WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
NEWS RELEASE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
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November 30, 1998
Contact: Jeff Weathersby, (360) 902-2256 or Margaret Ainscough, (360) 902-2408

Commission meeting to focus on hunting, fishing, prospecting

OLYMPIA—Hunting and fishing regulations and mineral prospecting rules will be the focus of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting Friday and Saturday (Dec. 4 and 5) at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport.

Friday's meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. in Evergreen Rooms 1 and 2 at the Doubletree at 18740 Pacific Highway S. Saturday's meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the same location.

The Friday session will focus on hunting issues as well as new regulations for mineral prospecting in rivers. The hunting proposals include rules to:

  • Allow a spring permit hunt for black bears in the Blue Mountains
  • Increase the cougar limit and shorten the 1999 fall black bear season in the Blue Mountains
  • Set 1999-2000 official hunting hours and set small game and special hunting seasons
  • Set big game and turkey auction permits and raffles

On Saturday, the commission will consider regulations that would:

  • Prohibit the transfer of European green crabs within Washington
  • Establish ocean commercial shrimp fisheries
  • Limit commercial coastal Dungeness crab fishing to within four miles of the Washington coast from July 1 through Sept. 15

WDFW staff also will brief the commission on several issues, including proposed 1999-2000 sportfishing rules; Columbia River salmon management and the status of efforts to develop a state-tribal framework plan for hunting.