OAR 635-500-0440: White and Green Sturgeon

(1) The following operating principles apply to white and green sturgeon in the Coos River Basin: (a) Sturgeon shall be managed for wild fish with a small hatchery supplementation program consistent with the Wild Fish Management Policy. Implementation of the hatchery program shall be delayed until adoption of the Statewide Surgeon Plan; (b) Programs that approach the limits of the Wild Fish Management Policy shall be modified or reduced proportionately to maintain compliance with the policy. (2) In accordance with these operating principles, it is the objective of the Department to: (a) Gather baseline data needed to make management decisions; (b) Enhance the white sturgeon population in the Coos River Basin with juvenile white sturgeon from Columbia River stock until sport catch rates average 500 fish per year.