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September 5, 2014
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a wildlife management plan that now delegates fish and wildlife management authority on tribal lands to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Wildlife Management Plan is the culmination of a process that began in 2007. The plan implements a Fish and Wildlife Commission resolution adopted in 2008, providing opportunities for the ceremonial harvest of big game animals and cooperation on fish and wildlife management issues on tribal lands. The plan also delegates authority to manage fish and wildlife to the tribe, and authorize the take of certain wildlife on tribal reservation and trust lands.
The Commission also approved several changes to the state’s Wildlife Integrity rules:
- Adopted rules to classify barramundi as a controlled species, allowing the possession and rearing under regulations.
- Consideration to reclassify the brush tailed bettong – a small marsupial from western Australia currently classified as prohibited in Oregon – as a controlled species was deferred to a future meeting so staff could gather additional information regarding propagation of the species.
- Reclassified non-native crayfish as controlled crustaceans in order to allow for the legal harvest and importation of these species.
- Changed the classification request criteria to include the species’ abundance in its native range or in captivity.
- Made permanent the temporary rules for 1) the “catch and release of Tiger Muskellunge in Phillips Reservoir (Baker County)” and restore the classification of “Turacos, Plantain eaters and Go-away birds – Musophagidae – All Species” and the “Order Sphenisciformse:(A)Penguins –Spheniscidae – All species” as non-controlled species (meaning anyone can have them without a permit.
As a result of ODFW director Roy Elicker’s resignation announcement, Chair Bobby Levy said that the Commission will meet via conference call on Sept 12 at 10 a.m. to discuss next steps in the search process for a new director.
On Thursday Sept. 4, the Commission toured several locations to include the Zumwalt Prairie to discuss elk management issues, Wallowa Lake to hear about the latest fisheries management actions related to lake, and ended the tour at Kinney Lake to discuss wolf management with livestock producers.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission scheduled on Dec. 5 will not be conducted via teleconference as previously planned. The full Commission will attend the meeting that will be held at the ODFW Headquarters building in Salem, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE.
The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. Its next meeting is Oct. 9-10 in Central Point. The meeting on Oct. 9 will be a joint workshop with the California Fish and Game Commission.
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Contact:
Rick Hargrave
(503) 947-6020
(503) 559-1592 cell
Richard.j.Hargrave@state.or.us
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