Sport and commercial fishers, and others interested in salmon in Washington, can take part in an informal discussion with state and tribal co-managers on March 31.

Following a 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, North of Falcon public meeting to discuss preliminary fishery proposals, the discussion will kick off at 3 p.m. with opening remarks from state Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind and Lorraine Loomis, chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.

Topics will include cooperative management, the North of Falcon salmon season setting process, and how low Stillaguamish River salmon returns require expansive support in order to prevent further regional fishing opportunity impacts.

This meeting is one of a series of public meetings as part of the North of Falcon salmon season-setting process. Fish and Wildlife uses in this process to work with tribal co-managers for the benefit of providing sustainable salmon fishing opportunities across the state.

The public is invited to participate and provide feedback during the state’s season-setting process by attending online public meetings. A schedule can be found online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon/public-meetings. Comments on the state’s forecasts and proposed fisheries can be mailed to WDFW Rules Coordinator: P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504-3200 or made online at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon/public-input.

During the final days of negotiations, state fish managers will hold daily briefings available via conference call. More information will be posted at the meetings page linked above as it becomes available.

The state and tribal salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon refers to waters north of Oregon’s Cape Falcon, which marks the southern border of Washington’s management of salmon stocks. This includes Puget Sound, Columbia River, and coastal Washington salmon stocks.

The North of Falcon process occurs in tandem with Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) public meetings to establish fishing seasons for salmon in ocean waters 3 to 200 miles off the Pacific coast. The PFMC approved preliminary options for ocean fisheries during its March 2021 meeting and is expected to adopt final ocean fishing seasons and harvest levels at its April 6-9 and 12-15 meeting. More information on these virtual meetings is available on the PFMC’s website, pcouncil.org/.