ODFW release – SALEM, Ore.—The Fish and Wildlife Commission is meeting Friday, Dec. 15 at the McMinnville Community Center, 600 NE Evans Street. Friday’s meeting starts at 8 am; see the agenda at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/23/12_Dec/index.asp To testify on one of the Friday meeting’s agenda items remotely, register on the agenda page at least 48 hours in advance (by Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 8 a.m.). 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, you must contact the ODFW Director’s office at (503) 947-6044 or email ODFW.Commission@odfw.oregon.gov by Wednesday Dec. 13 at 8 a.m. (48 hours prior to the meeting). During the Director’s Report, the Commission will hear updates on the Rogue-South Coast Multi Species Conservation and Management Plan and ODFW’s Statewide Temperature Monitoring Plan and program to identify cold-water refugia. Commission business on Friday includes: Adopting the revised sage-grouse core and low-density habitat map: Identifying the most productive sage-grouse populations and habitats (core areas) and the important habitats for connectivity among these core areas (low-density areas) is a critical part of Oregon’s Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy. The map of these areas is due for a revision as these habitats were originally delineated in 2011. The revision incorporates new data collected since 2011, utilizing the best available science to identify areas that currently provide breeding, brood-rearing and summering, wintering, and migratory habitats for greater sage-grouse in Oregon. 2024 Commercial and Recreational Groundfish Regulations and Territorial Sea Plan Revisions: Staff are recommending trip limits for the commercial nearshore fishery that are the same as 2023, except for increases to black rockfish limits in two periods. Staff recommendations for 2024 recreational seasons are similar to 2023 including: 5-fish marine bag limit, 12-fish bag limit for the longleader fishery, no retention of yelloweye and quillback rockfish, year-round all-depth bottomfish fishery. Revisions to the Territorial Sea Plan are needed to conform to changes already made by the Ocean Policy Advisory Council of the Land Conservation and Development Commission. These change the name of some marine management areas (without changing boundaries or harvest restrictions) and add six new marine management areas with recommended restrictions on commercial harvest. Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) rule revisions: OCRF was established by the Oregon State Legislature in 2019 as a way for Oregonians to support a broad range of conservation and recreation efforts throughout the state. To date, OCRF Advisory Committee has funded 140 projects through six rounds of competitive request for proposals (RFP). To clarify the RFP process, the Department is proposing rule revisions to include in rule some of the established procedures outlined in the OCRF Expenditure Framework and also allow the OCRF to offer Urgent Grants outside of the regular granting cycle, which aligns with the Private Forest Accord Grant Program’s operating procedures. Suspend recreational abalone fishery: Abalone populations have declined sharply in recent years due to environmental changes. The recreational fishery for abalone was suspended for consecutive three-year periods in 2018 and 2021. The proposed rule would continue the closure with no sunset date. Staff will also provide an informational briefing on the recently completed Conservation and Fishery Management Plan (CFMP) for red abalone. Restoration and Enhancement and Access and Habitat Programs: Review and approve funding for projects including replacing fishing docks at Vernonia Lake and extending Open Fields hunting access program for one year. Appoint new representatives to the R and E Board to represent Sport Fishing and Commercial Fishing interests. Revoke commercial fishing license of Longs Seafood of Portland for up to one year: Longs Seafood Market has been convicted five times for violations of the commercial fishing laws. Oregon administrative rules calls for initiating proceedings to revoke commercial fishing license after three convictions. The Commission is also expected to hold an Executive Session 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 of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(h). Per ORS 192.660, executive sessions are closed to the public. Representatives of the news media may attend executive sessions but are directed not to report on the discussions, except to state the general subject. No decisions are made in executive session.
