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July 2, 2020
SALEM, Ore.—The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet online (via Zoom) on Friday, July 10 beginning at 8 a.m.
See the meeting agenda at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/20/07_Jul/index.asp Watch a livestream of the meeting at ODFW’s YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/IEODFW
To testify on one of the topics on the agenda, register at least 48 hours in advance (no later than Wednesday, July 8 at 8 a.m.) Register one of three ways: at https://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/commission-meeting-witness-registration/; send an email to odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov; or call the Director’s office at (503) 947-6044 or (503) 557-5046. There will be no public forum for testimony on topics not on the agenda during this meeting.
During the meeting, the Commission is expected to adopt a Climate and Ocean Change Policy. The Policy will be the framework under which ODFW will evaluate the impacts of climate change on the resources under its stewardship, adopt management practices to safeguard those resources and minimize the impacts to communities that depend on these resources. The Policy also includes an ambitious goal for ODFW’s operations to reach carbon neutrality by mid-century.
The Commission is also expected to amend regulations for commercial coastal pelagic species (Pacific sardine) to be consistent with federal guidelines. The regulations will continue the commercial fishing closure that began in July 2015 due to a large decline in Pacific sardine biomass, but a few small scale, limited sardine fisheries will continue.
Finally, the Commission will be asked to approve the 2021-23 ODFW budget, which will then go to the Governor and then the 2021 Legislature for final approval. ODFW is not proposing any fee increases on sport or commercial licenses in this budget cycle. While 2021 would typically be a year to raise fees to take effect in 2022 (because the department adjusts fees every six years), ODFW is pleased to be in a position to delay this and not request any fee increase of hunters, anglers or commercial fishermen until 2024 at the earliest.
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