[ODFW-News] Sturgeon season to close to retention

[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	Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Sturgeon season to close to retention in lower Willamette and most of =
lower Columbia

PORTLAND - The sturgeon angling season will close to retention Monday, =
March 24, in the lower Willamette River, Multnomah Channel and lower =
Columbia River between Wauna power lines upstream to Bonneville Dam, the =
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reminded anglers today.

The rules were adopted earlier this year to keep the overall sport harvest =
for 2003 at 32,000 fish. The current 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.

The size limit for retained sturgeon is a minimum of 42 inches and a =
maximum of 60 inches. The bag limit is one per day and 10 per year.
 =20
The lower Willamette River and Multnomah Channel is managed with the =
Columbia River for the sturgeon fishery. The Columbia River between Wauna =
power lines to Bonneville Dam and the lower Willamette will reopen to =
sturgeon retention, seven days a week beginning Tuesday, July 1.=20

The Columbia River estuary below Wauna power lines, including Youngs Bay, =
will close to retention Thursday, July 10, through Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Catch-and-release sturgeon angling may continue during the retention =
closures.=20

This year's sport harvest plan was developed in response to declines in =
the white sturgeon population, which dropped 4 percent a year from 1996 =
through 2001. A public review process will be conducted this fall to =
discuss the 2004 and 2005 lower Columbia River harvest plan.=20

Anglers are reminded that sport fishing rules may change from those =
printed in the 2003 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Changes to the =
printed pamphlet may be found are posted to the ODFW Web site at: =
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/Regulations/2003_reg_changes.htm .

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