Title 42, Commercial Fishing and Fisheries

Whenever the commercial fishing laws state that it is unlawful to buy any food fish, illegally taken, this prohibition means that it is unlawful to buy, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the fish have been illegally taken or transported within this state, or unla…

As used in the commercial fishing laws, unless the context requires otherwise, “conservation” means providing for the utilization and management of the food fish of Oregon to protect the ultimate supply for present and future generations, preventing waste and implementing a sound…

(1) Nothing in the wildlife laws of this state affects the lawful operation of any fishing gear or the lawful taking of any food fish under the commercial fishing laws. (2) The commercial fishing laws apply to food fish except as otherwise provided in ORS 506.045 and 506.050, and…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section and in ORS 506.045 and 506.050, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over all fish, shellfish, and all other animals living intertidally on the bottom, within the waters of this state.…

There are excluded from the operation of ORS 506.129, 506.136, 507.030, 508.025, 508.285 and 509.025 (1), any Warm Springs, Umatilla, Yakima, Wasco, Tenino, Wyum and other Columbia River Indians affiliated with these tribes and entitled to enjoy fishing rights, who have not sever…

(1) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission and their duly authorized agents may conduct fish cultural operations and scientific investigations in the waters of this state in such manner and at such times as may be considered necessary …

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 managem…

(1) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission has the authority to formulate and implement the policies and programs of this state for the management of food fish, and may perform all acts necessary to administer and carry out the provisions of the commercial fishing laws. (2) In ac…

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission shall adopt rules governing public and private salmon hatchery practices by July 1, 1984. The commission shall also submit quarterly reports to the Emergency Board on matters related to the adoption of rules and the impact of hatchery practi…

(1) After investigation of the supply and condition of food fish, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission, at appropriate times each year, shall by rule: (a) Prescribe the times, places and manner in which food fish may be taken or sold, except when canned or otherwise processed, …

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission shall: (1) Investigate the habits, supply and economic uses of, and classify all food fish. (2) Classify all fishing gear and such classification shall be final. [1965 c.570 §21]

The Fish Division established pursuant to ORS 496.124 shall be responsible for the management of all fish and other marine life over which the State Fish and Wildlife Commission has regulatory jurisdiction. [1975 c.253 §18]

(1) In addition to any other authority under the commercial fishing laws, and except as provided in this subsection, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission may adopt record keeping requirements for a person that engages in taking, landing, buying or selling food fish for commerci…

The State Fish and Wildlife Director shall: (1) Be responsible to the State Fish and Wildlife Commission for the administration and enforcement of the commercial fishing laws. (2) Be responsible for the collection, application and dissemination of information pertinent to the man…

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may: (1) Acquire by purchase, lease, gift, agreement or donation, real property, or any right or interest therein, including any easement or right of access, necessary: (a) To construct or maintain fish hatcheries, fishways or research facil…

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission may acquire by gift or purchase, and may acquire by capture or otherwise in this state, any fish, eggs or larvae thereof for propagation, experimental or scientific purposes. (2) The commission …

(1) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission shall cause to be commenced and shall supervise the construction of a fish hatchery on the Oregon coast for the purpose of rearing coho and chinook salmon. The location for the site of the hatchery shall be at the discretion of the commi…

The Hatchery Construction Fund is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. Interest earned by the Hatchery Construction Fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the State Department of Fish and …

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may construct, maintain or operate hatcheries in an adjoining state, but no hatchery shall be constructed or operated on any stream in an adjoining state that is not a tributary of the Columbia River, or whose waters do not flow into the Col…

Whenever deadlines are established on any of the waters of this state, either by legislative enactment or by order of the State Fish and Wildlife Commission, the commission shall, within a reasonable time, erect suitable monuments or markers in the water or on the banks of the wa…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law the State Department of Fish and Wildlife shall not use in any body of water any electric current or electric shock device for the purpose of capturing any adult salmonids for a person granted a permit pursuant to ORS 508.700 to 508.745.…

The State Department of Fish and Wildlife shall prepare and make available to the public upon request monthly reports of fish hatchery operations. Information in the report shall include, but is not limited to: (1) The location of each state facility at which salmon eggs were tak…

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission, by rule, may prescribe a commercial fishing vessel fleet reduction program that complies with the federal Salmon and Steelhead Conservation and Enhancement Act of 1980. [1981 c.365 §38]

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission shall collect all moneys to be paid to this state for the protection, preservation, propagation and development of the commercial fishing industry and arising under the commercial fishing laws and deposit such moneys in the Commercial Fisher…

Except as otherwise provided in ORS 506.321, all expenditures of the State Fish and Wildlife Commission pursuant to the commercial fishing laws shall be made from moneys appropriated for the purposes for which such moneys are used, upon claims presented and warrants drawn pursuan…

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may accept gifts of money, lands or other property and use the same for the protection, preservation, propagation and development of the fishery resource, subject to the terms of the gift. Subject to such terms the gifts may be used or excha…

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may: (1) Enter into such contracts, appoint such officers and do any other act or thing necessary fully to meet the requirements of the United States and the officers acting under federal statute in aid of the conservation and preservation o…

As used in ORS 506.450 to 506.465, “developmental fishery” means activity for the development of commercial taking of an underutilized food fish species. The State Fish and Wildlife Commission by rule shall determine those species of food fish that are underutilized. [1993 c.765 …

It is the policy of the State of Oregon to institute a management system for developmental fishery resources that addresses both long term commercial and biological values and that protects the long term sustainability of those resources through planned commercial development whe…

In consultation with the Developmental Fisheries Board, the State Fish and Wildlife Commission shall: (1) Establish an annual list of food fish species that are considered to be developmental fishery species. (2) Establish and review commercial harvest programs for developmental …

(1) A person whose application for a developmental fisheries permit or a restricted permit established under subsection (6) of this section, or for the renewal or transfer of a developmental fisheries permit or restricted permit, is denied may make written request to the Commerci…

(1) The Developmental Fisheries Board is established in the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. The board shall consist of members appointed by the State Fish and Wildlife Commission after consultation with commercial fishing industry representatives to insure representation o…

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission has jurisdiction and authority to enforce the commercial fishing laws, except as provided in ORS 506.506 to 506.516. [1965 c.570 §34]

It is the intent of ORS 506.511 and 506.516 to permit the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to employ only such deputy fish wardens as are agreed necessary or expedient among the commission, the Governor and the Superintendent of State Police, and that the duties of enforcing cr…

(1) The Department of State Police shall employ a sufficient number of state police to perform the duties required in the enforcement of criminal provisions of the commercial fishing laws. (2) The Superintendent of State Police may appoint special enforcement officers authorized …

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission, with the approval of the Governor and the Superintendent of State Police, may employ deputy fish wardens to the extent necessary or expedient. [1965 c.570 §37]

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may appoint special deputy fish wardens who shall serve without compensation except for what the commission may allow for special services. [Amended by 1965 c.570 §38]

Each member of the State Fish and Wildlife Commission, the State Fish and Wildlife Director and every inspector, deputy fish warden, special deputy fish warden, and all peace officers of this state or any political subdivision therein, including police officers commissioned by a …

(1) The State Fish and Wildlife Director or any inspector, deputy fish warden or special deputy fish warden may arrest any person the officer has probable cause to believe is in the act of committing a violation of the commercial fishing laws. Such officers are peace officers of …

The arrests, searches and seizures provided for in the commercial fishing laws may be made on Sunday. In this event the persons arrested shall be taken before any justice of the peace or judge having jurisdiction, who shall bind over the persons arrested to appear and be proceede…

(1) Unless otherwise specifically provided, justice courts have concurrent jurisdiction in the first instance with circuit courts of all offenses under the commercial fishing laws. (2) Any action or proceedings under the commercial fishing laws shall be commenced on order of the …

The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may offer and authorize payment of rewards for the arrest and conviction of any person who has violated any of the commercial fishing laws, but no reward of more than $100 shall be offered or paid for any one arrest or conviction. [Amended b…

The officers mentioned in ORS 506.521 may search and examine all places where food fish may be kept, sold or secreted and examine all packages, boxes and bundles held either for storage or shipment which they have reason to believe contain evidence of violation of the commercial …

Any court having jurisdiction of any offense against the commercial fishing laws, upon receiving proof or probable cause for believing in the concealment of any food fish taken or possessed contrary to law, shall issue a search warrant and cause a search to be made in any place, …

The officers described in ORS 506.521 shall not suffer civil or criminal liability for any arrest, seizure or search as provided under the commercial fishing laws. [Amended by 1965 c.570 §52]

In any criminal prosecution under the commercial fishing laws, it is not necessary in the complaint, information or indictment to name the particular waters of the state if they are unknown to the person signing or filing the complaint or information or to the grand jury returnin…