STGRule
07-24-2002, 09:04 AM
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us (http://www.dfw.state.or.us) Fax: (503) 872-5700
For Immediate Release July 24, 2002
Ocean Fishing Options for Groundfish Subject of Public Meetings
PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with the Oregon Sea Grant Program, will host four public meetings in August to hear comments on options being considered by the Pacific Fishery Management Council for the 2003 fishing season to help recover severely depleted rockfish populations.
Recreational and commercial groundfish fisheries are expected to be affected along the entire West Coast under the proposed rules. PFMC plans to adopt next year's fishing regulations at its meeting Sept. 9-13 in Portland. The State of Oregon has three seats on the 14-member council, which advises the National Marine Fisheries Service on ocean fishing regulations.
The PFMC declared a West Coast groundfish disaster in 2000 and identified seven species as over-fished: bocaccio, yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, widow rockfish and Pacific Ocean perch. The proposed regulations seek to severely limit or close bottom fishing along the Continental shelf to aid long-term recovery rates. Fishery managers believe additional deep-water fisheries for flatfish, sablefish, halibut and pink shrimp also may be affected.
More than 80 species of groundfish live on the West Coast and are highly valued for both food and sport. The species of concern have dipped below 25 percent of pre-fishing levels. Allowable harvests of some rockfish have dropped by as much as 85 percent in recent years. Guided by the federal Magnuson-Stevens Act, PFMC approved a policy that "overfished" groundfish must be restored to 40 percent of their "unfished" populations.
Rockfish species have life spans measured in decades, which complicates restoration efforts. Several groundfish species require many years to reach spawning age. Once depleted, populations require several decades to recover. Along Oregon's coast, scientists believe it will take nearly 100 years to rebuild the yelloweye rockfish population, assuming most fishing stops next year.
ODFW recognizes that banning bottomfishing in federal deep-water areas will result in a shift in fishing effort to Oregon's nearshore fishery, said Don Bodenmiller, ODFW manager for recreational groundfish programs. The PFMC also has jurisdiction over the nearshore fisheries. With ODFW's recommendations, PFMC is considering options that will help minimize the impacts that additional fishing pressure may have on Oregon's nearshore stocks, said Bodenmiller.
A detailed list of all options under consideration can be found on the PFMC's Web site at www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gfcurr/gfpropsd03.html (http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gfcurr/gfpropsd03.html) . Copies of the options
will be available at the meetings. Below is a brief summary of sport fishing options for Oregon:
* Sport rockfish and lingcod fisheries would remain open at all depths, or only open in waters less than 27 fathoms (162 feet) or 20 fathoms (120 feet).
* Sport rockfish and lingcod fisheries would remain open year-round or be limited to near shore depths less than year-round.
* A minimum size of 16 inches for cabezon would be established.
Oregon's four public meetings will include a two-hour informational session for community leaders on the current groundfish situation and the potential economic, social and natural resource concerns. A second session will be geared toward the commercial fishing industry and recreational anglers, and to obtain public comments. Members of the public are welcome to attend either session each day. The meeting dates and locations follow:
-Newport: Monday, Aug. 5, at the Hatfield Marine Science Center Auditorium. The community leaders session is scheduled for 3 - 5 p.m. and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 6 - 9 p.m.
-Astoria: Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the Duncan Law Seafood Consumers Center, 2001 Marine Drive. The community leaders session is scheduled for 3 - 5 p.m. and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 6 - 9 p.m.
-Brookings area: Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Best Western Conference Center, 16008 Boat Basin in Harbor. The community leaders session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - noon and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 1 -5 p.m.
-Coos Bay area: Thursday, Aug. 15, at the North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman Ave in North Bend. The community leaders session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - noon and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 1 - 5 p.m.
Written comments also will be considered. They should be mailed by Sept. 1 to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384.
###
Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us (http://www.dfw.state.or.us) Fax: (503) 872-5700
For Immediate Release July 24, 2002
Ocean Fishing Options for Groundfish Subject of Public Meetings
PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with the Oregon Sea Grant Program, will host four public meetings in August to hear comments on options being considered by the Pacific Fishery Management Council for the 2003 fishing season to help recover severely depleted rockfish populations.
Recreational and commercial groundfish fisheries are expected to be affected along the entire West Coast under the proposed rules. PFMC plans to adopt next year's fishing regulations at its meeting Sept. 9-13 in Portland. The State of Oregon has three seats on the 14-member council, which advises the National Marine Fisheries Service on ocean fishing regulations.
The PFMC declared a West Coast groundfish disaster in 2000 and identified seven species as over-fished: bocaccio, yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, widow rockfish and Pacific Ocean perch. The proposed regulations seek to severely limit or close bottom fishing along the Continental shelf to aid long-term recovery rates. Fishery managers believe additional deep-water fisheries for flatfish, sablefish, halibut and pink shrimp also may be affected.
More than 80 species of groundfish live on the West Coast and are highly valued for both food and sport. The species of concern have dipped below 25 percent of pre-fishing levels. Allowable harvests of some rockfish have dropped by as much as 85 percent in recent years. Guided by the federal Magnuson-Stevens Act, PFMC approved a policy that "overfished" groundfish must be restored to 40 percent of their "unfished" populations.
Rockfish species have life spans measured in decades, which complicates restoration efforts. Several groundfish species require many years to reach spawning age. Once depleted, populations require several decades to recover. Along Oregon's coast, scientists believe it will take nearly 100 years to rebuild the yelloweye rockfish population, assuming most fishing stops next year.
ODFW recognizes that banning bottomfishing in federal deep-water areas will result in a shift in fishing effort to Oregon's nearshore fishery, said Don Bodenmiller, ODFW manager for recreational groundfish programs. The PFMC also has jurisdiction over the nearshore fisheries. With ODFW's recommendations, PFMC is considering options that will help minimize the impacts that additional fishing pressure may have on Oregon's nearshore stocks, said Bodenmiller.
A detailed list of all options under consideration can be found on the PFMC's Web site at www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gfcurr/gfpropsd03.html (http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gfcurr/gfpropsd03.html) . Copies of the options
will be available at the meetings. Below is a brief summary of sport fishing options for Oregon:
* Sport rockfish and lingcod fisheries would remain open at all depths, or only open in waters less than 27 fathoms (162 feet) or 20 fathoms (120 feet).
* Sport rockfish and lingcod fisheries would remain open year-round or be limited to near shore depths less than year-round.
* A minimum size of 16 inches for cabezon would be established.
Oregon's four public meetings will include a two-hour informational session for community leaders on the current groundfish situation and the potential economic, social and natural resource concerns. A second session will be geared toward the commercial fishing industry and recreational anglers, and to obtain public comments. Members of the public are welcome to attend either session each day. The meeting dates and locations follow:
-Newport: Monday, Aug. 5, at the Hatfield Marine Science Center Auditorium. The community leaders session is scheduled for 3 - 5 p.m. and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 6 - 9 p.m.
-Astoria: Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the Duncan Law Seafood Consumers Center, 2001 Marine Drive. The community leaders session is scheduled for 3 - 5 p.m. and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 6 - 9 p.m.
-Brookings area: Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Best Western Conference Center, 16008 Boat Basin in Harbor. The community leaders session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - noon and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 1 -5 p.m.
-Coos Bay area: Thursday, Aug. 15, at the North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman Ave in North Bend. The community leaders session is scheduled for 10 a.m. - noon and the fishing industry/public comment session is scheduled for 1 - 5 p.m.
Written comments also will be considered. They should be mailed by Sept. 1 to the Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384.
###
Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528