ODFW details proposed Youngs Bay fishing control zone

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the proposed boundaries and time period for a closure of the area at the mouth of the Youngs Bay to recreational salmon fishing during the 2014 salmon season.

The closure, along with several other changes to fisheries management, emerged during the 2012 process to restructure sport and commercial fisheries on the Columbia River. The proposal is similar to one considered by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in December 2012.

While the Commission did not adopt the closure at that time, the 2013 Oregon Legislature included a closure in Senate Bill 830, which made statutory modifications necessary to implement the fishery changes.

The closure is intended to increase the number of hatchery fish returning to the Youngs Bay off-channel area on the lower Columbia River by reducing the number of fish intercepted by sport anglers. A map of the area is on the ODFW website -- the area would be closed to angling from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15.

The closure area will be considered by the Commission at its Feb. 7 meeting in Salem. In the meantime, comment on the proposal can be sent to ODFW.Commission@state.or.us.