ODFW Commission, Dec. 11

SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet online on Friday, Dec. 11 beginning at 8 a.m. See the meeting agenda online at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/20/12_Dec/index.asp The meeting will be livestreamed over ODFW’s YouTube Channel, which can be viewed from this page, https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/ To testify online for one of the agenda items, fill out the online form below no later than 48 hours before the meeting begins (so by Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 8 a.m.) https://odfw.wufoo.com/forms/commission-meeting-witness-registration/ Comments about agenda items can also be emailed to odfw.commission@state.or.us Commissioners will hold a public forum for people to comment on topics not on the agenda. People who wish to participate in public forum need to call the ODFW Director’s office at (503) 947-6044 by Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting). Items on the agenda include: Funding of several Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund grants: The Commission will be asked to approve expenditures for several projects that support outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation and accept donations for these projects from Oregon Wild, the Starview Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation. Amend rules for ceremonial hunting and fishing by Burns Paiute tribal members: The Commission will be asked to amend rules by increasing the number of ceremonial elk permits for the Burns Paiute Tribe, extending season dates for all species and formalizing the spring Chinook salmon fishery in a specific segment of the Malheur River. Adopt 2021 groundfish regulations and hear report on commercial nearshore fishery: Regulations for groundfish fisheries are based on federal rules developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, with ODFW participation. The proposal for the 2021 recreational season is: general marine bag limit of 6 fish (a change from the initial 2020 bag limit of 5 fish, which was raised to 7 in July). One fish sub-bag limit for China, copper, and quillback rockfish. One fish sub-bag limit for cabezon; opens on July 1. Seasonal depth restriction (40 fathoms) in effect from June 1 through Aug. 31. Longleader fishing would be allowed on all-depth halibut trips during the summer bottomfish depth restriction. For the commercial nearshore fishery, revised periodic landing limits for each permitted vessel are proposed. For details see the agenda item summary at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/20/12_Dec/D/Exhibit%20D_Attachment%201_Agenda%20Item%20Summary.pdf.