A review of non-tribal fisheries on the lower Columbia River was initiated in August 2012 at the request of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. The Governor asked the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to work with its counterpart in Washington to adopt the necessary rules to:

- Prioritize selective recreational fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River and commercial fisheries in off-channel areas of the lower Columbia River.

- Phase out the use of commercial gill nets in the mainstem Columbia River and transition the use of gill nets to off-channel areas.

- Improve off-channel fisheries by increasing hatchery production in those areas and by enhancing area boundaries and/or locations.

- Continue development and use of alternative selective fishing gear and techniques for commercial mainstem fisheries, and implement these fisheries when recreational fishery objectives are met.

Both Commissions adopted the package of reforms in December 2012 and the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission re-affirmed these management changes in June 2013.

The Oregon State Legislature adopted the statutes necessary to implement these changes in SB 830, passed in the 2013 session.

In the upcoming weeks and months, we will be using this site to document our accomplishments toward implementing the fisheries management reforms on the lower Columbia River. If you'd like to receive notice of any updates, please sign up for e-mail updates using the link at the top of this page.



Useful documents
Management Strategies for Columbia River Recreational and Commercial Fisheries: 2013 and Beyond (pdf)
Fiscal Impact Statement for Columbia River Fishery Management for 2013 and Beyond (pdf)
Latest Version of Tables C4 and C5 (07-03-2014) (pdf)