PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Authorities seized 2,500 pounds of illegally caught smelt during a joint poaching operation on the Sandy River, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office announced.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with Oregon State Police, aimed to protect the smelt, which is a crucial food source for many species and vital to the river ecosystem’s health.
“Anyone who was harvesting smelt was required to have a fishing license and were not to exceed 10 pounds of fish,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on X. “Overharvesting has serious consequences. We’re committed to protecting these fish and ensuring sustainable populations.”…