ASTORIA, Ore. – The Port of Astoria has shut down fish cleaning stations due to environmental concerns about fish guts being tossed into the Columbia River.
The Daily Astorian reported Thursday that the closure comes just after the start of the local salmon fishing season.
Jim Knight, the port’s executive director, said he can’t risk any citations for pollution from fish entrails because the Port of Astoria has already been fined $30,000 for mistakes in runoff sampling. It also was ordered to improve its stormwater collection and treatment system.
The Port has long allowed fish remains to be dumped into the Columbia, but the practice is drawing more attention from environmental officials.
