Commission recognizes Wallowa County’s Sauvage family, adopts rules to reduce the risk of whale entanglement in crabbing gear

SALEM, Ore.—Members of the Oregon Hunters Association's Klamath Chapter, the West Cascade Chapter of Back Country Horsemen and Wallowa County landowner Lionel Sauvage were recognized for their contributions to Oregon's fish and wildlife during today's meeting in Salem.

Landowner Lionel Sauvage and the Sauvage Family of Wallowa County received the Land Steward award. The Sauvage Family owns and actively manages 10,092 acres of private land in the Minam Unit which is open to hunters as the Bear Creek Access Area. In addition to providing access, they have invested deeply in restoring and strengthening the landscape itself, treating noxious weeds to promote healthy native plant communities and removing 19 miles of interior fencing to improve wildlife movement and connectivity across the property. The family recently secured a Conservation Easement through the Forest Legacy Program, ensuring these lands will remain protected and ecologically vibrant for generations. "Their work stands as a powerful example of how private landowners can shape the future of Oregon's wildlife habitat through vision, stewardship, and long-term commitment," said ODFW Director Debbie Colbert.

Norm Holliday and Gary Chandler with Oregon Hunters Association Klamath Chapter were recognized with the Dave Liscia Volunteer Award for their work with the Klamath Guzzler Program. This OHA partner project provides a critical supplemental water source for wildlife in arid environments. The program started in 1960 but Gary and Norm have breathed new life into it, recruiting over a dozen new volunteers and working to repair many of the 200 guzzlers that were in poor condition.

Arden Corey and the West Cascade (Salem) Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen also received the award for their exceptional service supporting ODFW's high lakes stocking program. In remote high‑elevation environments where timing of stocking is everything, this group's dedication ensures fish are delivered precisely when conditions offer the greatest chance for survival and growth to help sustain vibrant fisheries in some of the most remote areas in the state.

During today's meeting, the Commission revised rules to strengthen ODFW's approach to reducing the risk of whale entanglement in the commercial Dungeness crab fishery.

The revised rules include an electronic vessel monitoring requirement for commercial crab vessels, additional criteria and guidelines for approving experimental fishing gear permits, and a minor modification to commercial crab surface gear allowances.

All vessels will be required to implement the new electronic vessel monitoring system requirement starting Feb. 1, 2027. Requirements include installing devices providing location and other data at specified time intervals. The new requirements will streamline data collection, track fishery reference points closer to real time and improve understanding of the overlap between the crab fishery and whales. The rules also strengthen crab traceability regulations and help enforce season openings, area closures and other regulations.

ODFW is working to offset any cost to the industry through federal funding that will help reimburse crabbers for equipment and potentially other costs.

Rules were adopted to modify Experimental Fishing Gear Permits and permits for experimental gear could be issued as soon as spring 2027. There is significant interest in exploring alternative gear in the crab fishery, but testing off Oregon is needed.

Today's rules are the latest in a number of steps ODFW and the industry have taken to reduce the risk of whale entanglement. "There has been a steady march forward on this front in a positive and sustained way," said Commission Vice Chair Becky Hatfield-Hyde.

Commissioner Labhart summarized Oregon's decade plus effort to reduce the risk of whale entanglement by the commercial fleet. "The record shows we are taking a progressive and adaptive approach while working to protect the economic viability of the crab industry," he added.

The Commission also voted 6-1 to adopt new trap check rules as proposed by ODFW staff. The rules establish requirements that traps set to capture bear or cougar under the damage or public nuisance statute must be checked and any trapped animals removed within a specific time interval (at least once every other calendar day but not exceeding 56 hours). Use of traps will continue to be a prohibited method for bear and cougar hunting seasons. The new rules will take effect Sept. 1, 2026.

Finally, the Commission approved Oregon Conservation and Recreation Wildlife Connectivity funds for the Trans Pacific Parkway Wildlife Crossing Project on a roadway running from US 101 along the Coos Bay North Spit northwest of North Bend in Coos County. Funds come from Lottery revenue bonds designated by HB 5030 (passed by the 2023 Oregon State Legislature) to support habitat connectivity projects in priority areas. The funding will support culvert crossings benefitting a number of species including Coastal Pacific Marten (a Species of Greatest Conservation Need) and black-tailed deer.

A recording of the meeting is available on ODFW's YouTube channel.

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