The public may comment on likely future reductions in sturgeon and spring chinook fishing during meetings scheduled next month in Vancouver and Astoria.

The meetings, sponsored by the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife departments, are designed to share information on developments that will affect management of those fisheries starting next year.

The meetings are scheduled at the following times and locations:

— Vancouver: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 5, Water Resource Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way, sponsored by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

— Astoria: 6-9 p.m. Nov. 10, The Loft at the Red Building, 20 Basin St., Suite F, sponsored by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Fishery managers for both states say new catch guidelines for sturgeon will likely reflect recent declines in the lower Columbia River sturgeon population. Sturgeon fishing opportunities could be reduced as much as 40 percent, managers have said.

Several issues will likely affect next year’s spring chinook fisheries.

Catch guidelines must account for a recent agreement to allow enough fish to pass upriver to meet treaty obligations established by the U.S. v. Oregon court decision. Washington, Oregon and the Columbia River treaty tribes have agreed on a three-year program to reduce non-Indian catches of spring chinook to even out harvest imbalances in 2008 and 2009. Saving a larger percentage of the run for tribal fishermen would reduce the number of fish available for sport and commercial fishermen in the lower river.

Eastern Oregon and Idaho anglers have also complained that their spring chinook fishing was curtailed last year because of the lower river catch.

Final decisions, including catch guidelines for sport and commercial fisheries, are expected early next year.