The shape of shrimp fishing, most specifically for coveted spots, aka prawns, in Washington inland waters will change in the coming year.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission updated its policy setting allocation of this delectable resource this fall, shifting substantial percentages of the permissible annual harvest from the commercial to the personal use side of the non-treaty ledger.

That is likely to mean lengthening 2013 recreational openings in Marine Area 7.

COLUMBIA CHANGES COMING

A similar revamping of state's policies for management and exploitation of Columbia River salmon stocks also is in the works.

The Washington panel's Oregon counterpart precipitated the revisiting of these guidelines by making some changes of their own earlier this year to the Beaver State's doctrine for Columbia salmon and steelhead when they swim through its jurisdiction.

Both states have been reconciling and synchronizing policies and rules for Lower Columbia River fisheries for decades under the auspices of the Columbia Compact.

Perhaps the most conspicuous of the proposed changes in Washington's set is the phasing out of fishing with gillnets by 2017.

COMING SUNDAY

For more details about the coming shrimp season as mandated by changes in policy and what's under consideration for the Columbia River plus more hunting and fishing news, read Sunday's Outdoors Column.

Doug Huddle, the Bellingham Herald's outdoors correspondent, since 1983, has written a weekly fishing and hunting column that appears Sundays. Read his blog and contact him at http://pblogs.bellinghamherald.com/outdoors.