Sturgeon Angler's Opinions on Lowering the Annual Limit for Sturgeon

In October 2003, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Commission considered the option of lowering the statewide annual limit for sturgeon from ten fish to five. This was intended to spread the catch over more anglers, and was also expected to allow a longer season for the retention (as opposed to catch-and-release) fishery for sturgeon in the Columbia River.

In order to assess angler attitudes toward the proposed change, WDFW contracted with Responsive Management to conduct a telephone survey of anglers who had reported sturgeon catch on their catch record cards during the 2001-2002 season. Anglers were asked whether they supported or opposed lowering the annual limit of sturgeon and were asked to quantify their support or opposition (strongly support, moderately support, neither support or oppose, moderately oppose, strongly oppose). Additional comments from survey respondents were also included. This information was provided to the WDFW Commission as part of their decision-making process. The rule was adopted and took effect with the beginning of the new license and catch record card season on April 1, 2004. A similar rule was adopted in Oregon, becoming effective at the beginning of their license year, on January 1, 2004.