presentin, (503) 872-5264, ext. 5356
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One-year plan reached for lower=20
Columbia River sturgeon sport harvest=20
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Washington and Oregon fish managers have agreed on a one-year lower =
Columbia River sturgeon sport harvest plan that will close retention for =
two separate periods to limit catch.
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To meet the overall sport harvest guidelines of 32,000 fish, the river =
above the Wauna power lines (at Puget Island where power lines cross from =
Cathlamet to the Oregon town of Wauna) is anticipated to close to sturgeon =
retention seven days a week from March 24 through June 30, while the river =
estuary below Wauna is expected to be closed for retention seven days a =
week from July 10 through Sept. 30. Catch-and-release sturgeon angling may =
continue during the retention closure.
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For the remainder of the year, sturgeon fishing will be open seven days a =
week.=20
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Annual bag limits will remain at 10 fish per angler, but the states will =
consider a reduction to a five-fish annual limit through the permanent =
rules process.
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The plan allocates 60 percent of the recreational harvest (18,000 fish) to =
the estuary area of the river, and the remaining 40 percent (12,000 fish) =
to the area above the Wauna power lines.
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The states are managing for a 2,000-fish buffer in the overall sport =
harvest guideline, equating to a 30,000-fish recreational harvest. =
Fisheries will be managed for the quota in each area, and specific =
retention dates may be adjusted to meet the quotas.
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"This plan offers opportunity to fishers all along the river, while =
reflecting recent years' harvest distribution," said Bill Tweit, Columbia =
River policy lead for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife =
(WDFW).
"This is a good compromise for this year and ensures that conservation =
needs are met," said Ed Bowles, Fish Division administrator for the Oregon =
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). "Oregon will re-assess the fishery =
using a full public process this summer and fall with the goal of =
developing a three-year agreement."
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The sport harvest plan was developed in response to declines in the white =
sturgeon population, which dropped 4 percent a year from 1996 through =
2001.
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