Montana Fish Report

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in Astoria next week, touring the area on Thursday, April 19 and meeting at the Clatsop County Fair and Expo Center Exhibit Hall (92931 Walluski Loop) on Friday, April 20.

See the full agenda online at dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/18/04_april/index.asp

Thursday’s tour includes viewing of marbled murrelet nesting habitat at Oswald State Park and visit to Gearhart to discuss elk damage issues. A full agenda of the tour will be posted on the April meeting page next week.

Friday’s meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the Clatsop County Fair and Expo Center. During the Director’s Report at the beginning of the meeting, staff will present the 2017 Annual Wolf Report. ODFW wildlife biologists counted 124 wolves in Oregon this past winter, an 11 percent increase over the number counted last year. More details of the report can be found here, https://bit.ly/2qsrBOp. Note that public testimony is not taken during the Director’s Report portion of the meeting.

The Commission will also be asked to adopt 2018-19 Game Bird Hunting Regulations for upland and migratory game birds. Most seasons are proposed to be the same as last year. However, staff are recommending that the minimum shotgun gauge for hunting turkey be eliminated; that the pintail daily bag limit increase to two birds per day; and that the size of the goose hunting closure area in Tillamook County be reduced

The Commission will be asked to adopt new record-keeping requirements for commercial Dungeness crab purchases and sales that will apply to all types of fish and shellfish dealers and canners. The rules were recommended by a Rules Advisory Committee made up of representatives from the crab industry, ODFW and ODA. The new requirements will improve traceability of crab in the seafood market chain, in order to protect public health and the fishery during biotoxin events. For example, better traceability could allow commercial crabbers to continue to harvest crab during some biotoxin outbreaks by requiring processors to remove the viscera (guts), leaving the crab meat safe to eat.

Pacific halibut seasons for the sport fishery are also on the agenda. Catch limits established by the International Pacific Halibut Commission are 10.5 percent lower than last year. Proposed adjustments for sport seasons include three fewer fixed days in the Central Coast Subarea spring all-depth fishery to stay within the lower catch limit, and a change in the Columbia River Subarea open days of the week from Thursday through Sunday to Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (closed Saturdays), in order to provide for a longer season in that area. Full recommendations for 2018 sport halibut seasons can be found at https://bit.ly/2GW3pdn

Finally, the Commission will be asked to adopt ocean salmon regulations. Unlike last year, when parts of southern Oregon were closed to all commercial and recreational salmon fishing, there will be salmon fishing opportunity coastwide this year. Details of proposed salmon seasons are available at https://bit.ly/2vbYm7l

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.