A biological opinion issued late Thursday (Sept. 10) indicates that
Columbia River fish harvest levels have not yet reached a threshold that
would "jeopardize" threatened steelhead stocks.

It does say that threshold would be surpassed if tribal fishers, who
are pursuing primarily fall chinook, stick strictly to the terms of a harvest
agreement reached in negotiations with federal agencies.

The biological opinion drafted by the National Marine Fisheries Service
addresses …