WDFW postpones Willapa Bay salmon advisory meeting

A regularly scheduled meeting regarding the management of salmon stocks and fisheries for Willapa Bay has been postponed indefinitely by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

That announcement came on the heels of the WDFW shuttering all salmon fishing in Willapa Bay and many of its tributaries due to low coho salmon returns. That closure took effect on Nov. 13. The public meeting had been slated to take place Wednesday.

A press release from the WDFW noted that, “The meeting was cancelled to allow fishery managers more time to develop additional meaningful new information to present to the advisory group and the public, as well as accommodate staff scheduling conflicts.”

Although the press release stated that the advisory group meeting is cancelled, WDFW fish policy lead on the south coast, Chad Herring, stated that the meeting will in fact be rescheduled quickly with updates provided to the public. The postponed meeting was originally set to take place at the Raymond Elks Lodge.

Additional information regarding the Willapa Bay Salmon Advisory Group can be obtained online at wdfw.wa.gov/about/advisory/wbsag.