Razor Clam License Meeting

Clamman · 12-16-2002, 08:26 AM

A friend sent me this, I guess it was also printed in the Daily Astorian, so I thought I should post it here.

Friends of the razor clam (FORC) is announcing a public meeting to discuss a proposal to initiate a shellfish harvesting license in the state of Oregon. The meeting, Turesday, December 17th from 1-3pm, will be held at the Duncan Law Seafood Consumer Center in Astoria, Oregon. State Senator Joan Dukes, Representatives Betsy Johnson and Elaine Hopson will be in attendance.

FORC held several public meetings earlier this year, at which time a consensus was formed requesting that legislation requiring a shellfish harvesting license for recreational harvesting of clams, mussels, crabs and crayfish be proposed in the upcoming session. Oregon is currently the only coastal state in the continental United States which does not require such a license.

Consensus also requested that any monies generated by the license fees be used for research and enforcement.

Senator Dukes has been on committees in the past which have seeen similar legislation stall and believes that with the proper wording, the time for the proposed bill may be at hand.

All interested parties are urged to attend. Volunteers and general questions may contact Peter Roscoe at (503) 325-2774.

Chilly one · 12-16-2002, 08:50 AM

A quick note on the Razor Clam tag/license. I realize we need more "studies" on shellfish etc. but it seems as though the tag license thing has been gunned down many many times. The ODFW in conjunction with the State Agriculture Dept. are on top of the domoic acid, red tides on the quick each time we have a warning posted! That's great! I look at it this way, if you were a person that wanted to take your kids crabbing for the weekend you would to "invest" in crab gear, or rent it at a local tackle rental spot, bait measuring devices, buckets and then go get a day tag or a season tag to take the kids out for a family day of fun? Lots of folks can crab off of docks piers, and places that they can't access w/o a boat. I think as residents we should have a right to have one family activity w/o licenses and tags, especially when these agencies have NOT had a reason to invoke these fees upon us. If there is money needed I have a better idea. Not being prejudice towards commercial fishing WHATSOEVER I feel that the $ needed for ANY clam/shellfish/crab studies should in PART be placed upon the users that take up to 15+ million pounds of crab out of the ocean per year. How about a penny a pound surcharge administered by the ODFW at the landing sites/delivery plants for all crab landings. Add that up? 15 million pennies, or at 2 cents a pound, 30 million pennies? Also what are the chances that this $$$ would be lost in adminisration costs, new Suburbans 4 wheel drives, computers and all that "stuff" agencies "need" to start a new government agency. I think we should ask for a detailed budget outline of the $ flow first? What do you think? Also as far as I'm concerned look at the clam populations, crab numbers and ocean conditions with all the upwelling we've had and the ocean is as RICH as I can remember for Years! Maybe sometime in the future we can lookat this more rationally. What do you think? Regards and Happy Holidays! Chillyone......

Clamman · 12-16-2002, 10:01 AM

A couple of quick comments. Right now no child under 14 needs an angling license to fish for trout (i.e. another free fishery!) So a family could still rent the equipment and if the kids were big enough let them do all the work and have all the fun, because isn't that what it is all about?
The department of Agriculture is looking at a huge cut in general funding this next budget and that will result in less testing for toxins! Who would feel safe in eating something that is monitored at a lesser rate than previously?

The commercial fisheries are already taxed and already have programs established to monitor and research them.

For info I suggest you check out the Marine region site Marine Link