State Fish and Wildlife has made some modifications to the salmon season setting meeting process to allow anglers and the public to keep it more focused on their local issues.

"We've been getting lobbied by folks that the process seems inefficient so we've modified how we run the meetings," said Pat Pattillo, the salmon policy coordinator for state Fish and Wildlife. "This allows people to focus on the issues related to their fisheries."

The kickoff on the process begins with state Fish and Wildlife presenting the salmon forecasts 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Room 172, in Olympia.

In past years, the Lynnwood fisheries meeting would be a combination of Puget Sound, Columbia River and coastal fisheries discussions, but will now be split up into three different sessions.

The Monday, March 26 will focus on Columbia River and ocean discussions at the Natural Resources Building in Olympia. Also on March 26 there will be a public hearing on ocean salmon management options at Chateau Westport in Westport.

Then on Wednesday, March 28, state Fish and Wildlife will have a Puget Sound discussion on inside salmon seasons and regulations at Lynnwood Embassy Suites.

Another new additional meeting to allow people who work during the weekdays is a Puget Sound recreation salmon fisheries discussion 10 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, March 24 at the state Fish and Wildlife Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. in Mill Creek.

2012 North of Falcon Salmon Preseason Planning Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, February 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Forecast Presentations & Preliminary Fisheries discussion at WDFW Offices, Olympia in Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

March 2-7, Pacific Fishery Management Council Ocean Salmon Fishery proposals developed at Doubletree Hotel Sacramento, California, 2001 Point West Way 95815.

Monday, March 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., North of Falcon Meeting to Develop Inside Fishery proposals matching ocean proposals at WDFW Offices in Olympia at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

Tuesday, March 13, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Coastal Regional Public Meeting Willapa Bay fishery discussion at the Raymond Elks Lodge - 326 3rd St. in Raymond.

Wednesday, March 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Columbia River Public Meeting commercial & sport fishery discussions in Vancouver, Washington, Vancouver Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver.

Thursday, March 15, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Puget Sound salmon fisheries discussion at City Hall Council Chamber, 321 E. 5th Street in Port Angeles.

Tuesday, March 20, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Coastal Regional Public Meeting Grays Harbor fisheries discussion at Grays Harbor Montesano City Hall, 112 North Main Street in Montesano.

Wednesday, March 21, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Pre-season Columbia Basin salmon forecasts and fishery outlook, Benton PUD, 2721 West 10th Avenue in Kennewick.

Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m.-Noon, Puget Sound Recreational salmon fisheries discussion at state Fish and Wildlife Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd. in Mill Creek.

Monday, March 26, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., North of Falcon Meeting for Columbia River and Ocean discussions at WDFW Offices in Olympia at the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

Monday, March 26, 7 p.m., Public Hearing on Ocean Salmon Management Options, at the Chateau Westport, 710 West Hancock in Westport.

Wednesday, March 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., North of Falcon Meeting for Puget Sound discussion on inside salmon seasons and regulations at Lynnwood Embassy Suites, 20610 44th Ave. West in Lynnwood.

Friday, March 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Coastal Regional Final public discussion of Willapa Bay & Grays Harbor salmon seasons at WDFW Offices in Olympia at Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E., Room 172.

Sunday to Friday, April 1-6, all-day, Pacific Fishery Management Council all ocean and inside salmon fisheries finalized at Seattle Sheraton Hotel, 1400 Sixth Ave. in Seattle.

(Photo by Mark Yuasa)