Public participation in the process for setting salmon fishing seasons will kick off March 3 when salmon run forecasts are released. The final decisions are scheduled to be made at meetings April 5-10.

The March meeting is the traditional start of the North of Falcon process during which state, federal and tribal fishery managers hammer out the fishing seasons for the coming year.

During the morning session, staff from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will reveal salmon forecasts for the Puget Sound region, coastal Washington and the Columbia River. There also will be discussion of fishery management objectives and preliminary fishing opportunities for 2014-15.

The forecast meeting, set to take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., will be held in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia.

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