ODFW release – Commission meets April 20-21 in Welches – SALEM, Ore.—The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet April 20-21 in Welches with a tour planned for Thursday and a meeting Friday. See the full agenda and watch a livestream of Friday’s meeting at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/23/04_Apr/index.asp On Thursday, Commissioners will tour White River Wildlife Area, Deschutes River Canyon, Bakeoven Solar Project and have lunch and talk with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. To join the tour, be at the Mt Hood Oregon Resort, 68010 Fairway Ave in Welches by 8 a.m. and provide your own transportation and lunch. Friday’s meeting begins at 8 am at the Mt Hood Resort in the Hunchback Meeting Room. To testify on one of the agenda items remotely, register at least 48 hours in advance (by Wednesday, April 19 at 8 a.m.) at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_xvvDAedTRlebl_Cu43vMGg To testify in person, sign up at the meeting using the paper forms provided. 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, April 19 at 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting). On Friday morning during the Director’s Report, ODFW staff will present the 2022 Wolf Report which includes an updated minimum known wolf population based on the winter count. Other Commission business on Friday: Fish Screening Task Force: Appoint a member to fill the vacant seat representing Agriculture. Pacific halibut seasons: The International Pacific Halibut Commission set this year’s fishery catch limit at 1.52 million pounds which is 30,000 pounds higher than last year. For a look at the proposed recreational season visit this map. Ocean salmon seasons: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) recently adopted ocean salmon fishing regulations for federal-jurisdiction waters from three to 200 nautical miles offshore. The Commission will be asked to adopt matching permanent regulations for state jurisdiction waters (within three miles offshore). A strong coho run is expected again and recreational fishing would begin along the entire coast in mid-June. But due to severely low forecasts of Chinook returns to the Klamath and Sacramento Rivers, recreational and commercial fishing for Chinook will be closed south of Cape Falcon until Sept. 1 to protect these fish that are caught along with local Chinook and coho in Oregon’s ocean fisheries. See this map for more details on recreational ocean salmon fisheries. Marbled murrelet: Approve Endangered Species Management Plans for ODFW and nine other designated land-owning or land-managing state agencies that can play a role in marbled murrelet conservation. Petition to list Southern Resident killer whales on the state Endangered Species List: The Commission received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and Whale and Dolphin Conservation to list the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) as Endangered under the Oregon Endangered Species Act. Staff is recommending the Commission accept this petition because there is substantial scientific information to begin a rulemaking process. This population is already listed as endangered on the federal ESA. If the Commission accepts the petition, it will initiate the rule making process that includes an assessment of the biological status of SRKW in Oregon by ODFW and consultation with affected agencies, tribes, organizations, and the public. A decision on listing SRKW will not be made until a future Commission meeting. The Commission may hold an executive Session pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(e), (2)(f) and (2)(h), which allows the Commission to meet in executive session to conduct deliberations with persons designated by the governing body to negotiate real property transactions, to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, and to consult with legal counsel with respect to litigation filed against the Commission. Representatives of the news media who attend the Commission meeting in person may attend the Executive Session but are directed not to report on the discussions, except to state the general subject.
