Or. Admin. R. 635-500-6705

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 5, May 1, 2024

Section 635-500-6705 - Guiding Principles for Columbia River Fisheries Management

(1) Promote the recovery of ESA-listed species and the conservation of wild stocks of salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon in the Columbia River.

(2) Continue leadership on fish recovery actions, including improved fish survival through the federal Columbia River hydropower system, improved habitat conditions in the tributaries and estuary, hatchery reform, reduced predation by fish, birds, and marine mammals, and harvest management that meets conservation responsibilities.

(3) Continue to meet terms of U.S. v. Oregon management agreements with Columbia River Treaty Tribes.

(4) In a manner that is consistent with conservation and does not impair the resource, seek to enhance the overall economic well-being and stability of Columbia River fisheries in Oregon.

(5) For steelhead, salmon and sturgeon, prioritize recreational fisheries in the mainstem and commercial fisheries in off-channel areas of the lower Columbia River. Toward this end:

(a) Assign mainstem recreational fisheries a sufficient share of ESA-impacts and harvestable surplus to enhance current fishing opportunity and economic benefit.

(b) Assign commercial fisheries a sufficient share of the ESA-impacts and harvestable surplus to effectively harvest fish in off-channel areas and harvest surplus fish with selective techniques in the mainstem Columbia River.

(6) Limit the use of gill nets in non-tribal commercial fisheries, other than shad and smelt, in the mainstem Columbia River to fall fisheries in Commercial Zones 4 and 5. Limit other non-tribal gill net use to off-channel areas only.

(7) Enhance the economic benefits of off-channel commercial fisheries, in a manner consistent with conservation and wild stock recovery objectives. Enhancements include:

(a) Providing additional hatchery fish for release in off-channel areas by shifting currently available production, and where possible providing new production for release in off-channel areas, emphasizing complementary conservation benefits in tributaries.

(b) Expanding existing seasons and boundaries in off-channel areas and/or establishing new off-channel areas, allowing increased harvest in areas where the likelihood of impacting ESA-listed stocks is lower than the mainstem.

(8) Develop and implement selective-fishing gear and techniques for commercial mainstem fisheries to optimize conservation and economic benefits consistent with mainstem recreational objectives, combined with incentives to commercial fishers to expand the development and implementation of these gear and techniques.

(9) Maintain consistent and concurrent policies between Oregon and Washington related to management of non-tribal Columbia River fisheries, to ensure orderly fisheries as well as the sharing of investments and benefits.

(10) To maximize economic return, develop a program that seeks to implement Marine Stewardship Council or other certification of commercial salmon and sturgeon fisheries in the Columbia River as sustainably managed fisheries.

Or. Admin. R. 635-500-6705

DFW 152-2012, f. 12-27-12, cert. ef. 1-1-13; DFW 8-2017(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 2-2-17 thru 7-31-17; DFW 4-2017, f. & cert. ef. 1/25/2017; DFW 29-2017, f. 3-22-17, cert. ef. 4/4/2017

Stat. Auth.: ORS 496.138, 496.146 & 506.119

Stats. Implemented: ORS 506.109 & 506.129