05-31-2009, 11:18 AM
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will take final public input on a proposed hatchery and fishery reform policy during its June 5-6 meeting in Olympia.
Also at that meeting, commissioners will hear public testimony on candidate criteria and the search process for a permanent director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, will meet both days at 8:30 a.m. in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Olympia.
The June meeting offers the last opportunity for public input on a draft policy designed to advance WDFW's ongoing effort to ensure hatchery operations help conserve and recover naturally spawning salmon and steelhead populations while also supporting sustainable fisheries.
The proposed policy is available for review on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission's website at wdfw.wa.gov/commission/. Written comments on the draft policy will be accepted through June 1 and can be emailed to commission@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Final commission action is scheduled for the July 10-11 meeting in Olympia.
In other business, the commission is scheduled to:
* Take action on permanent ballast water regulations, amendments to hunter education training program requirements, and proposed land acquisitions in Kittitas, Franklin and Cowlitz counties.
* Hear public comments on measures to continue the pilot cougar hunting season, transfer responsibility for issuing waterfowl hunting reports (similar to catch record cards for fishing) to license dealers, and increase the frequency of commercial hagfish reporting.
* Receive briefings from WDFW staff on the status of developing a recovery plan for Puget Sound rockfish and the status of the pheasant release program.
For more information about commission meetings, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html .
Media Contact
Susan Yeager, (360) 902-2267
Also at that meeting, commissioners will hear public testimony on candidate criteria and the search process for a permanent director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, will meet both days at 8:30 a.m. in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Olympia.
The June meeting offers the last opportunity for public input on a draft policy designed to advance WDFW's ongoing effort to ensure hatchery operations help conserve and recover naturally spawning salmon and steelhead populations while also supporting sustainable fisheries.
The proposed policy is available for review on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission's website at wdfw.wa.gov/commission/. Written comments on the draft policy will be accepted through June 1 and can be emailed to commission@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Final commission action is scheduled for the July 10-11 meeting in Olympia.
In other business, the commission is scheduled to:
* Take action on permanent ballast water regulations, amendments to hunter education training program requirements, and proposed land acquisitions in Kittitas, Franklin and Cowlitz counties.
* Hear public comments on measures to continue the pilot cougar hunting season, transfer responsibility for issuing waterfowl hunting reports (similar to catch record cards for fishing) to license dealers, and increase the frequency of commercial hagfish reporting.
* Receive briefings from WDFW staff on the status of developing a recovery plan for Puget Sound rockfish and the status of the pheasant release program.
For more information about commission meetings, visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html .
Media Contact
Susan Yeager, (360) 902-2267