Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers are inviting the public to join them at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9, for a virtual town hall to gather final feedback on fishery options prior to setting regulations for 2021-2022 coastal steelhead season. It marks the third meeting in a four-part series of virtual town halls this fall.

Results from WDFW, tribal co-managers and the National Park Service stock assessments from the last 50 years suggest that coastal steelhead populations are in decline, with many 2021 returns not meeting goals for escapement, which reflects the number of steelhead surviving to the spawning grounds. Further, steelhead survival is poor when ocean conditions are unfavorable and future returns are expected to follow extremely unfavorable conditions.

The Nov. 9 meeting will include discussion around fishery options for the 2021-2022 season. State fishery managers will consider feedback received during the meeting as they work with tribal managers later this fall to finalize management plans, which will help to guide the final fishery approach for the 2021-2022 coastal steelhead season.

Following the Nov. 9 meeting, WDFW staff will brief the Fish and Wildlife Commission during its Nov. 19 meeting on anticipated approaches for the 2021-2022 coastal steelhead season. WDFW fishery managers will then share the agreed-to fishing plans for the coastal steelhead season and take public feedback during a final virtual town hall in late November.