[ODFW-News] Commission Adopts Cervid Import Ban, Fish Policy

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09

For Immediate Release	Friday, November 8, 2002

Permanent Ban on Importation of Live Elk and Deer Adopted

PORTLAND - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission held the line Friday =
evening and adopted a permanent ban on the importation of live animals =
from the deer and elk family. The new rule for live animals changes little =
from the temporary rule adopted in August.=20

The Commission chose not to act on a proposal to make permanent a =
temporary ban on the importation of certain parts of carcasses from the =
deer and elk family. Instead, the temporary rule, which governs the =
importation of hunter-harvested animals from other states, will expire =
Feb. 11, 2003. The Commission intends to consider a new proposal on =
carcass parts in June, 2003, when the 2004 Oregon Big Game Regulations are =
considered. The parts rule will be allowed to expire to develop better =
solutions for a permanent rule that protects wild herds from disease and =
allows taxidermists, butchers and laboratories to operate without undue =
constraints. The Commission did, however, change the rule related to proof =
of gender of harvested game to be consistent with other western states.=20

The Commission is the rule making body for the Oregon Department of Fish =
and Wildlife. The seven-member panel meets monthly.

The permanent ban prohibits anyone from importing any animals in the =
cervid family into Oregon between now and August, 2004. The rules are =
designed to protect Oregon's native deer and elk from chronic wasting =
disease. The fatal disease affects privately held and/or wild herds in =
Alberta, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, =
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Saskatchewan and Illinois. =
Little is known about the transmission of the disease.=20

Two exemptions were granted. Reindeer operations based in Oregon are =
allowed to take animals out of state and bring them back provided the =
animals have not been in contact with any other cervids. The Commission =
also allowed northeast Oregon wildlife researchers a one-time exemption to =
bring 14 elk from the Starkey Experimental Herd back into the state from =
Washington. ODFW biologists said there is minimal risk that reindeer and =
the 14 elk have been or would be exposed to CWD.=20

In addition, the Commission chose to allow public comment to continue for =
90 days on a proposal to exempt the Oregon Zoo from the importation ban.


Commission Adopts New Native Fish Conservation Policy

With a unanimous vote Friday, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission =
culminated a year of review and adopted the newly written Native Fish =
Conservation Policy to guide work toward recovery and sustainability of =
native fish species.=20

Before the vote, the Commission engaged in a lengthy discussion on the =
public comments received in the last month and heard from several members =
of a task force that met for several months to craft the final draft =
language of the policy. The discussion and the testimony prompted several =
amendments to the draft proposal.=20

The final adopted policy:
-	Identifies a primary purpose to remove fish species from Endangered=
 Species Act lists and avoid future listings;
-	Focuses on the sustainability of naturally produced native fish =
and identifies naturally produced fish as providing the foundation for =
hatchery programs and fisheries;
-	Provides a basis to manage hatcheries, fisheries, habitat, =
predators, competitors and fish pathogens in balance with sustainable =
naturally produced native fish;
-	Embraces case-by-case management for individual watersheds and =
situations;
-	Uses conservation plans and measurable criteria to implement the =
policy for groups of fish populations with similar geographic, genetic and =
ecological characteristics;=20
-	Calls for managing native fish to provide for sport, commercial, =
cultural and aesthetic benefits for current and future generations;
-	Uses hatcheries responsibly to help achieve the goals of the =
policy;
-	Requires proceeding with precautionary strategies scaled to the =
risk if scientific uncertainty exists;

-	Uses existing statutes and administrative rules to manage fish =
populations until individual conservation plans can be written; and
-	Requires regular status reports and a education and training =
program.

Before the vote, the Commission removed all references to a requirement to =
form an 11-member Native Fish Citizen Advisory Committee. Instead, the =
panel was in favor of forming an advisory committee on as as-needed basis. =
Additional amendments were made to remove time deadlines in the rule and =
to make other wording changes suggested through public comment.=20

The Commission also adopted an order that requires staff to propose salmon =
and steelhead species management unit designations by December, 2003, and =
to review all ODFW's current fish management administrative rules for =
consistency with the new policy by September, 2003.=20

More information about the policy can be found on the ODFW Web site, =
www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrFish/nfcp_hmp.htm . The newly adopted =
adopted policy will be posted later this month.=20


Commission Provides Criteria for Options for 2003 Sturgeon Seasons=20

The Commission directed ODFW biologists to develop management options for =
the 2003 Columbia River sturgeon seasons that reduce total harvest from =
this year, maintain the current allocation for sport and commercial =
harvest, and consider several different strategies to reduce sport =
harvest. =20

ODFW biologists will work with biologists from the Washington Department =
of Fish and Wildlife to develop the options, which will be considered for =
adoption Dec. 6-7 in Washington and Dec. 13 in Eugene, Oregon.=20

In studying the sturgeon population in the Columbia River, biologists =
concluded that a harvest reduction by 10,000 fish from this year's total =
harvest of 50,000 fish is necessary to reverse a declining trend in the =
legal-size population. The size limit for the sport fishery is 42-60 =
inches below Bonneville Dam.

The strategies being considered for the sport fishery include:
-	Sub-quotas with the estuary area of the Columbia River separate =
from the rest of the river below Bonneville Dam;
-	Reduce harvest by closing the fishery to retention during specific =
months;
-	Days per week retention closures;
-	Annual limit reduction from the current 10 fish; and
-	Change the size limit for legal-sized fish.


Six Fish Projects Receive Funding Approval

The Commission approved funding for six projects to restore or enhance =
fish habitat and fishing opportunities. The following projects received =
the go-ahead Friday:
-	Spray Riverfront Park: $14,500 will be used to buy a restroom =
facility for a boat launch along the John Day River.
-	Powers Pond Weed Removal: $12,000 will be used to mechanically =
remove weeds that hinder angler access to a pond in Coos County.
-	Kokanee Karnival Youth: $10,000 will be used to help fund a =
$130,000 fish education program for school children in central Oregon.=20
-	Nonpariel Dam Adult Fish Trap: $15,000 will be used to help fund a =
year of a multi-year research project on hatchery fish genetics in =
southwest Oregon.
-	Diamond Lake Research: $15,000 will be used to fund half of the =
cost to map the depth and volume of Diamond Lake to aid future management.
-	St. Louis Pond Enhancements: $25,481 will be used remove weeds, =
repair equipment, improve water levels and fund host program and security =
operating expenses.

All the projects received funding through ODFW's Restoration and Enhancemen=
t Program. Revenue for the program is generated from a surcharge on =
fishing licenses. All the projects received matching revenue from other =
funding sources.
=20

Property Exchange Near Corvallis Receives Approval=20

The Commission gave its approval Friday to an agreement to exchange 80 =
acres adjacent to ODFW's district office near Corvallis for a 50.4 acre =
parcel along the Luckiamute River that provides better opportunities for =
habitat improvement and public recreation.=20

The property being exchanged away offers little habitat or recreational =
value.

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Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528