NEWS

No changes planned for Yellowstone River paddlefish season

The Associated Press

BILLINGS (AP) – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has no plans to change its paddlefish season in the Yellowstone River west of Glendive where an oil spill occurred.

About 30,000 gallons of oil spilled into the river on Jan. 17.

FWP has issued a fish-consumption advisory for any fish caught below the spill site. The advisory will be in effect at least for two more weeks.

Montana's 2015 paddlefish season on the Yellowstone River opens May 15.

The department has no plans to change the season because biologists say paddlefish spend much of the winter in North Dakota and were not exposed to the oil. The fish do not begin their migration toward the Yellowstone River until early May.