[ODFW-News] ODFW to hold informational meetings on new shellfish license requirement

[ODFW News]

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	Tuesday, November 25, 2003

ODFW to hold informational meetings on new shellfish license
requirement

SALEM - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department
of Agriculture and Oregon State Police will host three public meetings
in early December to discuss and answer questions about the new
requirement for recreational shellfish harvesters to possess a shellfish
license. 

The meetings will be held Thursday, Dec. 2, in Newport; Monday, Dec. 8,
in Astoria; and Wednesday, Dec. 10, in Bandon.

A new law adopted in the 2003 legislative session requires any person
14 years of age or older in the act of harvesting any shellfish
including, but not limited to, clams, crab, mussels, abalone, oysters,
piddocks, shrimp or scallops or are in the possession of such shellfish
in the field must have in their possession a valid recreational
shellfish license. Any person harvesting crayfish or freshwater clams
does not need a license.

The license requirement goes into effect Jan. 1, 2004. The cost for an
annual resident shellfish license is $6.50 and the cost for an annual
non-resident license is $16.50. A three-day non-resident license costs
$9. Licenses are available at any ODFW license agent and some marinas
and charter boat operators

At each informational meeting, representatives from ODFW, Oregon State
Police and the Oregon Department of Agriculture will address shellfish
license requirements, toxin testing, enforcement and shellfish resource
management.

The meetings will be held 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Newport, Dec. 2: Auditorium of the Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030
Marine Science Drive.

Astoria: Dec. 8: Meeting room at Duncan Law Seafood Center, 2021
MarineDrive.

Bandon, Dec. 10: Community Center East Room at the Chamber of Commerce,
1200 S.W. 11th St in City Park.

For more information, please contact Matt Hunter, ODFW, at (503)
325-2462 in Astoria, Ron McKay, ODA, at (503) 986-4720 in Salem, or Lt.
David Cleary, OSP, (503) 378-3720 in Salem.

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