Summer, fall salmon season planning begins Tuesday

OLYMPIA — A public meeting to preview this year’s ocean and fall salmon fishing seasons, including in the Columbia River, is scheduled Tuesday.

The annual event will begin at 9 a.m. in the auditorium of the General Administration Building on the Capitol campus. The address is 210 11th Street S.W.

State and tribal biologists will present forecasts of the 2016 salmon runs. Then the gathering will break into work sessions focusing on conservation issues and possible salmon seasons.

A public meeting about the Columbia River salmon stocks and fall fishing seasons is scheduled beginning at 6 p.m. March 17 at The Heathman Hotel, 7801 Greenwood Drive.

Final adoption of the the 2016 ocean seasons is scheduled to occur April 8 through 14 when the Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Vancouver at the Hilton, 301 W. Sixth St.

Inland seasons for the Columbia River will be announced by the Department of Fish and Wildlife at about the same time.