Contact:
Joe Duran, Associate Marine Biologist, (707) 576-3456
Harry Morse, Public Information Officer, (916) 322-8962

DFG to Host Public Meeting on Salmon

The public is invited to attend the annual meeting on the status of California salmon populations and the outlook for ocean and river fisheries. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has scheduled this year’s meeting in Santa Rosa on Wednesday, March 5 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sonoma County Water Agency located at 404 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa.

Participation by the public in the information exchange on season options for the 2008 ocean and river Chinook salmon fisheries is encouraged. Salmon fishing seasons are developed through a collaborative regulatory process involving DFG, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Commerce. Information gathered at this meeting will help California representatives negotiate the broadest range of season alternatives at the PFMC meeting in early March.

The public meeting, known as the Salmon Fishery Information Exchange Meeting, marks the beginning of the two-month long process to establish salmon seasons. California representatives to the PFMC include DFG fisheries staff and members of various interest groups. These representatives will be available at Wednesday’s meeting to hear from commercial, ocean recreational and river recreational interest groups and constituents. A list of additional meetings for the season-setting process also will be available at the meeting.