[ODFW-News] Commission approves ocean salmon seasons

[Anne Pressentin]

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	Friday, April 16, 2004

Fish and Wildlife Commission approves 2004 ocean salmon harvest rules


BEAVERTON * Ocean salmon anglers will have a nine-week summer season similar to last year to harvest 75,000 adipose fin-clipped coho off the central and southern Oregon coast, according to rules adopted Friday.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the coho season as part of the ocean salmon regulations for both sport and commercial interests. In addition, modifications were made to the fall salmon bag limit in the Columbia River. 

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife implements the policies of the Commission.

The quotas adopted for coho and chinook are slightly down from last year, but biologists expect excellent fishing opportunities for sport and commercial boats. 

The adopted rules are:
·	In the ocean from Leadbetter Point, Wash. south to Cape Falcon, Ore., the salmon season is open Sunday through Thursday, June 27 * Sept. 30, 2004 or attainment of a 101,250 coho quota. The season closes Aug. 1 between Cape Falcon and Tillamook Head. The allowed bag limit is two salmon per day, only one of which may be a chinook. Retained coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip. Consideration of opening the fishery seven days a week will occur around July 28.
·	In the ocean from Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain, the salmon season is open seven days a week March 15 * Oct. 31, 2004, for all salmon except coho. In addition, the season is open for the harvest of coho June 19 * Aug. 31, 2004, or attainment of a 75,000 coho quota between Cape Falcon and the California-Oregon border. Retained coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip. 
·	In the ocean from Humbug Mountain south to Horse Mountain, Calif., the salmon season is open seven days a week May 12 * Sept. 2004 for all salmon except coho. In addition, the season is open for the harvest of coho June 19 * Aug. 31, 2004, or attainment of a 75,000 coho quota between Cape Falcon and the California-Oregon border. Retained coho must have a healed adipose fin-clip. 
·	In the Tillamook Terminal Area, Elk River Terminal Area and Chetco River Terminal area, the spring and fall seasons are the same as 2003.

The Commission also altered the daily bag limit for the Columbia River sport fall salmon season. In the Buoy 10 fishery at the mouth of the Columbia upstream to Tongue Point, anglers will be limited to one chinook within the two salmon bag limit. In the area from Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam, anglers also will be limited to one chinook in the two salmon bag. The Buoy 10 fishery has had the same bag limit for several years, but 2004 will be the first year for the one chinook limit for the lower Columbia River. The change was requested by the sport fishing industry to avoid a premature closing of the season.

The ocean sport salmon seasons will be publicized in a pamphlet that will be published in May and distributed through ODFW offices and license agents. 

Commercial salmon are harvested with the use of multiple long lines, or "troll" gear. The adopted seasons provide for: 
·	A May 1 * Sept. 15 fishery to harvest 44,500 chinook and 67,500 adipose fin-clipped coho from the Canadian border south to Cape Falcon, Ore.;
·	A March 15 * Oct. 31 chinook only season along the central coast with a 14-day closure in July and in August; and 
·	A March 15 * Oct. 31 season with small monthly chinook quotas and small possession limits.


Commission adopts harvest rules for Pacific lamprey at Willamette Falls

Seeking to limit the number of lamprey harvested per person, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday adopted a lamprey season that restricts individuals to 100 lamprey for personal use in 2004. 

The use of a season harvest limit differs from 2003, when a 6,000 lamprey quota was established to limit the total harvest. The Commission decided on an individual limit to avoid a situation that occurred in 2003 when members of one Native American tribe were precluded from harvesting lamprey because the quota was met early in the season. Commissioners also sought to avoid a situation where three non-tribal individuals harvested 61 percent of the total harvest or 2,308 lamprey.

Pacific lamprey are an eel-looking animal that spend 5-7 years in freshwater as juveniles before spending up to 3 years in the ocean. They return to freshwater to spawn, much like salmon. Traditionally, Pacific lamprey have been harvested by Native Americans as a food source. Non-tribal harvesters usually use lamprey for bait when fishing for sturgeon or for biological specimens in dissection classes. Harvest of lamprey for re-sale or commercial use is no longer allowed in Oregon. 

Pacific lamprey are listed as a sensitive species under Oregon law and have been petitioned for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. The species has decreased in both range and population abundance. 

Commissioners discussed the possibility of banning the use of lamprey for fish bait and limiting harvest to only tribal members. However, the Commission decided not to make additional changes other than switching from a quota to a seasonal bag limit. 

The Commission adopted the following rules:
Lamprey harvest is allowed at Willamette Falls Saturday through Monday, June 1 * July 31, 2004, by hand or hand-powered tools only. Harvest is allowed 7 a.m. * 6 p.m. from the east side of Willamette Falls only. All individual harvesters are limited to 100 lamprey per season for personal use. Catch must be recorded daily on a harvest card before leaving the fishing area. All non-tribal harvesters must obtain a permit from the Oregon Department Fish and Wildlife before collecting any lamprey. The Commission will enter into agreements with Native American tribes to allow them to issue personal use permits to their members.

The Commission left open the possibility of closing the season early if the 2004 harvest exceeds that of 2003. 

Three projects receive funding for wildlife habitat and hunter access

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved funding for three projects under the wildlife Access and Habitat Program to improve hunter access and wildlife habitat. The following projects were approved:

·	Crown Pacific Guzzler Replacement: A&H funds of $4,145 will help fund an $11,437 project in Klamath County to replace an artificial watering hole that reduces the need for big game to cross U.S. Highway 97.
·	Linn Forest Protective Association Forest Deputy Program: A&H funds of $30,000 will help fund a $1.97 million project in Linn County to provide law enforcement on 410,800 acres of private lands for general deer and elk seasons.
·	Dunn Water Development: A&H funds of $4,406 will help fund a $7,954 project in Douglas County to install an artificial watering hole, or guzzler, and develop two springs on private property to prevent deer and elk from crossing the Tiller Highway in the summer months.

In other action, the Commission:
·	Amended administrative rules to delete all references to the ODFW's old headquarters address in Portland;
·	Heard an update on the implementation of the state recovery plan for Lower Columbia River coho, and the results of monitoring that shows stable to increasing numbers of wild spawners and the presence of new populations; 
·	Heard a briefing on the status of sage grouse in Oregon and plans for developing a conservation plan in conjunction with other states, agencies and organizations. 
·	Heard a director's informational briefing on regional activities, Hatchery Research Center, Native Fish Conservation Policy, Columbia River non-Indian commercial and sport fisheries, and 2005-07 ODFW budget development;
·	Formally adopted temporary rules approved by the ODFW director during March;
·	Heard the April 2004 expenditure report; and
·	Approved minutes from the Commission's meetings in February and March.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2004, at the ODFW headquarters in Salem, 3406 Cherry Ave., N.E. Current agenda items include commercial fishery permit board appointments, approval of funding requests under the fish Restoration and Enhancement Program, annual report of Salmon Trout Enhancement Program, briefing on preliminary options for groundfish harvest, briefing on 2004-05 big game regulations, and Rocky Mountain goat transplant plan.

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Anne Pressentin Young
Information Services Manager
Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6020
anne.m.pressentin at state.or.us