[ODFW-News] ODFW News: Proposed Rogue River Spring Chinook Fin-clip Fishery

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife    
Contact: Meghan Collins (541) 440-3353  
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (541) 673-0372
      
For Immediate Release Monday, June 9, 2003
 
ODFW Hosts Informational Meetings on Proposed Rogue River Spring Chinook Fin-clip Fishery
 
ROSEBURG - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists will host informational meetings in Gold Beach and Shady Cove to present angling regulation proposals related to spring chinook fisheries on the Rogue River. Meetings are scheduled June 24 in Gold Beach and June 26 in Shady Cove.
 
These proposals will be presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at its Aug. 8 meeting in Astoria. The Commission, which acts as the rulemaking body for ODFW, will vote on the proposals.
 
ODFW biologists are proposing rule changes that would prohibit most harvest of wild spring chinook salmon while allowing selective harvest of abundant hatchery fish. 
 
According to Mike Evenson, Central Point District fish biologist, the Rogue River wild spring chinook population has declined to historically low levels over the past 15 years. 
 
"The severely depressed status of the population requires that rule changes be made to minimize angling mortality on wild springers," Evenson said.
 
Specific proposals will allow harvest of only adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon with the following exceptions to accommodate sport fisheries that are mainly supported by healthy populations of wild fall chinook salmon:
-MORE-
Public meetings continued
 
* Non-adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon may be kept upstream to Whiskey Creek June 1-Dec. 31.
* Non-adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon may be kept from Whiskey Creek upstream to Hog Creek boat landing July 15-Dec. 31.
* Non-adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon may be kept from Hog Creek boat landing upstream to ODFW markers located downstream of Gold Ray Day July 15-Sept. 30
 
Another proposal to be considered is removing the 'one-and-five' restrictions (one adult chinook salmon per day, five per season) on wild fall chinook salmon from the mouth of the Rogue upstream to Hog Creek boat ramp. This change will provide more harvest opportunity for fall chinook salmon on the lower Rogue River. 
 
"We've monitored this population over the last several years," Evenson said, "and all indications are that it has recovered to the point where special protective measures no longer are necessary."
 
The Gold Beach meeting will be held June 24 at City Hall on Highway 101, 7-9 p.m. Shady Cove's meeting will be held June 26 at the Upper Rogue Community Center on Highway 62 behind City Hall, also 7-9 p.m. The meetings are informational only, with a question-and-answer format.
 
Individuals interested in testifying about the proposals are encouraged to attend the Aug. 8 Commission meeting and sign-up at the meeting. Speakers are limited to no more than five minutes each. Speakers who wish to provide copies of written summaries of their testimony or supporting information to the Commission are asked to bring 20 copies.
 
The Commission also accepts written comments addressed to ODFW, Fish Division - Angling Regulations Coordinator, PO Box 59, Portland OR 97207-0059. Comments must be submitted no later than Aug. 8.
 
For more information on the public informational meetings, call Todd Confer, Gold Beach fish biologist, at 541-247-7605, or Mike Evenson, Central Point fish biologist, at 541-826-8774.
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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528
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