Six-year fisheries plan up for public comment

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has released a draft statewide fisheries management plan that will establish goals and direction for the department on fisheries over the next six years.

The department is seeking public comments on the draft plan and will hold a meeting to discuss the plan Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the regional headquarters on North Meridian Road.

The plan is basically a “road map” for managing all fisheries, said Bruce Rich, fisheries bureau chief for the department in Helena. “The plan will provide guidance to the public and decision makers for each of Montana’s river drainages.”

According to Rich, the key for the department is having a plan that provides long-term direction but also is flexible enough to allow for adaptive management based on changing circumstances.

The draft recently was presented to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission.

A final plan, along with an environmental analysis that takes public input into account, will be released later this year. Public meetings will be held across the state this month.

“Public participation is critical to the success of the plan,” Rich said. “FWP’s goal is to develop a plan, with public input, that will set priorities regarding desired fishing opportunities, habitat improvement projects and enhancement of public fishing access.”

The draft plan is available online under “Statewide Fisheries Management Plan” at: http://fwp.mt.gov.