[ODFW-News] ODFW to hold lottery for sea urchin permit

[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	Tuesday, March 4, 2003

ODFW to hold lottery for sea urchin permit

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold a lottery =
April 25 to award one sea urchin commercial harvest permit. Interested =
harvesters must apply by April 15.

ODFW issues 30 sea urchin permits per year. One harvester chose not to =
renew the permit this year and administrative rules allow a lottery to be =
held to issue the final permit.=20

Sea urchins are harvested by hand by divers off the southern Oregon coast. =
In 2002, 800,000 pounds were harvested for the Japanese sushi market. The =
product is marketed as "uni."

Applicants must be 18 years of age to be eligible. Applications may be =
obtained at ODFW offices where commercial fishing licenses are sold in =
Astoria, Charleston, Newport and Portland. Applications must be post-marked=
 by April 15 and be accompanied by a $75 application fee. They should be =
sent to ODFW License Services, P.O. Box 59, Portland, OR 97207. If the =
applicant is successful, the application fee will apply to the annual =
permit fee of $75.

Questions about the permit process should be directed to Jean McCrae at =
the ODFW office in Newport at (541) 867-4741.

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