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June 8, 2012
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon
Fish and Wildlife Commission today set the
upcoming coho and fall chinook salmon
seasons for coastal rivers and streams.
The Commission meeting began yesterday
with consideration of a number of wildlife
issues, and continued today with
Commissioners taking up a number of
fish-related issues.
For the fourth year in a row, returns of
coho salmon are strong enough for staff to
propose opening 10 coastal rivers and one
lake to the harvest of wild coho. Under the
regulations adopted today, anglers will be
able to keep one wild coho in the Nehalem,
Tillamook, Nestucca, Siletz, Yaquina, Alsea,
Siuslaw, Umpqua, Coos and Coquille rivers
and Tenmile lakes. The season on most rivers
begins on Sept. 15 and will continue through
November, or until river-specific quotas
have been met. All wild coho fisheries are
also subject to NOAA approval.
The continued wild coho fisheries mark an
important milestone in the recovery of coho
salmon populations along the Oregon Coast,
said Chris Kern, ODFW ocean salmon resources
manager.
“Since coastal coho were listed as
threatened in 1998, an enormous amount of
work has been done to restore these
populations,” he said. “Today we’re seeing
the results of record returns in recent
years in recreational fisheries that allow
the harvest of a small number of those fish.
“As a result of restoration efforts by
Oregonians and sustainable fish management,
Oregon Coast coho are well on their way to
recovery,” he added.
The Commission also approved the seasons
for fall chinook, which have been rebounding
since a significant downturn in 2008. For
2012, bag limits and area closures will
return to permanent regulations for most
South Coast rivers. Returns to North Coast
rivers are improving but some continue to
lag, so while the Commission did restore the
historic two chinook daily bag limit on
these rivers, the more recent 10 fish
seasonal limit will continue.
A complete description of the
2012 coastal salmon seasons, including
area closures and wild coho quotas, can be
found on the ODFW website.
The Commission approved $767,010 in
grants for 12 enhancement and 8 restoration
projects through the Fish Restoration and
Enhancement Program. Among the projects
receiving funding are the addition of ADA
fishing piers at St. Louis Ponds near
Woodburn and enhancement of access at
Vernonia Pond.
The Commission also approved a major
re-organization of the commercial fishery
regulations aimed at providing clarity and
consistency to make them easier for user
groups to navigate.
The Commission briefly took up trapping
regulations, carrying over the agenda item
from Thursday’s meeting. Today, the
Commission made clear that new limits on
trapping adopted yesterday apply only to
state and federal land. The rules prohibit
setting traps or snares on land within 300
feet of campgrounds, picnic areas and
trailhead and within 50 feet of public
trails. The restriction applies only to
trails that are marked and maintained by
state or federal agencies and are designated
on agency maps. The rules were revised in
response to a petition filed by the Humane
Society of the United States, Predator
Defense, Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club,
Audubon Society of Portland and Cascadia
Wildlands.
Finally, Oregon State Police Fish and
Wildlife Division Senior Trooper Adam Turnbo
of McMinnville was awarded the state’s top
conservation enforcement honor when he was
recognized with the Shikar Safari Club
International Wildlife Officer of the Year.
Shikar-Safari representative Lynn Loacker
presented the award.
In making the award, Loaker cited
Turnbo’s innovative use of social media to
identify and monitor the actions of wildlife
violators.
The Shikar-Safari Club International,
founded in 1952, is a group of international
hunters who formed first as a social group
and then became motivated to make a
meaningful difference in wildlife
conservation.
The agenda item regarding the sale of
treaty caught Columbia River steelhead and
walleye was withdrawn and will be considered
at the August Commission meeting.
The Commission is the policy-making body
for fish and wildlife issues in the state
and usually meets monthly. The next meeting
is Aug. 3 at ODFW Headquarters in Salem. |
