There are four meetings important for sport and commercial fishermen to be involved in during the spring season-setting process. Those unable to attend Sacramento or Seattle meetings can contact Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Salmon Advisory Subpanel representative or staff office Chuck Tracy for more information.

The first meeting, the Oregon ocean salmon industry group meeting, will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, at the Best Western Agate Beach Inn, 3019 North Coast Highway 101, Newport. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials will review last year’s season, the outlook for the upcoming season and consider input for sport and commercial seasons in 2008. They will then refine those ideas and take them to federal fishery management meetings the following week. An Oregon Salmon Commission meeting will be held after the industry group meeting. For more information, those interested can call the OCZMA at (541) 265-8918 or  e-mail Georgia York at georgia_york@class.oregonvos.net.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will meet at the DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento, 2001 Point West Way, in Sacramento, Calif., from Sunday, March 9, through Friday, March 14. Salmon management discussion will begin on Tuesday, March 11, with a review of the 2007 salmon seasons. Throughout the week, scientists and managers will continue to refine proposed 2008 seasons before adopting three alternatives to consider for public review.

A 7 p.m. public hearing will be held on Monday, March 31, at the Red Lion Hotel Umpqua Room, 1313 N. Bayshore Drive, in Coos Bay, to accept comments on the three proposed alternatives.

Those comments will be forwarded to the full council again when it meets at the Seattle Airport Marriott, 3201 S. 176th St., Seattle, April 7-12. Public testimony on the management options will be accepted on April 8. The council will make the final, formal decision at the April council meeting as to what seasons will be in place for 2008.

For more information, those interested can contact Chuck Tracy at the Pacific Fishery Management Council at (503) 820-2280 ext. 415; toll-free at 1 (866) 806-7204; or on the Web at http://www.pcouncil.org.

— Staff Writer Susan Chambers