The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the 2016 sport fishing regulations and revisions to the Oregon Conservation and Nearshore strategies when it meets in Seaside on Sept. 3 and 4. On Thursday, the Commission will tour several fish and wildlife facilities on the North Coast. On Friday, the Commission meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Best Western Ocean View Resort at 414 North Promenade in Seaside. The complete agenda and meeting materials can be found here. The Commission will be asked to set the 2016 Sport Fishing Regulations. Many of the changes being considered are the result of an eight-month long effort by ODFW staff to streamline and simplify rules for trout and warmwater fishing. Some of the proposed changes include: Streamlining the number of different seasons, gear restrictions and bag limits in order to have more consistent rules for similar water bodies across the state. Removing the April trout opener and opening these water bodies to year-round fishing. Setting the May trout opener at May 22 each year, ensuring that trout fishing statewide would always be open Memorial Day weekend. Removing bag limits for warmwater fish in the Columbia, John Day and Umpqua rivers. A complete list of the proposed changes for 2016 is on the ODFW web site. ODFW Staff will ask the Commission to approve the 10-year update of the Oregon Conservation Strategy, including the Oregon Nearshore Strategy component. These documents are broad, overarching strategies to conserve Oregon’s native fish, wildlife and marine resources. Once approved by the Commission, the documents will be submitted as required to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct. 1. Also, the Commission will be asked to update the rules for commercial bay clam harvest. The current commercial harvest rules have been in place since 1995. Based on recent landing and stock assessment data, ODFW staff has proposed adjustments to commercial landing quotas, minimum sizes, species taken, and allowable harvest areas as an integrated package of shellfish management actions. Finally, the Commission will consider funding for three Access and Habitat projects that will provide hunter access. Members of the public can join the Commission tour on Thursday, Sept. 3 but must provide their own transportation and lunch. The tour will leave at 8:30 a.m. from the Ocean View Resort. Public testimony for topics not on the agenda will be held first thing Friday morning, just after the adoption of temporary rules. 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 Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state and it usually meets monthly.
