ORS 508.980: Legislative findings and policy; Columbia River fish management and reform; adaptive management actions; rules.

(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that it is the policy of the State of Oregon that rules as a whole related to Columbia River fish management and reform that are adopted by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission:

      (a) Optimize overall economic benefits to this state;

      (b) Enhance the economic viability of Oregon’s recreational and commercial fisheries and the communities that rely on these fisheries;

      (c) Contribute to native fish conservation and recovery;

      (d) Promote orderly fishery management with the State of Washington; and

      (e) Provide consistency with agreements made with Indian tribes pursuant to state or federal court orders.

      (2) If economic, including commercial harvest, or conservation objectives related to Columbia River fish management and reform adopted by rule of the commission are not met, then by rule the commission must provide for adaptive management actions that are designed to efficiently achieve the respective economic, including commercial harvest, or conservation objectives, including but not limited to:

      (a) Modifying or halting the schedule and degree of shifts in harvest and impact allocations specified in rules of the commission as necessary to attain harvest objectives through improved harvest levels in either off-channel or mainstem fisheries, within the context of naturally varying run sizes;

      (b) Advancing additional fishery opportunities, seasons or selective fishing gear; or

      (c) Improving hatchery fish production or the timing, size or location of hatchery fish releases.

      (3) As part of the rules related to Columbia River fish management and reform, the commission shall establish a zone at the mouth of Youngs Bay in which recreational fishing, including recreational fishing taking place with guide boats, is prohibited in order to reduce the interception of hatchery fish returning to the off-channel commercial fishery in Youngs Bay. At least once every three years, the commission shall evaluate the impacts and effectiveness of this zone and make adjustments, including the removal of the prohibition described in this subsection, as necessary to meet the objectives described in subsection (1) of this section.