[ODFW-News] Commission endorses plan for setting summer, fall chinook seasons in Columbia River

[ODFW News]

________________________________

From: ODFW News 
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 3:53 PM
To: ODFW All Staff
Subject: Commission endorses plan for setting summer, fall chinook
seasons in Columbia River



Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife  
Contact:  Dan Knoll, (503) 947-6023 
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009
 
 
For Immediate Release Friday, Feb. 10, 2006
 
Commission endorses plan for setting summer, fall chinook seasons in
Columbia River
Commission ratifies Columbia River spring chinook rules, takes other
action
 
SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday unanimously
endorsed guiding principles and objectives that Oregon officials will
use to negotiate Columbia River summer and fall chinook sport and
commercial fishing seasons for 2006 that aim to meet conservation and
treaty requirements, and share the allowable harvest between
recreational and commercial fisheries. 
 
In addition, the Commission directed Oregon fishery officials to enter
into negotiations with their Washington state counterparts with the goal
of adopting a three-year agreement to manage summer chinook harvest in
the Columbia River. The purpose of the multi-year agreement is to
provide stability to the regulation-setting process.
 
The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in
the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly.
 
With the Commission direction, the staff from the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife will enter into negotiations for the fall chinook
season through the "North of Falcon" public process with the state of
Washington, tribal governments, federal fish managers, the commercial
fishing industry and the sport fishing industry to establish exact
seasons, regulations and bag limits. The summer chinook allocation will
be negotiated separately with the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife. 
 
Since 2000, improved returns of summer and fall chinook salmon and
federal Endangered Species Act listings have created a situation where
it has become necessary to negotiate a sharing agreement of the
allowable fish harvest between treaty Indians and non-treaty sport
anglers and commercial harvesters. 
 
Biologists expect 49,000 summer chinook to enter the Columbia River this
year between June 16 and July 31. The run is composed of both hatchery
and wild fish that either head to hatcheries or spawning grounds located
in the Upper Columbia above Priest Rapids Dam. The summer chinook run in
the Columbia River averaged 63,000 fish in 2004 and 2005.
 
Biologists are expected to announce predictions for 2006 fall salmon
runs destined for the Columbia Basin and other Pacific Northwest coastal
river basins later this month at public meetings. The fall total chinook
run was about 550,000 fish in 2005. Columbia River fall chinook enter
the river beginning Aug. 1 and are composed of five major hatchery and
wild stocks that return to different parts of the river.
 
Commission formally adopts rules for spring chinook, sturgeon. 
 
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday ratified the rules
adopted last month by the Columbia River Compact for spring chinook and
sturgeon seasons in the Columbia River. Friday's action was the final
step to adopt harvest regulations for this year. 
 
The adopted rules do not differ from those publicized Jan. 26 in a new
release. Additional information may be obtained from the following Web
links: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2006/january/018.asp.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/ (Click on "2006 Fishing
Regulation Changes")
 

Hiring process for ODFW director moves forward
 
In conjunction with its February meeting, the Commission heard from
members of the public Thursday on the criteria the Commission should use
to hire a new director for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The Commission is expected to adopt screening criteria March 6 in
Newport. 
 
Members of the public may submit written comments on the selection
criteria. Information may be found on the ODFW Web site,
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2006/february/002.asp, or by calling the
ODFW Director's Office, 503-947-6044. The director recruitment process
will occur through the spring with a new director expected to begin in
June. 
 
Past ODFW director Lindsay Ball began work with the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services in January. ODFW deputy director Roy Elicker is
acting as the interim director until a permanent director is hired. 
 

ODFW presents awards for forest land stewardship 
 
Three citizens received awards at the Oregon Fish and Wildlife
Commission meeting Friday for their work to improve fish and wildlife
resources through forest stewardship activities. 
 
The Fish and Wildlife Steward Awards for Forest Lands Program recognize
the efforts of forest landowners who implement the Oregon Plan for
Salmon and Watersheds.
 
The 2005 award winners are:
* NW Oregon Industrial Landowner - Chuck Volz, Weyerhaeuser Company,
Springfield;
* NW Oregon Non-Industrial Landowner - Roger Daugherty, Sleepy Hollow
Tree Farm, Oregon City; and
* SW Oregon Non-Industrial Landowner - Robert Gilkey (in memoriam),
Lakecreek.
 
In addition, Gary Johnston, Weyerhaeuser Company, Mollala, received a
Commendation for Fish and Wildlife Stewardship.
 
The objectives of the Steward Awards for Forest Lands Program are to:
* Publicly recognize private forest landowners who promote the
stewardship of fish and wildlife resources as part of their forest
stewardship activities, and/or provide public recreational opportunities
related to fish and wildlife on their lands; 
* Provide an incentive for landowners to voluntarily contribute to the
enhancement of Oregon's fish and wildlife resources and public
recreational opportunities; and 
* Improve public understanding of fish and wildlife management
activities occurring on private forest lands.
 
In other action, the Commission:
* Heard a briefing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the tools
available to deter sea lions from areas, such as Bonneville Dam, where
conflicts occur with salmon and sturgeon stocks. The Commission directed
ODFW staff to investigate options for the state to take individual
animals identified as harming a fish stock. 
* Delegated authority to the ODFW director to issue harassment permits
for cormorants, a sea bird. 

 
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