Members named to Columbia River fishery advisory panels

OLYMPIA - Washington and Oregon fishery officials have appointed 33 citizens to two joint advisory groups that will offer guidance on Columbia River recreational and commercial fishery issues.

The newly formed groups, which were instituted to provide Columbia River stakeholders with a single forum for input to both states' fisheries departments, will meet for the first time later this month. The Columbia River Commercial Fishing Advisory Group will meet Nov. 19, and its counterpart, the Columbia River Recreational Fishing Advisory Group, will hold its first meeting Nov. 20.

The groups will meet several times a year to discuss issues affecting Columbia River salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and smelt fisheries. Those issues include stable and viable fishing opportunities, fishery management plans, ways to minimize sport/commercial gear conflict and, for the commercial group, creation and implementation of a marketing plan.

The two advisory groups were selected to include representatives from both states who can address all aspects of Columbia River fisheries, said Bill Tweit, Columbia River policy leader for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

"We have reconvened citizen advisory groups to provide a more defined structure for collecting public input, and to ensure we hear all aspects of emerging issues," Tweit added.

Members of the recreational advisory group from Washington are: Lance Beckman, angler; Ben Dennis, angler; Phil Leshowitz, angler and Recreational Fishing Alliance representative; Steve McLaughlin, angler; Butch Smith, charter owner; Larry Swanson, angler; Terry Turner, Trout Unlimited representative; Steve Watrous, angler and Pacific Fishery Management Council advisory sub-panel representative; and Clinton Winn, angler. Oregon members are Sheila Cannon, retailer and ramp owner; Dan Grogan, retailer and Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association president; Doug Hunt, steelhead angler; Dennis Kenna, angler; Pete Morris, angler; Brian Radditz, angler and businessman; Bob Rees, guide; and Randy Woolsey, retailer and Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association board member.

Commercial advisory group members from Washington are: Randy Chiabi, fishing equipment supplier; Les Clark, gillnetter; Vern Forsberg, gillnetter; Marty Kuller, gillnetter and retailer; Irene Martin, community activist; Robert Sudar, processor; Ray Toste, gillnetter and buyer; and George Trott, county commissioner. Oregon members are: Chris Cameron, gillnetter; Thomas Dulcich, gillnetter; John Englund, fishing equipment supplier; Steve Fick, processor; Chris Heucker, gillnetter and wholesaler; Gary Soderstrom, gillnetter and Columbia River Fisherman's Protective Association president; Brian Tarabochia, gillnetter and buyer; and James Wells, gillnetter and Salmon For All president.

The members' terms run through 2005.