Man who kept white shark in court today

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October 08, 2009

By Mark Freeman

Mail Tribune

A Warren man was set to appear in a Lincoln County courtroom today for landing a 12-foot-long great white shark in August outside of Depoe Bay.

Jason W. Robinson is accused of a non-criminal fish and wildlife violation that carries a $299 bail.

Robinson allegedly was on a tuna boat fishing out of Depoe Bay on Aug. 8 when it stopped to pull a crab pot, according to the Oregon State Police. Men on the boat told authorities that the shark was discovered dead and entangled in the crab-pot line.

An OSP Fish and Wildlife Division trooper noticed the anglers bringing the shark, already gutted, to a Depoe Bay dock and identified Robinson as the man responsible for the shark, the OSP states.

State and federal laws forbid the possession of a great white shark, and the rule is listed on page 101 of the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations, police said. Great white and basking sharks must be released unharmed if caught, the rule states.

Capt. Walt Markee, who heads the OSP's Fish and Wildlife Division, said Robinson showed "no obvious self-initiated attempt" to report the catch to authorities after bringing it to the port.

"I think the evidence shows that he intended to take the thing home instead of turning it in," Markee says. "We asked him what he was going to do and he said he was going to take it home and eat it."

Troopers seized the shark and specialists at the Hatfield Marine Science Center confirmed it was a great white, police said.

Robinson was cited Oct. 1. He was set to appear today in Lincoln County Circuit Court on the offense of unlawful possession of a great white shark.

Anyone who discovers a dead great white or basking shark should telephone 1-800-452-7888 to report the discovery and obtain instructions on what to do with the carcass, police say.

Bear Camp Road closed

Hunters and rafters of the Lower Rogue River Canyon will have to find alternative access to parts of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest for the next two weeks while Bear Camp Road is closed for repairs.

The road, also known as Forest Service Road No. 23, will be gated today and remain closed through Oct. 21 for road-repair work near milepost 32.5 near Agness.

Last winter's storms triggered slides that narrowed the road, according to the Forest Service. A contractor will install a concrete-block wall to widen the roadway and stabilize the banks.

In the interim, the detour route between Galice and Agness will be the Burnt Ridge Road, or Forest Service Road No. 2308.

Bear Camp Road is a popular travel-way between Agness and Galice and is the main return passage for boaters traveling through the Wild and Scenic Section of the Rogue. It is also a popular artery into the Siskiyous for hunters and others.

State parks fees rise

Visiting Oregon state parks will become more expensive in 2010 after the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission raised day-use and overnight fees.

Beginning Jan. 1, day-use fees for places like TouVelle State Park will rise from $3 per carload to $5 a day.

Beginning May 1, recreational vehicle campsite rates will climb by $4 per night statewide, and all tent-camping sites will increase by $3 per night.

Overnight cabin and yurt rental fees will increase by $4 and $9, respectively. Also, cabin rentals will cost $39 overnight and basic yurts will cost $36 each night.

The 12-month park pass will increase from $25 to $30, while the 24-month pass will jump from $40 to $50.

To view all the new rates online, visit www.oregonstateparks.org/rates.php?season=1.

Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail mfreeman@mailtribune.com.

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