[ODFW-News] Fish and Wildlife Commission to meet Friday

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003

Fish and Wildlife Commission to meet Friday
2004 groundfish seasons, Upper Deschutes fish plan and bighorn sheep plan to be adopted

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Dec. 12, to adopt harvest rules for 2004 groundfish seasons, amendments to the Upper Deschutes Basin Fish Management Plan and a management plan for bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat. 

The Commission also will meet in executive session during the meeting pursuant to     ORS 192.660(1)(f) and ORS 192.660(1)(h) to confer with legal counsel on current negotiations and confidential attorney-client advice.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policymaking body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. The meeting will occur in the first floor Commission Room at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters building, 3406 Cherry Avenue N.E., Salem.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and proceed through the agenda in order. The following items are on the agenda:

·	Informational director's report on regional activities, warmwater fish management, public process for the 2005 angling regulations, coastal coho recovery and Columbia River spring chinook allocation;
·	Commission direction on retention seasons for the lower Columbia River sport sturgeon fishery for 2004-05;
·	Rulemaking on 2004 nearshore harvest rules on groundfish, halibut and sardine;
·	Rulemaking on Upper Deschutes Basin Fish Management Plan;
·	Informational briefing on results of advisory committee discussions on trap check requirements for predatory animals;
·	Informational briefing on first meeting of the Wolf Advisory Committee and proposed framework for a Wolf Management Plan;
·	Rulemaking on Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goat Plan;
·	Approval of funding requests for the Access and Habitat Program;
·	Appointments to the Access and Habitat Board; 
·	Informational briefing on Access and Habitat Program monitoring; and
·	Petition hearing to reinstate a commercial harvest permit for sea urchins.

Public testimony will be taken on each agenda item except "Exhibit E" on predatory trap check requirements. Only invited testimony from the committee members will be taken on Exhibit E. For all other agenda items, sign-up sheets will be provided at the meeting. Agenda item exhibits may be requested by calling the ODFW Director's Office at        503- 947-6044. Most agenda items are posted to ODFW's Web site at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/Comm/schedule.htm.

Persons seeking to testify for up to five minutes on other issues not on the formal agenda may do so by making arrangements at least 24 hours in advance. "Unscheduled testimony" must be arranged by calling Mike Lueck, ODFW Director's Office, at 503-947-6044. Unscheduled testimony will occur around 1 p.m., Friday and is limited to about six speakers.


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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002