OLYMPIA -- Members of two citizen groups which will advise the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on commercial and recreational fishing issues have been selected by Director Bern Shanks.

The advisory bodies are the Commercial Fishing Advisory and the Anadromous and Marine Sport Fishing Advisory groups. This is the first year a group of commercial advisors has been assembled.

Both groups will provide advice to the department on a variety of fishing issues.

In addition to providing advice, the members will help the department communicate with fishers and other interested persons. The advisors serve one-year terms.

"We've picked people who have a great deal of knowledge and experience and deep roots in the fishing communities," said Shanks. "I'm sure they will provide invaluable assistance as we tackle such critical and complex issues as rebuilding Washington's wild salmon runs and providing fair and responsible harvest opportunities."

The following persons will serve on this year's Anadromous and Marine Sports Fishing Advisory Group: Lee Barkie, Toledo; Pamela Botnen, Chimacum; Larry Carpenter, Mt. Vernon; Mark Cedergreen, Westport; James Goerg, Renton; James Hearn, Bellevue; John Hjort, Edmonds; Howard Johnson, Enumclaw; Gary Krein, Arlington; Jim Lone, Seattle; John Martinis Jr., Marysville; Richard Miller, Castle Rock; Chris Mohr, Sekiu; Tom Nelson, Renton; Ron Penington, Sequim; Bill Robinson, Seattle; Butch Smith, Ilwaco; Pete Soverel, Edmonds; Frank Urabeck, Federal Way; Steve Watrous, Vancouver; Steve Wright, Anacortes and Phil Anderson, WDFW.

Members of the 1997 Commercial Fishing Advisory Group are: Tanya Baumgart, Bellingham; Jay Bornstein, Bellingham; Tom Burton, Blaine; Thomas Carlson, Burlington; Frances Clark, Chinook; John Edwards, Aberdeen; Doug Fricke, Hoquiam; Jack Giard, Lopez; Jim Gilmore, Seattle; Steve Gray, Sea View; Allan Hollingsworth, Aberdeen; Gary Hull, Olympia; Bob Lake, Grayland; Pierre Marchand Jr., Ilwaco; Ann Mosness, Bellingham; John Oaks, Long Beach; Ed Owens, Olympia; Lanny Pillatos, Everett; Ernie Summers, Grayland; Larry Thevik, Ocean Shores; Rob Zuanich, Seattle and Phil Anderson, WDFW.