[ODFW-News] Columbia River Commercial Chinook Fishery Closes

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Thursday, February 20, 2003

Columbia River Commercial Chinook Fishery Closes

PORTLAND - Oregon and Washington fish managers took emergency action today =
and rescinded the next four spring chinook commercial fishing periods in =
the lower Columbia River because of the unexpectedly high proportion of =
upper Columbia River spring chinook handled in the fishery. The wild =
portion of the "upriver" run is listed as threatened under the federal =
Endangered Species Act.=20

The states will conduct test fishing in cooperation with volunteer =
commercial fishers Tuesday, Feb. 25 and Monday, March 3. All fish caught =
will be released. Test results may allow the fishery to reopen. Managers =
will meet Feb. 26 and March 4 to discuss the results and make a determinati=
on.=20

The non-Indian mainstem Columbia River sport and commercial fisheries are =
managed to limit unintended mortalities associated with the release of =
wild spring chinook to 2 percent of the total return. The February =
commercial season is limited to 30 percent of the total allowed impacts, =
which have not yet been reached.=20

Fishery managers set the February commercial gill-net season for spring =
chinook to target early-returning hatchery-bred fish destined for the =
Willamette River. Based on pre-season run size expectations, less than 10 =
percent of the chinook encountered by the commercial boats were expected =
to be headed above Bonneville Dam during the third week in February. This =
year, however, nearly 70 percent of the chinook are part of the "upriver" =
run.=20

Commercial gill-netters were slated to fish for four additional 16-hour =
periods on Feb. 21, Feb. 24, Feb. 26 and Feb. 28. Fish markets and seafood =
restaurants anxiously await the first spring chinook of the season because =
the meat is highly prized for its oil content and flavor.=20

The sport fishery for spring chinook on the Columbia remains open from the =
mouth at Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam and from the Tower Island =
power lines, about six miles below The Dalles Dam, upstream to McNary Dam. =
Bank fishing also is allowed between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island =
power lines on the Oregon side. The season will stay open through May 15 =
if the non-Indian sport harvest limits are not reached. Additional =
information on gear and bag limits may be found in the 2003 Oregon Sport =
Fishing Regulations.=20


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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528