Fish and wildlife commissions in Washington and Oregon have established a joint advisory group to develop recommendations on a variety of fishery-related issues facing the two states on the Columbia River.

The first charge for the Columbia River Fish Advisory Group, established in September, 2008, is to recommend a new plan for apportioning harvest opportunities for spring and summer chinook salmon between sport and commercial fisheries in the lower river. The group will then consider a broader range of issues, including salmon recovery, selective fisheries and hatchery reform.

Three fish and wildlife commissioners from Washington and Oregon serve as voting members of the advisory group. Non-voting members include two fishery managers from each state and a total of 10 citizen representatives from communities on both sides of the Columbia River. Citizen representatives were chosen by their respective commissions for their breath of experience with Columbia River fisheries.