Commission agenda: December 12, 2025

Friday, December 12, 2025

The Fish and Wildlife Commission has moved to hybrid meetings, meaning that you have the option to attend in-person or virtually. Those who would like to provide virtual testimony on an Exhibit scheduled
on this agenda must REGISTRATION no less than 48 hours (Wednesday December 10 at 8:00 AM) in advance to receive a testimony link to the meeting. To provide testimony on an agenda item in-person, registration will also be available at the meeting.

To provide testimony virtually or in-person during PUBLIC FORUM you must contact the Director's office no less than 48 hours (Wednesday December 10 at 8:00 AM) in advance of the meeting for approval.

Download December, 2025 Meeting Agenda

Information about Accessibility and Accommodations

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Director's Report: Field Report – in written form only

Meeting Materials

• Field Reports (pdf)

Director's Report: Commission Financial Report

Ken Loffink, Chief Operating Officer

Meeting Materials

• Commission Financial Report

Director's Report: Climate & Ocean Change Policy Report

Phil Milburn, Klamath/Malheur Watershed Manager

Mark Hereford, Klamath Fisheries Reintroduction Project Leader

Meeting Materials

• Reconnecting Rivers: Landscape-Scale Salmon Restoration in the Klamath Basin

Director's Report: Commission 2026 Proposed Workplan

Shaun Clements, Deputy Director of Fish and Wildlife Programs

ADOPT TEMPORARY RULES

Commission Action: Rule Ratification

Debbie Colbert, Director

Meeting Materials (pdf)

• Placeholder - TEMPRULES Report
   

1. 635-019-0090

   Umatilla River Fall Adult Chinook Salmon Closed to Retention

   Adopted: 10/17/2025 Effective Date: 10/18/2025 through 12/31/2025

   This amended rule closes the recreational harvest of Chinook salmon in the Umatilla River from the Hwy 730 bridge to Threemile Dam.

2. 635-041-0075

   Authorize Sales for Columbia River Treaty Commercial Fall Gillnet Fishery

   Adopted: 10/21/2025 Effective Date: 10/22/2025 through 12/31/2025

   These amended rules authorize the sales of fish caught in the Zone 6 treaty commercial gillnet fishery. The open fishing period is from 6 a.m. October 22 through 6 p.m. October 25.

3. 635-041-0072

   Authorize Sale of Warmwater Species Caught in Columbia River Treaty Indian Research Fishery

   Adopted: 10/23/2025 Effective Date: 10/27/2025 through 12/31/2025

   This amended rule provides state authorization of sales of yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, carp, and northern pikeminnow caught in a new Treaty Indian research fishery in several backwater areas and sloughs of the John Day Pool to reflect recent tribal action to open this fishery.

4. 635-039-0090

   Extending End Date of Previous Rule for Inseason Recreational General Marine Species Bag Limit Reduction

   Adopted: 10/24/2025 Effective Date: 10/27/2025 through 12/31/2025

   This rule maintains the three-fish bag limit to keep harvest rates from increasing to reduce the risk of exceeding catch limits for multiple rockfish species. During the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting on December 13, 2024, staff cautioned that an inseason bag limit reduction could be necessary based on pre-season models and lower harvest limits for both black rockfish and canary rockfish.

5. 635-005-0465

   Delay Oregon Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Opening

   Adopted: 11/20/2025 Effective Date: 11/27/2025 through 03/31/2026

   This amended rule delays the opening date for the Oregon 2025-2026 ocean commercial Dungeness crab fishery.

6. 635-005-0465

   Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Partial Opening

   Adopted: 12/05/2025 Effective Date: 12/05/2025 through 03/31/2026

   This amended rule opens the ocean commercial Dungeness crab fishery on December 16 from Cape Falcon to the Oregon-California border and continues to delay the season north of Cape Falcon.

COMMISSION UPDATES

No Commission Action: Informational Only

Meeting Materials (pdf)

OTHER BUSINESS

 

PUBLIC FORUM

This part of the agenda is for comments of any topic except those related to exhibits involving rulemaking or Commission approval listed elsewhere on this agenda.

Please complete Registration with the ODFW Director's Office before 8:00 AM, Wednesday, December 10 (at least 48 hours prior to the meeting) to be included in the public forum.

Barbless Hooks on the Columbia

• Public Forum: Barbless Hooks on the Columbia River 12.12.25

• Pubic Forum: Barbless comments Dec 12_hjh_final

Bill Monroe Jr.
Bruce Hanson
Andrew Hanson
Bob Rees
Jim Muck, Recreational Angler
Dave Schamp, Costal Conservation Association (CCA)

12-year assessment of the Lower Columbia River Conservation and Recovery Plan

• LCR 12_year assessment

Jim Muck, Oregon Anglers Alliance
James Fraser, Trout Unlimited

Adopting Trap Check Times for Black Bears and All Game Mammals Through Administrative Rule

Kelly Peterson, Humane World

Whale entanglements in the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery

• Enticknap_OceanaPublicForumTestimony121225

Ben Enticknap, Oceana
Delores Porch, Oregon Chapter American Cetacean Society
Francine Kershaw, Natural Resources Defense Council

Price Per Pound of Fish

Desert Springs Trout Farm

Sandy River Sanctuary Boundary

• Hikkila_ Sandy River Sanctuary Boundary

Heath Heikkila
Evan Burck

Sauvie Island Cove Market

Kristen Cook, business owner

EXHIBIT A: COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

The Commission will be asked to approve draft Commission meeting minutes from September 12 and October 10, 2025.

Commission Action: Approval of Minutes

• September 2025 Minutes_Draft
• October 2025 Minutes_Draft

12-YEAR ASSESSMENT OF THE LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY PLAN

Staff will present the 12-year Assessment of the Lower Columbia River Conservation and Recovery Plan for Oregon Populations of Salmon and Steelhead to the Commission.

No Commission Action: Informational only

Jim Brick, Implementation Coordinator

No Public Testimony

• Informational Cover Page
• Attachment 1_LCR Plan 12yr Assessment
• Attachment 2_LCR Plan 12yr Assessment_Appendix I
• Attachment 3_LCR Plan 12yr Assessment_Appendix II
• Attachment 4_LCR Plan 12yr Assessment_Appendix III
• Presentation

HOOK REGULATIONS FOR COLUMBIA RIVER RECREATIONAL SALMON AND STEELHEAD FISHERIES

The Commission will be provided with a background on hook regulations in Columbia River recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries, and other considerations related to the current barbless hook requirement.

No Commission Action: Informational only

John North - Fish Division Deputy Administrator

Tucker Jones - OSCRP Manager (Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program Manager)

No Public Testimony

• Columbia River Hook Regulations Informational Cover
• Attachment I Research Citations pages 1-35
• Attachment II Research Citations pages 36-7
• Presentation

References 1 Lindsay-Wydoski
References 2 Courter-Houton

EXHIBIT B: 2026 GROUNDFISH FISHERY REGULATIONS AND NEARSHORE LOGBOOK REPORT

The Commission will be asked to adopt regulations for the 2026 recreational and commercial groundfish fisheries. The Commission will also be provided with a copy of the 2023 commercial nearshore logbook report.

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Lynn Mattes - Marine Fisheries Management Section Manager

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Exhibit B_Cover
• Exhibit B_Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Exhibit B_Attachment 2_Notice of proposed rulemaking
• Exhibit B_Attachment 3_Draft OARs
• Exhibit B_Attachment 4_2024 commercial nearshore fishery report
• Exhibit B_Attachment 5_Public comment
• Exhibit B_Attachment 5_Supplemental Public Correspondence 12.10.25
• Presentation

EXHIBIT C: COMMERCIAL LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES

The Commission will be asked to update Oregon Administrative Rules to reflect changes in commercial license and permit fees approved by the Oregon Legislature in HB 2342.

Commission Action: Rulemaking

Gway Rogers-Kirchner – Technology and Data Services Manager

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Exhibit C_Cover
• Exhibit C_Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Exhibit C_Attachment 2_Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-FIS_Commercial Fees_Tracked Changes_Filed 10.14.25
• Exhibit C_Attachment 3 Draft OARs
• Exhibit C_Attachment 4_No Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXHIBIT D: MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FISH TICKET REPORTING AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR LANDING RULES

The Commission will be asked to adopt rules to make reporting commercial landings on electronic fish tickets mandatory and to allow the landing of commercial catch by catcher processors into Oregon

Commission Action: Rulemaking

John Seabourne - Fish Division Operations Manager

Nadine Hurtado - Fisheries Information Systems Program Leader

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Exhibit D_Cover
• Exhibit D_Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Exhibit D_Attachment 2_Notice of Proposed Rulemaking-FIS_Electronic Fish Tickets_TrackedChanges_Filed 10.15.25
• Exhibit D_Attachment 3_Draft OARs
• Exhibit D_Attachment 4_Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXHIBIT E: ACCESS & HABITAT PROJECT FUNDING

The Commission will be asked to approve the Access and Habitat Board recommendations for project funding.

Commission Action: Approval

Travis Schultz, Access & Habitat Coordinator

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Exhibit E_Cover
• Exhibit E_Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Exhibit E_Attachment 2_AH Project Summaries
• Exhibit E_Presentation
• Exhibit E_Attachment 1_Public Correspondence

EXHIBIT F: R&E BOARD APPOINTMENT AND PROGRAM UPDATE

The Commission will be asked to approve funding for projects recommended by the R&E Board and appoint a two new representatives to the R&E Board.

Commission Action: Approval & Appointments

Martin Olson, R&E/STEP Coordinator

Submit written comments on this agenda item Here

Public Testimony: 48-hour Advance REGISTRATION required for virtual participation.

• Exhibit F_Cover
• Exhibit F_Attachment 1_Agenda Item Summary
• Exhibit F_Attachment 2_List of R&E Board Recommended Projects
• Exhibit F_Attachment 3_R&E Project Summaries
• Exhibit F_Attachment 4_R&E Board Applicants_Redacted
• Exhibit F_Attachment 5_Public Correspondence
• Presentation

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Executive Session is held pursuant to 192.660 (2)(i) which allows the Commission to meet in executive session to conduct review and evaluate the employment-related performance of the chief executive officer of a public body, a public officer, employee, or staff member who does not request an open hearing.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

This Executive Session is held pursuant to ORS 192.660 (2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660 (2)(h).

ADJOURN