Meeting set on salmon-fishing plan for Grays Harbor

MONTESANO - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will hold a public meeting this month in Aberdeen to discuss the development of a management plan specific to salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor.

The meeting is scheduled Thursday, Feb. 17 from 7-9 p.m. at the Log Pavilion, 1401 Sargent Blvd., in Aberdeen.

The management plan proposed by the department would outline clear objectives for all commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor, bolstering their position in annual negotiations over fishing seasons, said Ron Warren, regional manager for the WDFW fish program. The traditional roles of those fisheries, escapement goals for wild salmon and other key information would all be included in the plan.

"Our primary goal is to maximize recreational and commercial fishing opportunities in the Harbor," Warren said. "To do that, we need to make it absolutely clear what we're doing in terms of fisheries management and why."

Public participation is critical in the development of a new fisheries management plan, Warren said. He encourages anyone interested in Grays Harbor salmon fisheries - including coastal legislators, representatives of fishing organizations and individual fishers - to attend the meeting and express their ideas.

"This is an opportunity to help create a salmon-management plan specific to Grays Harbor," Warren said. "We'd like to hear what people have to say."