First I understand it is a done deal. I'm just posting to vent because I believe that in the lower Columbia estuary barbless hook are not the answer, and there was little chance for input. The commission had it'd mind already set. I also respect your right to have a differing opinion.
No problem with the sturgeon, I quit fishing for those fish years ago when they started down sizing the slot limit. When I used to fish for them it was two fish seven days a week 72" max 36" minimum. They kept srinking the size then the limit so I figured the stock was in trouble and hung up my sturgeon rod.
The gill netters were moved from the main stream and in return sportfisherman are going to be baned from the Yongs Bay Bubble. I fish that spot a lot, but I'm OK with the trade off. I can no longer fish there and the nets are moved. I just hope I can still travel through the area to reach my slip on the Skipanon.
For years I fished the ocean with barbed hooks. You would go out and get your two fish limit, bang and back in. (First two caught and kept). Then the ocean went to fin clipped fish and barbless hooks. Now out there on some days we are bringing 25 fish or more to the boat to get an eight fish limit (2fish x 4people). I've seen a lot more floaters out in the ocean than I have ever seen in the lower Columbia (Rice Island to B-10). When you fish the ocean or lower Columbia a lot of folks use mooching rigs with plug cut herring and it's that second hook that nails the fish in gut (barb or no barb) that does them in. If they wanted to cut down on mortality then they should allow you to keep the first two fish you land, instead of hoping you don't kill a number of nonfin clipped fish on the way to getting a limit of fin clipped fish. But that administrative rule is now in effect and I will remove the barbs from my hooks when I fish that section of the river just as I do when I am out fly fishing.
Just a note rippin there must be something wrong with your key board the cap lock must be sticking or something because some of the word are all in caps. That's actually a good thing because at my age it makes the words easier to see. Tight lines.