[ODFW-News] ODFW News: Commission Meeting Oct. 11

[Anne Pressentin]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356Internet: www.dfw.state.=
or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
=09
For Immediate Release	Friday, October 11, 2002

Fish and Wildlife Commission Bans Mechanical Decoys=20

SANDY =A1V Citing concern with continuing technological advance and the =
tradition of a fair chase, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday =
banned the use of all movable decoys for big game hunting and the use of =
battery and motorized decoys for game bird hunting.

=A1=A7We don=A1*t hunt anymore because we need to hunt to survive. We do =
it for other values,=A1=A8 said Commissioner Jeff Feldner of Newport =
before the vote. =A1=A7We need to draw a line somewhere or we=A1*ll have =
flying duck decoys.=A1=A8

The seven-member Commission meets monthly to set administrative rules and =
adopt policies for implementation by the Oregon Department of Fish and =
Wildlife.=20

The new rules, which go into effect June 1, 2003, prohibit the use of =
battery-powered spinning or flapping wing =A1=A7robo ducks=A1=A8 and =
=A1=A7wiggling=A1=A8 decoys for waterfowl hunting. However, stationary, =
human-powered or wind-powered decoys are allowed for game bird hunting. =
The Commission chose to further restrict the use of big game decoys and =
only will allow stationary decoys starting June 1, 2003.=20

Newer waterfowl decoys set their wings, settle into the water and then =
fold their wings into the resting position. Some deer decoys have moving =
tails and new turkey decoys move along a track.=20
=20
During the discussion, Commissioner John Esler said the Commission has set =
a precedent that favors giving the largest number of people the opportunity=
 to participate in hunting and fishing activities through gear restrictions=
. For example, anglers are limited to one rod and automatic shotguns are =
prohibited.=20

=A1=A7If we do=A1*t put an edge to it now, there=A1*s not going to be an =
edge,=A1=A8 Esler said.

Hunter opinion on the issue of mechanical decoys was evenly split between =
those that favor using traditional hunting methods and those that favor =
the use of new technology to increase success in the field. More than 250 =
written comments and the results of a telephone survey of 550 hunters =
found 50 percent of hunters favor waterfowl mechanical decoys and 50 =
percent did not. A survey of the 9,600 member Oregon Hunters Association =
produced similar results.=20

However, OHA members strongly supported a ban on all motorized and battery =
powered decoys for big game and called it a =A1=A7no brainer,=A1=A8 =
testified Al Elkins, spokesman for the association. Human safety concerns =
associated with increasingly life-like decoys and the use of high-powered =
rifles for big game hunting was cited.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife prohibits the use of =
battery-powered and motorized waterfowl decoys. California Department of =
Fish and Game bans them until Dec. 1 to protect resident ducks.=20

Commission Adopts Interim Plan for Nearshore Groundfish Species

The Commission adopted Friday evening a new interim plan that will =
decrease commercial harvest in 2003 on nearshore rockfish, greenling and =
cabezon as a stop gap measure while fishery managers learn more about the =
fish resources and develop a permanent solution.

=A1=A7I=A1*m worried that in five years we will find ourselves with this =
fishery completely destroyed,=A1=A8 said Commissioner Henry Lorenzen.=20

Lorenzen=A1*s comments were echoed by many of the people who traveled from =
coastal ports to testify.

In addition to the interim management plan, the Commission directed ODFW =
staff to take public comment this winter on options that would impose =
reductions in allowed harvest to less than the 2000 harvest levels and =
present the information in March, 2003. The Commission is expected to =
adopt harvest caps in December, 2002, for the nearshore area that mimic =
those expected to be adopted by the Pacifi Fishery Management Council for =
the area between three and 200 miles offshore. PFMC is expected cap =
harvest at 2000 or 2002 levels later this year.=20

Commercial harvest of dead and live rockfish, cabezon and greenling has =
increased in recent years due to market demand. In addition, new federal =
restrictions on groundfish offshore have the potential to increase =
commercial boat effort in the nearshore. The new offshore restrictions =
have come about due to the declaration of several species as =A1=A7overfish=
ed=A1=A8 by the PFMC. Complicating matters is the lack of biological data =
on many groundfish species, some of which have life spans up to 100 years =
and older.=20

Little also is known about the 21 species targeted in the interim =
nearshore management plan. The species include: cabezon, buffalo sculpin, =
red and brown Irish lord, four species of greenling and 13 species of =
rockfish.

The adopted interim plan goes into effect Jan. 1, 2003. It includes the =
following components:

*=AB	Adds 21 nearshore species to the Developmental Fishery Program, =
which increases oversight by the Developmental Fishery Board.
*=AB	Requires commercial harvesters to apply for a Developmental =
Fisheries Permit. To apply, harvesters must have landed at least 500 =
pounds of nearshore species between July 1, 1997 and January 1, 2001 from =
north of Heceta Head or 750 pounds south of Heceta Head. The permits will =
be issued for either north or south of Heceta Head based on where the =
majority of qualifying Oregon landings took place. To renew a permit, =
harvesters must land at least 100 pounds of nearshore species and make =
five landings per year.
*=AB	Allows consideration of a lottery  to award new permits if the =
number of participants falls below 50.
*=AB	Restricts fishing gear to hook-and-line, longline or traps (pots). =
Pots are limited to 50 per harvester.=20
*=AB	Requires commercial fishermen to maintain logbooks.
*=AB	Limits vessels without a Developmental Fisheries Permit to 15 =
pounds of incidental harvest of nearshore species provided that the =
non-nearhore species harvest comprise more than 75 percent of the landed, =
legal catch.
*=AB	Increases the minimum size limit for commercially-caught cabezon =
to 16 inches.
*=AB	Re-instates black rockfish management areas and expands the =
restricted area off Coos Bay to include additional reefs near Bandon.=20

The Commission also directed ODFW staff to include a requirement in the =
developmental permits that fish harvested in Oregon must be landed in =
Oregon ports. In addition, the Commission indicated it seeks comments on =
increasing the minimum cabezon size to 16 inches for sport anglers.=20

The Commission will revisit issues related to nearshore groundfish =
management in December with the adoption of commercial and recreational =
harvest rules. In February, 2003, the Commission will take public =
testimony on proposals to reduce nearshore harvest levels beyond those =
expected to be adopted in December. In March, 2003, the Commission expects =
to take action on the harvest cap proposals at the meeting in Newport.=20

Fish Passage Plan Associated with Sandy Basin Dam Removal Approved

After calling the proposal =A1=A7groundbreaking,=A1=A8 the Commission =
approved Friday a Portland General Electric proposal to change fish =
passage methods in the Sandy Basin.

The proposed action by PGE will result in the removal of two dams and the =
return of a free-flowing river system.=20

PGE plans to surrender its license and decommission the Bull Run Hydroelect=
ric Project in the Sandy Basin instead of relicensing the project when the =
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permit expires in November, 2004. PGE =
plans to remove the two dams associated with the project, Marmot and =
Little Sandy, in 2007 and 2008 respectively.=20

The plan to remove the dams is a =A1=A7fundamental change in permit =
status=A1=A8 under Oregon=A1*s fish passage laws, which require ODFW to =
submit a proposed fish passage determination to the Commission for =
approval. The negotiated settlement crafted by a multi-agency and =
multi-organization working group met the needs of the state fish passge =
laws.=20

The measures to protect fish and wildlife species during the interim and =
during the dam removal phase include:=20
*=AB	Fund ODFW=A1*s Sandy Hatchery and existing trapping activities at =
Marmot Dam until 2007.
*=AB	Modify canal levels to protect juvenile salmonids.
*=AB	Remove the two dams between July and October, when fish species =
are least likely to be harmed.
*=AB	Trap and haul fish around blockages during the Marmot Dam removal =
phase.
*=AB	Monitor fish populations and potential passage obstructions from =
sediment after the dams are removed.
*=AB	Use of a contingency plan, that calls for mechanical removal of =
fish passage barriers created as a result of dam removal and emergency =
fish recovery to salvage stranded fish.
*=AB	Monitor channel complexity and fish passage below the project for =
five years and use an adaptive management approach with ODFW and federal =
fish management agencies to determine an appropriate end to the post-remova=
l monitoring phase.

2003 Big Game Regulations Adopted

Rules and dates governing hunting seasons starting in 2003 received =
approval Friday. The new rules do not markedly differ from rules used in =
2002.=20

The following changes were made:=20
*=AB	Increased the allowed annual hunter harvest of cougars by 102 =
animals to a total of 510 cougars statewide. The increase was allowed =
because of the healthy population of cougars in Oregon.=20
*=AB	Maintained the existing general season framework with the =
exception that many seasons are moving one week later to accommodate =
having the buck deer season open the closest Saturday to Oct. 1.=20
*=AB	Added one new muzzleloader hunt, one new youth hunt and made three =
minor boundary changes for pronghorn antelope seasons.
*=AB	Added a second hunt period to four existing California bighorn =
hunts, removed the Sheepshead Mountains from both the Steens Mountain hunt =
areas to create two separate bighorn hunts, added 10 new California =
bighorn hunts, and added two new Rocky Mountain bighorn hunts.
*=AB	Reauthorized the distribution of a bighorn raffle tag an an =
auction tag for fundraising.
*=AB	Altered the spring bear controlled hunt rules to mirror those used =
with deer and elk. The number of bear tags authorized will be increased by =
8 percent to account for tags that are drawn in the lottery, but not sold. =
In addition, if fewer hunters apply for spring bear tags than those =
authorized, the =A1=A7leftover=A1=A8 tags will be sold on a first-come, =
first-served basis on March 15.=20
*=AB	Deleted several antlerless deer hunts and made other minor changes =
to improve hunter distribution.
*=AB	Changed the elk bag limit to any elk in the Bully Creek hunt and =
replaced the West Cascades muzzleloader hunt with a Southwest Cascade and =
a North Cascade hunt to better distribute elk hunters.=20
*=AB	Deleted 12 antlerless elk hunts and added 25 new antlerless elk =
hunts to better respond to agricultural damage situations.
*=AB	Created a new travel management area for the Stott Mountain-North =
Alsea area.=20
Changed the rules for permanent disability permit holders who hunt =
pronghorn. The new rules are similar to the deer season and expand the bag =
limit to one pronghorn.=20

The Commission=A1*s approval allows the printing the 2003 Oregon Big Game =
Hunting Regulations pamphlet to move forward. The printed pamphlets are =
expected to be delivered to license agents in mid-December.

More Funds Allocated for Private Land Fire Rehabilitation

The Commission voted Friday to provide an additional $100,000 in Access =
and Habitat funds to private landowners through grant awards to re-seed =
lands burned by wildfire this year.=20

In August, the Commission allocated $100,000 for this purpose from funds =
generated through a surcharge on hunting licenses. The surcharge revenue =
is used to improve game animal habitat and hunter access. Since then, the =
Access and Habitat Board has distributed $107,730 to 10 landowners to =
rehabilitate 5,041 acres. Cooperators provided an additional $84,112 to =
aid the 10 projects.=20

The projects that received funding will improve wildlife forage, prevent =
the spread of noxious weeds, ad prevent soil erosion.=20

Landowners interested in applying for the re-seeding funds should contact =
Susan Barnes, ODFW Wildlife Division, at (503) 872-5260.

Changes Made to Developmental Commercial Fisheries Program

The Commission made four changes to administrative rules governing the =
management of emerging commercial fisheries:
*=AB	Adopted as permanent the temporary rules established in May, 2002 =
for the review of permit denials.
*=AB	Adjusted the flat abalone harvest to year-round from the current =
five month season.
*=AB	Converted the allowed gear for the spot prawn fishery to pots only =
starting in 2004. Currently, the use of trawl gear is allowed, which has =
led to high bycatch rates.
*=AB	Adjusted the gaper clam incidental catch limit to include both =
clam numbers and pounds.

In addition, the Commission approved a housekeeping rule change to clarify =
that commercial surf perch harvest only is allowed in the ocean Oct. 1 =
=A1V July 31. Commercial harvest of surf perch in bays and around jetties =
is not allowed.

Commission Hears Testimony on Draft Native Fish Conservation Policy

As part of the continuing public review of the draft Native Fish Conservati=
on Policy, the Commission heard public testimony on the proposed language. =
The public review period will continue until the next Commission meeting =
Nov. 8.  Public testimony also will be taken at the next meeting. The =
draft rules are posted on the ODFW Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml=
/InfoCntrFish/nfcp_hmp.htm.

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