NEWPORT, Ore. –The Pacific halibut all-depth sport fishery in the Columbia River Subarea will close effective Friday, May 11, 2018 at 11:59 p.m., fishery managers announced today.

SALEM, Ore. - Oregon's Fish Passage Task Force will meet Friday May 18 at the Edgewater Inn conference Room located at 275 E Johnson Avenue, Coos Bay.

The meeting is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to noon and is open to the public. The agenda includes general ODFW fish passage program and staffing updates, updates on the ODOT culvert repair agreement compensation projects, local fish passage priorities, an upcoming statewide fish passage prioritization effort, discussions on tide gates and a public comment period scheduled for 11:00 am Friday.

Multiple project site visits are scheduled for Friday afternoon and Saturday, contact greg.d.apke@state.or.us for more information.

The nine-member Fish Passage Task Force meets quarterly to advise ODFW on fish passage policies and issues. Task Force members represent water users, fisheries and conservation interests, and the general public-at-large. The draft meeting agenda and additional information on the Task Force or the ODFW Fish Passage Program is available on the ODFW website or by contacting Greg Apke, ODFW Fish Passage Program Coordinator, at (503) 947-6228 or greg.d.apke@state.or.us.

There is a current vacancy on the Passage Task Force representing fisheries and conservation. Applications for this volunteer position will be accepted through June 15 and can be found at ODFW Fish Passage Task Force.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the Information and Education Division at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6002 at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting.