The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission) will hold a public meeting on September 13, 2024, to consider adopting proposed rules for a line marking requirement in the Oregon commercial ocean Dungeness crab fishery (Figure 1 on page 2). Line marking has been identified across the West Coast as a key method for improving gear identification when buoys, pots, or tags are not visible, identifiable, or present. The proposal is a comprehensive line marking approach that will be implemented in phases to spread the cost of compliance over several seasons. The line marking proposal also includes prohibiting specific line marks or colored line that are required in any West Coast fishery from being used in other commercial and recreational fisheries. This will help prevent attributing line from entanglements to the wrong fishery. The Commission will also consider adopting three minor rule amendments to improve season opening processes and operational efficiency in the commercial crab fishery. These include: • Adopt minor changes to the Preseason Testing Protocol for the Tri-State Coastal Dungeness Crab Commercial; Fishery agreed to by the Tri-State Dungeness Crab Committee in May 2024 (meeting summary posted; https://www.psmfc.org/crab/2023-2024%20files/TriState2024_Summary_FINAL.pdf). • Allow commercial crab vessels to transit and deliver crab into certain closed areas if they carry active vessel moni_toring devices. • Enable the department to issue waivers exempting vessels under state contract from derelict gear retrieval limits. The Commission meeting will be held in-person at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center in The Dalles (402 East Scenic Dr., The Dalles, OR 97058) and will have an option for virtual participation. Materials for the meeting, including proposed rules, will be posted here about two weeks before the meeting: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/.

To register for public testimony, see instructions here: ttps://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/procedures.asp. To submit written comment in advance of the meeting, please email the Commission at: [email protected].