Rick Hargrave (503) 947-6020
Fax: (503) 947-6009

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Jan. 11-12 at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE, Salem.

Both Thursday’s and Friday’s meeting begin at 8 a.m. and proceed chronologically through an agenda available at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/

Thursday’s meeting has a full agenda devoted to fish and marine issues. The Commission is expected to adopt harvestlevels and management measures for the 2007 recreational and commercial groundfish fisheries and adopt the 2007 Schedule of Damages for assessing commercial fishing violations. It will also consider whether to amend the sardine limited entry rule and waive the minimum landing requirements for renewal of limited entry permits for 2007. Also on Thursday, the Commission will hear public testimony and consider whether to begin rulemaking to amend rules for crab pot limit appeals.

The Commission will address wildlife issues at Friday’s meeting and will receive a planning update on the Fern Ridge, Jewell Meadows and Wenaha wildlife areas. The Commission is also expected to adopt a permanent rule to establish the Access and Habitat Emergency Fire Seeding Program, which fast-tracks grants to restore wildlife habitat burned in fires. Additionally, the Commission will consider the adoption of a permanent rule that would expand the types of acceptable markings private hunting preserves can use to differentiate domestically-raised birds from wild birds.

Also on Friday the Commission will consider two petitions and hear public testimony on whether to begin a rulemaking process to make changes to the cervid (domestic elk and deer) ranching rules that could require double fencing, eliminate permit transfers and limit the total number of commercial elk farms. The petitioners are concerned about elk farms because captively-held elk can put native wildlife at risk by escaping from captivity and transmitting disease or breeding with native elk.

The request to approve the removal of the American and Arctic peregrine falcon from the State List of Threatened and Endangered Species has been rescheduled for the April 13 Commission meeting. The request to reschedule was made by the Portland Audubon Society.

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. Agenda item exhibits may be requested by calling the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044. Agenda items also can be found on ODFW’s website at www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/

Public testimony is invited. Sign-up sheets will be available in the hallway outside the meeting room the day of the meeting for persons who want to testify on scheduled agenda items. Persons seeking to testify on issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements with the ODFW Director’s Office, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, by calling 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the ODFW Director’s Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

The mission of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. The agency consists of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, a commission-appointed director and a statewide staff of approximately 950 permanent employees. Headquartered in Salem, ODFW has regional offices in Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend, and La Grande with ten district offices located throughout the state. For additional information, please visit http://www.dfw.state.or.us/