ODFW News: Columbia Sturgeon Regs CANCELLED

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

Will STGRule be there for the meeting? :whazzup:

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Friday, December 26, 2003

Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery to be reviewed at public meeting Jan. 5

CLACKAMAS - The Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife will host a public meeting 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, in Clackamas to discuss recent research results associated with the Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery and possible regulation changes.

The meeting will be held in the conference room of Building 16, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife offices, 17330 S.E. Evelyn St., Clackamas.

Biologists from both agencies and Oregon State University will present recent research results, possible regulations to reduce the fishery, and
a public process for decision-making.

A catch-and-release boat fishery targeting protected oversize white sturgeon first developed in 1992 from May to July in the Columbia River gorge. The fishery increased through 1995 and has since remained fairly stable. Between 2,800 and 5,300 adult sturgeon are caught and released annually during the fishery. Oversized sturgeon are longer than 60 inches and some weigh more than 300 pounds.

Current research is focusing on the status of the adult spawning population and the implications of the catch-and-release fishery targetting the large fish. White sturgeon do not begin reproducing until they exceed 60 inches, which takes about 20 years. They can live to be older than 100 years. Additional regulations may be necessary to reduce the handle, injury and mortality to oversize sturgeon during the May-July catch-and-release fishery.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will hear an informational briefing from biologists and take public testimony on this issue at the Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 meeting in Salem. Both the Oregon and Washington commissions may consider more restrictive regulations for the fishery at the February monthly meetings.

###

Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009

[ 01-07-2004, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Pete ]

[Pete]

WDFW announcement:

Public meeting set to discuss

Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery

OLYMPIA – Potential regulation changes for the Columbia River overssize sturgeon catch-and-release fishery will be the topic of a public meeting Jan. 5, hosted by the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Building 16 of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife offices, 17330 S.E. Evelyn St. in Clackamas, Ore.

Biologists from both states and Oregon State University will present recent research results on the status of the oversize white sturgeon spawning population and effects of catch-and-release fishing. State fish managers also will discuss possible restrictions on the fishery and outline the public process for decision-making during the meeting.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, which directs activities of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, is scheduled to consider restrictions on the oversize sturgeon fishery as part of the annual sportfishing rules package in its Feb. 6-7 meeting in Olympia. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission also is expected to consider restrictions on the fishery in February.

New restrictions to the catch-and-release fishery are being considered to reduce injury and mortality to oversize sturgeon. Research has focused on the status of the adult spawning population and how it is impacted by current catch-and-release fishing. Between 2,800 and 5,300 adult sturgeon are caught and released each year during the May-to-July fishery in the Columbia River Gorge.

Oversize sturgeon—longer than 60 inches and sometimes topping 300 ppounds—take 20 years to reach reproductive age and can live to be oldder than 100 years.

[Pete]

Anyone else going to be there? The weather may be bad, but this is our last real chance to have some input into our season.

[Livin the Dream]

Just wanted to bring this topic back to the top and remind everyone to try to show up and participate. See you there.

AL

[Pete]

This will be our last chance to have input on our season. I expect to support the "days a week" option upstream from Wauna which would spread the opportunity to keep fish throughout the year. The alternative is a rush/crush to get keepers and hoping the freezer doesn't go bad.

I'm also looking forward to hearing the science about the oversize fishery.

Got my fingers crossed that the weather doesn't make this a hassle.

[Lwagg2]

I gonna be there weather permitting of course
thanks for all the info again
aaron :grin:

[ 01-05-2004, 07:31 AM: Message edited by: lwagg2 ]

[Bill Monroe]

Steve King said it will be postponed. Pete, if you want to edit this thread or start a new one, I'm guessing he'll have a news release out by 9 or so. He was about to call Washington, then his PR lady...I'll run something in the paper in the morning. I assume everything will be the same for time, etc...

[ 01-05-2004, 07:47 AM: Message edited by: Bill Monroe ]

[Pete]

Tonight's public meeting postponed on Columbia River sturgeon

Meeting to be held Wednesday, Jan. 7

CLACKAMAS - A public meeting scheduled for this evening on the Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery has been postponed due to expected poor driving conditions. The meeting will occur instead at 6 p.m., Wed., Jan. 7.

The Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife will host the public meeting in Clackamas to discuss recent research results associated with the Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery and possible regulation changes.

The meeting will be held in the conference room of Building 16, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife offices, 17330 S.E. Evelyn St., Clackamas.

Biologists from both agencies and Oregon State University will present recent research results, possible regulations to reduce the fishery, and
a public process for decision-making.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will hear an informational briefing from biologists and take public testimony on this issue at the Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 meeting in Salem. Both the Oregon and Washington commissions may consider more restrictive regulations for the fishery at
the February monthly meetings.

[Pete]

I hope everyone who planned to attend tonight will be able to reschedule for Wednesday.

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, January 07, 2004

Today's meetings on Columbia River sturgeon cancelled

CLACKAMAS ¯ Due to extreme weather conditions, two meetings scheduled for today on Columbia River sport sturgeon have been cancelled, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

A Joint State meeting of the Columbia River Compact scheduled for this morning. at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver, Washington, to consider sport sturgeon fishing seasons in the mainstem Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam was post-poned. The meeting will be re-scheduled for sometime next week.

A public meeting scheduled for this evening on the Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery has been cancelled due to the continued expected poor driving conditions. The meeting will not be re-scheduled.

The Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife will brief of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission this Friday, Jan. 9, on the Columbia River oversize sturgeon fishery. Public testimony will be heard at that time. The same presentation on current research data that was to be presented tonight will be presented Friday.

Friday's Commission meeting is currently expected to be held in the headquarters office of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3406 Cherry Ave. N.E. in Salem. The meeting begins at 8 a.m.

###

Anne Pressentin Young
Information Services Manager
Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6020
anne.m.pressentin@state.or.us