The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a virtual meeting on Friday. The meeting, open to the public via live stream from 8:30-11:30 a.m., will discuss important environmental topics, including proposed commercial whale-watching rules and the state of Columbia River fisheries.
There's a public hearing on proposed regulations that could impact commercial whale watching and paddle tour licenses. While the final decision on these rules will be made at the February 13-15 meeting in Olympia, this month's meeting gives stakeholders the chance to share their opinions. The Commission will also discuss whether to schedule a presentation on Columbia River fisheries for a future meeting.
Beyond aquatic matters, the meeting will touch on legislative updates and chew over the William D. Ruckelshaus Center organizational review report. All this comes as part of the Commission’s role in setting policy for the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, whose goal, in part, is to steward Washington's ecosystems while keeping fish and wildlife pursuits sustainable for both recreational and commercial interests.
Avian influenza will also be discussed, with WDFW staff providing the latest updates on this virus affecting birds. After covering all the topics, the Commission will adjourn. If you can't attend, don't worry— the meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the Commission's webpage.
