COLUMBIA RIVER — Lower Columbia commercial fishermen are applauding Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s effort to write a letter this week directing possible changes to Columbia River gillnet policy.

However, the local association, Salmon for All — representing Washington and Oregon gillnetters, fish buyers, processors and businesses — wanted to hear stronger direction from the governor rather than the vague language used in the letter.

In the three-page letter, Kitzhaber instructs the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to consider more factors as it continues to implement his August 2012 order that gillnetting be phased out on the Columbia River’s main stem. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has chosen to mirror whatever policies Oregon adopts regarding gillnetting.

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