FISHING -- State fishery managers in Washington and Oregon are rescinding a moratorium on sturgeon fishing in the Columbia River Basin starting Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Water temperatures have returned to normal, ending the warm-water conditions that killed more than 80 sturgeon on the Columbia River and threatened many more, said Guy Norman, region manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"The extreme conditions that was subjecting sturgeon to stress have passed," Norman said. "We believe it's safe to reopen fishing in areas of the river closed since mid-July."

Anglers may resume catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon on the Columbia River and its tributaries above Bonneville Dam. Any sturgeon caught now must be released because no scheduled sturgeon-retention seasons are open, Norman said.