Rules Category: Eastern Washington and Columbia Region Freshwater
Species covered in proposed rule • Other
Other Description Sturgeon
Rule to Change: Currently fishing for Sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt is CLOSED.
New Rule Proposal: Open Sturgeon fishing to catch and release except for the months prior and after the sturgeon spawn. Rule change to Sept. 1 to March 31, Catch and Release.
Why the change is needed: For over 10 years sturgeon have been put into Lake Roosevelt by the State and Canadian Fisheries Ministry and sturgeon are reproducing naturally also. Bringing back at least a catch and release fishery will not harm the adult sturgeon before and after the spawning months. There are many anglers that would participate in this fishery and buy licenses. Currently there are sturgeon recovery programs on Lake Roosevelt that are successful.
Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change: Local game warden, Dan Anderson. Fishing friends.
Describe their support and/or concerns:
There are plenty of sturgeon in Lake Roosevelt and upper Columbia River to open up a catch and release fishery again. The State should provide angling opportunity when it does not harm the population. Sturgeon are caught and released throughout the whole Columbia River system. Sturgeon are very hardy fish and quickly recover from angling, they will spawn without no problems just as we expect the thousands of salmon that are caught and released in the ocean and rivers to spawn.
Submitted by: MESKAN, JAMES E — KETTLE FALLS, WA
Date submitted: 06/15/2012
WDFW Rule Proposal Recommendation
Not Recommended for further consideration Reference ID: DFW433155
Maintain current regulation. The Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Plan developed by the US and Canada identifies maintenance of the current prohibition of fishing as a recovery measure. Stock assessments indicate little or no natural reproduction of sturgeon is occurring in Lake Roosevelt. Consider a catch and release fishery after the supplementation program is successful and the population can support limited fishing impacts. The effectiveness of the supplementation program has not been determined.
Online Public Comments(0 comments)
No online public comments submitted for this proposal.
