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February 11, 2022
SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet online Friday, Feb. 18 beginning at 8 a.m.
See the meeting agenda and watch a livestream of the meeting at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/22/02_Feb/index.asp
To testify on one of the agenda topics, register no later than Wednesday, Feb. 16 by 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting) at this link https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_5sqx8k2hSEmR23OrFbrQIg
See the last page of the agenda for other ways to register to testify.
Comments can also be emailed to odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov
A public forum for people to comment on topics not on the agenda is scheduled for Friday morning after the Director's report. To participate in the public forum, contact the ODFW Director's office at (503) 947-6044 or email ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov by Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting).
The Commission is expected to consider:
An MOU with the Grand Ronde Tribe for harvest of shellfish by tribal members in the Trask Unit and the ocean adjacent to the unit including Tillamook Bay. If approved, tribal members could harvest shellfish under a special gathering permit (rather than a recreational shellfish license). Tribal members would follow Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations regarding species, daily bag limits, sizes, harvest methods and seasons.
An updated 10-year Culvert Repair Programmatic Agreement (CRPA)which allows ODOT to make temporary repairs to state highway system culverts if a significant fish passage improvement can be provided. The agreement allows more flexibility to implement short term repairs at failing culverts while giving ODOT more time to plan for replacement of culverts (when full fish passage requirements are applied). As part of the agreement, ODOT is required to contribute monies into a Fish Passage Compensation Fund, which is used to address high priority fish passage issues statewide. Many priority barriers have had fish passage restored thanks to the funds created under the CRPA since this program was first established in 2015.
Amend rules to increase shellfish transport biosecurity: Oregon is home to about 20 shellfish mariculture facilities (e.g., shellfish farms). Transport of shellfish can inadvertently spread unwanted pests, viruses, and pathogens—including the Oyster Herpes Virus microvariant-1 (OsHV-1) which causes high mortality rates in shellfish and was detected in cultivated Pacific Oysters in San Diego, Calif. in 2019. Proposed new regulations will tighten transport rules to protect Oregon's mariculture industry and shellfish including updating activities and definitions of species groups that require a permit; updating required information for permit; and identifying shellfish pathologists approved to certify shellfish health.
Adopt rules for regional dry maintenance time periods: In keeping with HB 2437 passed by the 2019 Oregon State Legislature, the Commission will be asked to adopt a part of these new rules that simplify the regulatory process for maintaining channels used for agricultural drainage. ODFW's role in the regulatory process (which is primarily managed by ODA) is to establish regional dry maintenance time periods for removal of material. The time periods proposed are designed to minimize potential impacts during the most vulnerable life stages of fish and wildlife species including migration, spawning and rearing in the channels and adjacent waterways and also consider the effect of sedimentation on species downstream of the channels.
Amend rules for commercial squid fishery to establish a limited entry control date and modify net specifications: The commercial market squid fishery is a relatively new opportunity in Oregon, and the Commission adopted several rules in March 2021 to promote sustainability of the resource and fishery. Uncertainty about appropriate catch and participation levels and other questions remained so staff are proposing additional regulation changes.
The Commission will also hear updates on the current population status of lower Columbia River white sturgeon and a review of 2021 sturgeon fisheries.
Under Other Business, the Commission will discuss a petition that they recently received requesting a Declaratory Ruling regarding North Umpqua summer steelhead hatchery smolt releases for 2022.
The Commission may also meet in executive session (held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f)) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties regarding current litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(h). Representatives of the news media may attend the executive session by contacting the Director's Office prior to the meeting. Representatives of the news media are specifically directed not to report on any of the deliberations during the executive session, except to state the general subject of the session.
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