December 6, 2010
December 6, 2010
Hanford Reach steelhead fishery
re-opens below Priest Rapids Dam
Action: Open the Columbia River to retention of hatchery steelhead between the Highway 24 Bridge (Vernita Bridge) and Priest Rapids Dam.
Species affected: Hatchery steelhead.
Location: Vernita Bridge (Hwy 24) upstream to Priest Rapids Dam.
Effective Date: Dec. 8, 2010 until further notice.
Other information:
Daily limit of two (2) hatchery steelhead. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar in its location. Minimum size is 20 inches.
Wild steelhead (adipose fin intact) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Reason for action: Returns of hatchery and natural-origin summer-run steelhead to the upper Columbia River have far exceeded the run criteria of 9,300 counted over Priest Rapids Dam required to open a conservation-based fishery under the Endangered Species Act.
Information contact: Paul Hoffarth, District 4 Fish Biologist, (509) 545-2284 (Pasco), or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima).
Hanford Reach steelhead fishery
re-opens below Priest Rapids Dam
Action: Open the Columbia River to retention of hatchery steelhead between the Highway 24 Bridge (Vernita Bridge) and Priest Rapids Dam.
Species affected: Hatchery steelhead.
Location: Vernita Bridge (Hwy 24) upstream to Priest Rapids Dam.
Effective Date: Dec. 8, 2010 until further notice.
Other information:
Daily limit of two (2) hatchery steelhead. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar in its location. Minimum size is 20 inches.
Wild steelhead (adipose fin intact) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Reason for action: Returns of hatchery and natural-origin summer-run steelhead to the upper Columbia River have far exceeded the run criteria of 9,300 counted over Priest Rapids Dam required to open a conservation-based fishery under the Endangered Species Act.
Information contact: Paul Hoffarth, District 4 Fish Biologist, (509) 545-2284 (Pasco), or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima).