75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2589
 
                         Senate Bill 527
 
Sponsored by Senator ATKINSON
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Allows State Fish and Wildlife Commission by rule to permit
fixed fishing gear or seines for taking of salmon for commercial
purposes from Columbia River.
  Modifies food fish management policy.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to fishing; amending ORS 506.109 and 509.216.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 509.216 is amended to read:
  509.216. (1) Except as provided in   { - subsection - }
 { + subsections + } (2)  { + and (3) + } of this section, it is
unlawful to take food fish by means of fixed fishing gear or
seines in any of the waters of this state.
  (2) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission by rule may permit
fixed fishing gear or seines for the taking of certain species of
food fish other than salmon or steelhead from the waters of this
state. In   { - enacting - }   { + adopting + } any
 { - such - }  rule the commission shall give due consideration
to   { - insuring - }   { + ensuring + } that the use of
  { - such - }   { + the + } fishing gear will not restrict the
free migration or impair the ultimate supply of salmon or
steelhead. Any salmon or steelhead taken as an incidental catch
in operation of   { - such - }   { + the + } gear shall
immediately, with care and the least possible injury to the
salmon or steelhead, be released and transferred to the water
without violence.
   { +  (3) The commission by rule may permit fixed fishing gear
or seines for the taking of salmon for commercial purposes from
the Columbia River. In adopting any rule the commission shall
give due consideration to ensuring that the use of the fishing
gear will protect natural runs and the genetic diversity of
anadromous fish as specified in ORS 508.718. + }
  SECTION 2. ORS 506.109 is amended to read:
  506.109. It is the policy of the State of Oregon that food fish
shall be managed to provide the optimum economic, commercial,
recreational and aesthetic benefits for present and future
generations of the citizens of this state. In furtherance of this
policy, the goals of food fish management are:
  (1) To maintain all species of food fish at optimum levels in
all suitable waters of the state and prevent the extinction of
any indigenous species.
  (2) To develop and manage the lands and waters of this state in
a manner that will optimize the production, utilization and
public enjoyment of food fish.
  (3) To permit an optimum and equitable utilization of available
food fish.
  (4) To develop and maintain access to the lands and waters of
the state and the food fish resources thereon.
  (5) To regulate food fish populations and the utilization and
public enjoyment of food fish in a manner that is compatible with
other uses of the lands and waters of the state and provides
optimum commercial and public recreational benefits.
  (6) To preserve the economic contribution of the sports and
commercial fishing industries in a manner consistent with sound
food fish management practices.
  (7) To develop and implement a program for optimizing the
return of Oregon food fish for Oregon's recreational and
commercial fisheries.
   { +  (8) To manage anadromous fish in order to protect the
natural runs and genetic diversity of the anadromous fish and
reduce the proportion of straying hatchery fish as specified in
ORS 508.718, through selective harvest methods. + }
                         ----------