SALEM, Ore – Mussel harvesting is now closed from Tillamook Head (south of Seaside) to the north Jetty of the Siuslaw River (Florence) the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. Recent mussel samples indicate levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) – a naturally occurring marine biotoxin – is above the safety threshold.

People should always call the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 before heading out to harvest any shellfish or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Current harvest closures and openings:

• Mussels:
  • OPEN from the WA border to Tillamook Head.
  • CLOSED from Tillamook Head to the north Jetty of the Siuslaw River.
  • OPEN from the north jetty of the Siuslaw River to the CA border.
• Razor clams:
  • OPEN from the WA border to Cape Blanco.
  • CLOSED from Cape Blanco to the CA border.
• Bay clams:
  • OPEN coastwide.
• Crabs:
  • OPEN coastwide.

ODA will continue testing for shellfish toxins at least twice per month, as tides and weather permit. Reopening an area closed for biotoxins requires two consecutive tests with results below the closure limit.

For more information call ODA's shellfish biotoxin hotline at (800) 448-2474, the ODA Food Safety Program at 503- 986-4720, or visit the ODA Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closures Webpage.

Contact ODFW for recreational license requirements, permits, rules, and limits.

SALEM, Ore.—The Commission approved a revised State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) today, a plan that serves as a roadmap for protecting Oregon's at-risk species and their habitats.

The Plan incorporates the latest available information on species and presents recommended conservation actions to inform and prioritize conservation work for community members, private landowners, organizations, and agencies alike. The revision adds pollution as a new Key Conservation Issue, completes integration of the Oregon Nearshore Strategy, enhances information provided in the Conservation Toolbox to make conservation accessible to all Oregonians, and adds information on species newly identified as being at-risk. The Plan is meant to be used by natural resource partners and will eventually be fully web-enabled and accessible online to ensure that content is navigable.

States are required to complete a comprehensive review and revision of their SWAP at least every 10 years to remain eligible for federal State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, which are a major funding source for conservation in Oregon. The Commission's action today formally approved the eight elements required for the Plan to be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the deadline of Oct. 1, 2025.

In addition to updating the State Wildlife Action Plan, ODFW has launched the "Oregon is Worth Protecting" campaign to raise awareness of species in decline and celebrate the fish and wildlife that contribute to make Oregon a wonderful place to live and recreate. Campaign partners include the Oregon Wildlife Foundation, Jamba, and BiMart with more partners expected to be announced in the future.

During their discussion of SWAP, Commissioners acknowledged the lack of funding for conservation of species in decline and mentioned HB 2977—a bill that, if it had passed in the 2025 legislative session, would have raised the state's lodging tax by 1.25 percent and dedicated those funds to wildlife conservation. Director Colbert said the agency would continue to work to secure dedicated funding for sensitive and at-risk species.

The Commission took the following actions in other business today:

Sage-grouse permit numbers: Modified sage-grouse permit numbers adopted in April, based on more recent information from 2025 population surveys. Permit numbers are increased in several units. The Silvies controlled hunt is cancelled for the 2025 season and permit numbers are slightly reduced in Owyhee.

Amended Non-Native Wildlife Rules: Added the following species to the prohibited list (so no import, sale, purchase, exchange or transport allowed) to help protect Oregon's fish and wildlife from invasive species: golden mussels, non-native abalone, sea turtles Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae, the entire family of Viviparidae mystery snails and Muricidae oyster drills.

Southern Resident orcas: Approved endangered species management plans for state land-owning or managing agencies with a role to play in Southern Resident orca conservation, which the Commission previously identified as ODFW, Oregon Department of State Lands, and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The plans identify existing and new actions to help conserve orcas including restoring salmon habitat, improving fish passage and maintaining or increasing hatchery production; responding to oil spills and managing marine debris that washes up on beaches; and considering impacts to Southern Resident orcas from renewable energy projects or undersea infrastructure (e.g. cables, pipelines, other utilities). The Commission also directed ODFW to review their plan in five years.

Wild coho regulations: The 2025 forecasted ocean abundance of Oregon coast natural coho is 289,000 fish, up from about 233,000 last year and the largest forecast since 2012. Wild coho fisheries for 2025 were adopted as proposed by ODFW staff and approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Seasons are similar to last year, with additional fishing days in some rivers and an across-the-board season bag limit of 3 fish in rivers that are open due to the strong forecast. The Commission also directed ODFW to work with NMFS to explore allowing additional fishing days for wild coho later in the season (November) in the Siletz, Yaquina and Alsea Rivers. There will be no wild coho fishery on the Umpqua River as returns are expected to be very low this year due to a very poor return in 2022 (parents of this year's returning fish) and ongoing environmental issues (wildfires, drought, warming streams and non-native fish predators). Wild coho regulations will be posted on the in-season updates page soon; more information on proposals adopted today is available at the Coastal fall salmon page.

Private Forest Accords Grant Program Rule Revision: Amended program rules to simplify the program, facilitate a prompter distribution of funding, and provide a clearer, more consistent process for applicants and grantees.

Also today, ODFW recognized several organizations for their volunteer work to protect fish, wildlife and their habitats. Both Suzanne Linford (founder of the Protect Animal Migration Project) and Rex Parks (Oregon Hunter Association, Bend Chapter) were recognized the Dave Liscia Volunteer Award for their instrumental work in creating and maintaining progress on wildlife passage in central Oregon since 2015.

Dry Fly Management Company based in Terrebone was also recognized with ODFW's Landowner Stewardship Award for its Redside Restoration Project. Dry Fly has helped create wildlife forage plots, enhance water for wildlife by replacing old livestock watering areas with guzzlers, and is working to increase the amount of native grass seed available for habitat restoration and post-wildfire recovery.

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

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Aug. 15 in Salem at ODFW Headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE.

The meeting will be livestreamed from the Commission page. See the agenda here. (Note that Commission materials have moved to myodfw.com while ODFW's older website odfw.com is transitioned to a new web platform.)

To testify on an agenda item virtually, register using the form on the agenda page at least 48 hours in advance (by Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 8 a.m.). Written testimony and comments can also be provided via the links included with each agenda item.

To testify during the public forum section about an issue that is not on the agenda, use the form on the agenda page, again at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

The Commission will consider the following business during Friday's meeting:

Sage-grouse permit numbers: Modify sage-grouse permit numbers adopted in April, based on more recent information from 2025 population surveys. Under the proposals, the Silvies controlled hunt is cancelled for the season, and permit numbers are slightly reduced in Owyhee but increased or unchanged in other units. Overall, sage-grouse populations continue to show strong population growth.

Amend Non-Native Wildlife Rules: Add the following species to the prohibited list (so no import, sale, purchase, exchange or transport allowed) to help protect Oregon's fish and wildlife from invasive species: golden mussels, non-native abalone, sea turtles Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae, the entire family of Viviparidae mystery snails and Muricidae oyster drills.

State Wildlife Action Plan (Oregon Conservation Strategy): Approve a revised State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a roadmap for protecting Oregon's sensitive, at-risk, declining species or other species of concern. It incorporates the latest available information on species and presents recommended conservation actions to inform and prioritize conservation work for community members, private landowners, organizations, and agencies alike. The revision adds pollution as a new key conservation issue, completes integration of the Oregon Nearshore Strategy, enhances information provided in the Conservation Toolbox to make conservation accessible to all Oregonians, and adds information on species newly identified as being at-risk.

Southern Resident orcas: Approve endangered species management plans for state land-owning or managing agencies with a role to play in Southern Resident orca conservation, which the Commission previously identified as ODFW, Oregon Department of State Lands, and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The plans identify existing and new actions to help conserve orcas including restoring salmon habitat, improving fish passage and maintaining or increasing hatchery production; responding to oil spills and managing marine debris that washes up on beaches; and considering impacts to Southern Resident orcas from renewable energy projects or undersea infrastructure (e.g. cables, pipelines, other utilities).

Wild coho regulations: The 2025 forecasted ocean abundance of Oregon coast natural coho is 289,000 fish, up from about 233,000 last year and the largest forecast since 2012. Proposed wild coho fisheries for 2025 are similar to 2024, with additional fishing days in some rivers due to the strong forecast. One exception is the Umpqua River, where no coho fishery is proposed as coho returns remain very low due to the Archie Creek Fire and other wildfires, drought, warming streams and non-native predators.

Private Forest Accords Grant Program Rule Revision: Amend program rules to simplify the program, facilitate a prompter distribution of funding, and provide a clearer, more consistent process for applicants and grantees.

The Commission will meet in executive session to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, and to consult with legal counsel concerning the 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)(f) and (2)(h). Members of the media can attend the Executive Session but may not report on anything heard during that session. Media wishing to attend should contact the Director's office at (503) 947-6044.

ODFW provides reasonable accommodation upon request, including assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape. To request accommodation, please contact the Director's Office at (503) 947-6044 (voice) or (503) 947-6042 (fax) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.