Post by Dan Christopher on Sept 23, 2003 18:44:55 GMT -5
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009
For Immediate Release Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Sport sturgeon retention season to close in lower Columbia River
VANCOUVER, WASH. - Oregon and Washington fisheries managers today decided to limit the sport harvest of sturgeon for the rest of the year in the lower Columbia River downstream from Bonneville Dam.
The sturgeon retention season in the Columbia River estuary will remain closed for the rest of the year below the Wauna Powerlines located at River Mile 40 near Cathlamet, Wash. This area includes Youngs Bay. The retention season in the lower Columbia River between the Wauna Powerlines and Bonneville Dam, including the lower Willamette River and Multnomah Channel, will be closed Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2003. Catch and release sturgeon fishing is allowed during the retention closure.
The 2003 lower Columbia River sport sturgeon fishery is managed for an overall harvest quota of 32,000 sturgeon, split 60 percent (18,000 sturgeon) below the Wauna Powerlines and 40 percent (12,000 sturgeon) above the powerlines. Biologists reserved 2,000 sturgeon for a management buffer.
The catch in the estuary below the powerlines earlier this year totaled 18,400 sturgeon. The fishery was closed effective June 28, 2003, and was scheduled to reopen Oct. 1, 2003. Because the 18,000 sturgeon quota for this area was met, the estuary area will remain closed to retention for the rest of the year.
The area above the Wauna Powerlines was scheduled to be open to retention Jan. 1 - March 23 and July 1 - Dec. 31, 2003, or quota. The catch in September is higher than expected with exceptional catch rates from bank anglers immediately below Bonneville Dam. The 12,000 sturgeon quota is projected to be reached by the end of October.
The lower Columbia River sport sturgeon fishery season for 2004 and 2005 will be the subject of a public input process to begin in October. Regulations will be decided in December for the coming year.
The following describes the sturgeon seasons in place for 2003:
· The Columbia River mouth upstream to Wauna Powerlines, including Youngs Bay, closed to sturgeon retention for the remainder of the year, effective June 28, 2003.
· The lower Columbia River from Wauna Powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam, including the lower Willamette River and Multnomah Channel, closed to retention March 24 - June 30, 2003 and will close Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2003.
· The Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to McNary Dam closed to retention for the remainder of the year because quotas have been met.
· During the retention closures, catch and release angling may continue.
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Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009
For Immediate Release Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Sport sturgeon retention season to close in lower Columbia River
VANCOUVER, WASH. - Oregon and Washington fisheries managers today decided to limit the sport harvest of sturgeon for the rest of the year in the lower Columbia River downstream from Bonneville Dam.
The sturgeon retention season in the Columbia River estuary will remain closed for the rest of the year below the Wauna Powerlines located at River Mile 40 near Cathlamet, Wash. This area includes Youngs Bay. The retention season in the lower Columbia River between the Wauna Powerlines and Bonneville Dam, including the lower Willamette River and Multnomah Channel, will be closed Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2003. Catch and release sturgeon fishing is allowed during the retention closure.
The 2003 lower Columbia River sport sturgeon fishery is managed for an overall harvest quota of 32,000 sturgeon, split 60 percent (18,000 sturgeon) below the Wauna Powerlines and 40 percent (12,000 sturgeon) above the powerlines. Biologists reserved 2,000 sturgeon for a management buffer.
The catch in the estuary below the powerlines earlier this year totaled 18,400 sturgeon. The fishery was closed effective June 28, 2003, and was scheduled to reopen Oct. 1, 2003. Because the 18,000 sturgeon quota for this area was met, the estuary area will remain closed to retention for the rest of the year.
The area above the Wauna Powerlines was scheduled to be open to retention Jan. 1 - March 23 and July 1 - Dec. 31, 2003, or quota. The catch in September is higher than expected with exceptional catch rates from bank anglers immediately below Bonneville Dam. The 12,000 sturgeon quota is projected to be reached by the end of October.
The lower Columbia River sport sturgeon fishery season for 2004 and 2005 will be the subject of a public input process to begin in October. Regulations will be decided in December for the coming year.
The following describes the sturgeon seasons in place for 2003:
· The Columbia River mouth upstream to Wauna Powerlines, including Youngs Bay, closed to sturgeon retention for the remainder of the year, effective June 28, 2003.
· The lower Columbia River from Wauna Powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam, including the lower Willamette River and Multnomah Channel, closed to retention March 24 - June 30, 2003 and will close Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2003.
· The Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to McNary Dam closed to retention for the remainder of the year because quotas have been met.
· During the retention closures, catch and release angling may continue.
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