Columbia River spring Chinook season to close

Action:  Closes all salmon and steelhead fisheries below Bonneville Dam.

Species affected:  Spring Chinook, hatchery steelhead

Location:  Columbia River, from Rocky Point/Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam.

Effective date:  June 1 through June 15, 2023

Rules:  Salmon and steelhead:  Closed 

Reason for action:  Updated runsize estimates have lowered the upriver spring Chinook salmon runsize to 143,000, compared to the pre-season forecast of 198,600. Data indicates that allowed impacts to ESA listed upriver spring Chinook salmon have been exceeded by the collective treaty and non-treaty catches to-date (9.09% as compared to the allowed 9.0%).

Fishery managers will continue to monitor actual returns closely in the weeks ahead.

Additional information:  All other permanent regulations apply.  

Information contact:  Region 5: (360) 696-6211

source https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/columbia-river-spring-chinook-season-close-2023-05

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