Friday, November 2, 2012

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to discuss Columbia River fisheries management, audio will be streamed

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Nov. 9 to hear public comment on possible reforms to fisheries on the lower Columbia River.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at ODFW Headquarters at 3406 Cherry Ave. NE in Salem and the only significant agenda item will be Columbia River fisheries.

The Commission first will be briefed on the progress of the Columbia River Fisheries Management Workgroup – created at the request of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber to consider changes to sport and commercial fisheries on the lower Columbia River.

The meeting will then continue with public testimony.


“We are considering some significant changes to Columbia River fisheries – sport and commercial,” said Roy Elicker, ODFW director. “This will be a major opportunity for anglers, commercial fishermen and the public to testify before the full Commission about these proposed changes.”

According to Elicker, the Commission will not be making any decisions at the November meeting. Instead, rulemaking will begin at the Dec. 7 Commission meeting in Portland, where there will be opportunity for additional public comment.

The Workgroup, comprised of commissioners from the Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissions, staff from departments of fish and wildlife, as well as advisors from various stakeholder groups, will meet for the third time on Nov. 15 in Seaside.

ODFW will offer an audio stream of the Commission meeting so that the public can listen in on the discussion. The link for the audio stream is at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/.

For more information about Columbia River fisheries and the Fisheries Management Workgroup go to http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/LMCR_fisheries_mgmt_reform.asp.

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