SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Salem on Friday, March 12 to consider a number of issues related to ocean and other fisheries and to be briefed on the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and a proposed plan review process.

The meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. in the Commission Room at ODFW Headquarters, 3406 Cherry Ave. NE in Salem and proceed through this agenda:

https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/10/03_mar/index.asp

The Commission will be asked to adopt the 2010 regulations for commercial sardine fishing and for commercial and recreational halibut fishing. The proposed halibut seasons call for a reduction in the harvest quota – a response to the steady decline in halibut populations over the last several years.

The Commission will be asked to prohibit the retention of green sturgeon in sport fisheries statewide. It banned commercial fishers from keeping green sturgeon in December 2009. Both actions are to protect the southern populations of North American green sturgeon, which is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

On the Willamette River, ODFW staff is proposing a harvest quota separate from that on the Columbia River, a sturgeon spawning sanctuary from Willamette Falls to the I-205 Bridge and a closure of the “Oregon City Wall” to all fishing.

The Commission will consider 25 projects totaling $610,805 for funding by the Fish Restoration and Enhancement program. Proposed projects include hatchery upgrades, pond improvements and angler education trailers.

The Commission will also consider funding $764,000 in grants for various Access and Habitat projects, which provide public hunting access to private land or improve wildlife habitat for game species.

The Commission will hear a report on the options being proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council for the 2010 ocean salmon seasons. Final seasons for both federal and state ocean waters will be adopted in April.

The Commission will be asked to issue a final order in the contested case proceeding involving the commercial fishing license and ocean Dungeness crab permit held by Dennis Sturgell.

Finally, ODFW staff will brief the Commission on the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan, which was adopted in 2005 and is due for a review. The Commission will also provide guidance on staff’s proposed timeline and public input schedule for the review process.

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.

Public testimony will be held Friday morning immediately following the expenditure report. 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.

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