The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting public comments through Dec. 4 on draft management objectives and alternatives for marine fish fisheries in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca, and has scheduled three meetings this month to discuss the proposals with the public.

The draft proposals, developed with input from an ad hoc citizen focus group formed earlier this year, address recreational and commercial fishery management of marine fish in waters stretching from the mouth of the Sekiu River west to the Bonilla-Tatoosh line in Marine Area 4 near Neah Bay.

The proposals are posted on the state’s website at wdfw.wa.gov.

Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Ami.Hollingsworth@dfw.wa.gov or mailed to Ami Hollingsworth, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091.

In addition, people can submit comments and discuss the proposals with WDFW staff at three public meetings:

• Aug. 23 – from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Seattle at the University Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE.

• Aug. 24 – from 7-9 p.m. in Port Angeles at the Department of Social and Health Services office, 201 W. First St.

• Aug. 26 – from 7-9 p.m. in Olympia in Room 175 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. SE.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, the nine-member citizen panel that sets policy for department, also will hold a public hearing on the draft proposals at its Dec. 2-4 meeting in Olympia.

The commission is expected to take final action on the proposals during its February 2011 meeting.