2003 Willapa Bay Fishery Management Framework

From November 1999 through March 2000, representatives of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) met with key constituents of the Willapa Bay commercial and recreational fisheries to begin a regional, joint planning process that was intended to be a model for other regional fishery planning efforts. The purpose of those meetings was to lay the foundation for a comprehensive regional fishery management plan specific to Willapa Bay. This effort’s results, documented in the "Year 2000 Willapa Bay Fishery Management Framework (May 2000)," reflected the progress made toward a long-term plan, including the interim goals established for managing the salmon and sturgeon fisheries in Willapa Bay in the year 2000. The framework plan was updated and used to guide fisheries in 2001 and 2002.

This document intends to update the Willapa framework plan for 2003, reflecting discussions recently held with fishers at a March meeting in Montesano and the two North of Falcon meetings in Olympia and SeaTac and at the PFMC meeting in Vancouver.