ODFW release – SALEM, Ore.—The Commission will meet Friday, April 19 in St. Helens for their regular meeting, and tour the Sauvie Island area on Thursday, April 18. See the link below for the full meeting agenda and tour itinerary, https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/19/04_Apr/index.asp To join the Thursday tour, meet at the Best Western Oak Meadows Inn lobby, 525 S Columbia River Hwy, St Helens no later than 8 a.m. Members of the public may join the tour but need to provide their own transportation and lunch. Friday’s meeting starts at 8 a.m. at the Columbia River Receptions and Events, Meriwether Place, 1070 Columbia Blvd, St Helens. The agenda includes: Adoption of 2019-20 Oregon Game Bird Regulations: Proposed changes include adjustments to boundaries and tag numbers for eastern Oregon controlled fall turkey seasons (incl. 400 more tags) and a decrease in the daily bag limit for pintail to one a day. 2019 Pacific halibut fisheries: Catch limits set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission are 25 percent higher this year. Under IHPC guidelines, the Columbia River Subarea all-depth fishery would change from every Thursday, Friday and Sunday to specific dates, and Central Coast Subarea will have fixed open and backup dates beginning May 9. See the Pacific Halibut page for more details on recommended seasons and regulations. Appoint members to the Commercial Fishery Board: This board reviews contested cases when an applicant is denied a commercial fishing permit. Fish Passage Prioritization List: The methodology and information used to develop the Statewide List will be presented and discussed to update the list from 2013. Barrier prioritization will provide a focused effort in restoring passage and meeting the critical needs of Oregon’s native migratory fish. 2019 Ocean salmon fisheries: Seasons are set with the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Chinook salmon fishing will be constrained by escapement goals for Klamath and Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon. 2019 seasons for Chinook salmon will be similar to last year. Coho salmon forecasts are up from 2018 and will allow for recreational coho salmon fishing along the entire Oregon coast beginning in late June with some retention of wild fish allowed in September from Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain. Update to Public Records Requests: ODFW’s policy needs updates to bring it in line with the Oregon Department of Administrative Services model policy. Commissioners will also be briefed on the 2019 Wolf Conservation and Management Program Annual Report during the Director’s Report. No public testimony is taken during this portion of the meeting. To testify on an issue not on the formal agenda, contact the ODFW Director’s Office at least 48 hours before the meeting at 800-720-6339 or (503) 947-6044. Public testimony for these topics is held first thing Friday morning, just after the adoption of temporary rules.
