ODFW News: Commission Agenda

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Fish and Wildlife Commission to vote on trap check requirements for predatory animals Friday Oversize sturgeon regulations also on agenda

PORTLAND - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Feb. 6, at the Portland Expo Center to vote on rules governing trap check times for predatory animals and to give policy guidance for the Columbia River oversized sturgeon fishery.

The Commission also will meet in executive session as part of the day long meeting pursuant to ORS 192.660(1)(g) to confer with legal counsel on current litigation related to U.S. v. Oregon. No decisions will be made during the executive session.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly. The meeting will occur in Exhibit Hall E, Rooms 101-102, of the Portland Expo Center in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show. The building is located at 2060 N. Marine Drive in Portland. Attendance at the Commission meeting is free, but a fee must be paid to attend the show.

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

· Director's report on regional ODFW activities and temporary rules approved in January;
· Revenue and expenditure report;
· Upland bird stamp print selection;
· Awarding of annual steward award for forest land management;
· Informational briefing on black-tailed deer regulation proposals for 2005;
· Rulemaking on trap check requirements for predatory animals (In Oregon, predatory animals are defined in statute as coyotes, rabbits, rodents, feral swine and birds that are, or may be, destructive to agricultural crops.);
· Provide policy guidance on preferred regulation options for Columbia River gorge oversize sturgeon sport fishery;
· Appointment of member to the Fish Screening Task Force; and
· Rulemaking on requirements for Dungeness crab catch areas.

Public testimony will be taken on each agenda item. For all agenda items, sign-up sheets to testify will be provided at the meeting. Agenda item exhibits may be requested by calling the ODFW Director's Office at 503-947-6044. Many 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 Cristy Mosset, ODFW Director's Office, at 503-947-6044. Unscheduled testimony will occur around 1 p.m. and is limited to about six speakers. For Friday's meeting, seven speakers are currently expected.

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