Fisheries Management

Lower Columbia River Fisheries Reform Process

In November, Oregon voters will decide whether to ban commercial fishing with gillnets on their side of the Columbia River. As an alternative to Oregon Ballot Measure 81, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber asked the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to restructure salmon and sturgeon fisheries, including phasing out the use of gillnets by non-tribal fishers in the mainstem lower Columbia River by 2016.

In response to Gov. Kitzhaber's proposal, Washington state fishery managers have entered into a joint process with their Oregon counterparts to develop potential alternatives for managing salmon and sturgeon fisheries in the lower Columbia River. The Oregon Ballot measure would not directly affect commercial fishers fishing on Washington's side of the river with a Washington permit, but if it is approved by voters it could greatly complicate the joint-management process for fisheries the two states have pursued for nearly a century.

Phil Anderson, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), has stated that the current joint process to restructure fisheries on the Columbia River must:

• Include jointly developed conservation objectives;
• Respect treaty Indian fishing rights and provide for close coordination with tribal fishery managers;
• Provide for shared hatchery production goals;
• Contain harvest management objectives for both commercial and recreational fisheries, recognizing their economic importance to both states; and
• Ensure the two states continue to have reciprocal regulations and concurrent enforcement authority.

In separate meetings in early September, the fish and wildlife commissions of Washington and Oregon each appointed three commissioners to participate in joint public meetings about restructuring lower Columbia River fisheries. Each commission also announced plans to appoint citizen representatives to participate in those meetings, scheduled from September through December 2012.

Any potential alternatives developed during this joint process would be considered by both states' Fish and Wildlife Commissions.

Workgroup Members

• Workgroup Membership Roster

Public Meeting schedule
(A schedule for Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meetings can be found on the ODFW webpage.)

Jan. 11-12, 2013	Meeting Audio Columbia River Fishery Management Policy: Stream MP3 Audio | Download MP3 File [101.8 MB] Meeting Agenda Department staff will review and discuss the draft Columbia River Fishery Management policy with the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Staff Proposed Edits to Draft Policy Decision Support Document for Columbia River Basin Salmon Management Policy
Dec. 14-15, 2012	Meeting Agenda The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to accept public comments on the recommendations during the meeting in Tumwater. Comfort Inn Conference Center 1620 74th Ave. SW. Tumwater, WA Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries: 2013 and Beyond
* Dec. 6-7 Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission	Meeting Audio Meeting - Stream MP3 Audio | Download MP3 File [53.0 MB] Public Comment - Stream MP3 Audio | Download MP3 File [205.4 MB] Meeting Agenda Thursday, December 6, 2012 – 1:00 PM Holiday Inn Portland Airport, Willamette Room 8439 NE Columbia Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97220
Nov. 15	Meeting Audio - Stream MP3 Audio | Download MP3 File [145.9 MB] Meeting Agenda Bi-state Workgroup meeting. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Best Western Ocean View Resort 414 North Prom Seaside OR 97138 www.oceanviewresort.com Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries: 2013 and Beyond Working Draft Version 2a Working Draft Version 3 Description of Spring Chinook Tangle Net Fishery Regulations and Management Additional HSRG Preliminary Analysis of Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries
Nov. 8-9	The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will accept public comment on proposed management alternatives during its regular meeting in Olympia.
Oct. 18	Meeting Audio - Stream MP3 Audio | Download MP3 File [172.8 MB] Meeting Agenda Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Airport Embassy Suites, Spruce Room 7900 NE 82nd Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97220 A second joint meeting is scheduled to be held in Portland to further review and refine the proposed management options. Meeting details will be posted here as they become available. Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries: 2013 and Beyond Appendix A: Defining Management Objectives for Recreational Fisheries Downstream from Bonneville Dam Appendix B: Enhancement of Hatchery Production for Harvest by Non-tribal Commercial Fisheries in Off-Channel Areas of the Columbia River Downstream from Bonneville Dam Appendix C: Analysis of Recreational Angler Trips and Ex-Vessel Value of Mainstem and Off-Channel Commercial Fisheries Under the Current Management Policy and the Alternative Management Framework Being Considered by the Columbia River Fishery Management Workgroup. Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Workgroup Members Recommendations Conservation Scenarios Commercial Advisors Draft Plan Modeling and Analyses Relevant to Columbia River Fisheries The Kitzhaber Plan – How do we make it work? Packet of PDFs with information relevant to Columbia River Fisheries The Economic Strength of Recreational Fishing SAFE map handout with target releases Select area fish production
Oct. 5-6	The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will accept public comment on the proposed management alternatives during its regular meeting in Olympia.
Sept. 21	Meeting Agenda The first joint meeting to discuss restructuring lower Columbia River fisheries and develop management alternatives for analysis. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. in Olympia. Oregon and Washington Staff Options for Initial Analysis and Discussion Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries -- 2013 and Beyond Current Management of Lower Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries Meeting Audio 1. Introductions 2. Purpose 3. Process 4. Current Policy Overview 5. Tribal Presentations 6. Staff Report 7. Workgroup Discussion with Staff and Advisors 8. Invited Guests - Conservation Interests 9. Public Comment 10. Wrap Up & Assignments

News releases

• Commission hears testimony, schedules vote on new Columbia River fishery policy - Dec. 17, 2012
• Recommendations to restructure lower Columbia River fisheries available for review - Nov. 26, 2012
• Commission sets the stage for policy decisions on Columbia River fisheries, Puget Sound shrimp - Sept. 10, 2012

Background information

Statements and Communications

• Aug. 10 Statement by WDFW Director on letter from Gov. Kitzhaber
• Aug. 9 Letter to Chairwoman Levy and Director Elicker from Governor Kitzhaber

Columbia River Joint Staff Reports

• July 12, 2012
• January 20, 2012

Fish and Wildlife Commission Policies

• C3001: 2011-2013 Lower Columbia Sturgeon Management
• C3608: 2011-2012 North of Falcon
• C3617: Mainstem Columbia River Spring Chinook Management and Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries, 2009-2013
• C3618: Mainstem Columbia River Summer Chinook Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries Below Priest Rapids Dam, 2011-2013
• C3619: Hatchery and Fishery Reform