State, tribes reach an agreement over salmon fishing

State and tribal leaders reached an agreement on Puget Sound fisheries that is expected to pave the way toward opening summer salmon seasons and waters recently closed to recreational fishing.

“We plan to re-open those waters as soon as we have federal approval,” said John Long, salmon fisheries policy lead for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife . “We anticipate getting the new permit within a few weeks.”

After several weeks of extended negotiations, the co-managers agreed on this year’s Puget Sound salmon seasons.

The WDFW closed many Puget Sound-area waters to fishing on May 1, after the previous federal authorization to conduct fisheries expired.

Anticipated low numbers of salmon – especially coho – returning to Puget Sound made this year’s negotiations challenging.

Changes in Puget Sound salmon fisheries since last summer can be found on WDFW's website.

Cox Media Group