rockfish shutdown

kenai · 05-30-2002, 07:41 PM

Oregonian article confirms what was discussed here a couple of weeks ago. I was kinda hoping it was an exageration. The total shutdown of btm fishing. Does anyone know exactly how far seaward the continental shelf goes in Oregon? This is really gonna be painful. This could be the last yr for bottom fishing. Would this also include all depth halibut as well?

Pilar · 05-31-2002, 07:45 AM

Kenai, where is the article. Which paper, Thursday?, Sports section?

When do they shut it down?

Mike Gilchrist · 05-31-2002, 08:06 AM

http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.a...bSectionID=398

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsourc...query=rockfish

kenai · 05-31-2002, 08:40 AM

The article I read was on the front page of yesterdays Oregonian (30th).It talked about the long reproductive rate of some of the rockfish and the fisheries assumption that this ruling would be devastating to West coast commercial and sport fishing but it was gonna happen in 2003.

OceanBlue · 05-31-2002, 08:48 AM

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...9854296202.xml

OceanBlue · 05-31-2002, 09:01 AM

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...9854296202.xml

Bait O' Eggs · 05-31-2002, 09:55 AM

Did you see Oregon Field guide last night?? They did a segment on the bottom fish off the Oregon coast. They had lots of video footage from a ROV showing the bottom of the ocean. They were showing some footage from off the mouth of the Siletz something like 3 miles out 125 feet or so. Pretty cool to see these fish swimming around.

They also showed a very detailed computer map of the ocean bottom showing all of the reefs and their size. They have plotted the bottom to within a meter and had a simulated map showing all of the bumps and canyons on the bottom. (that would be killer to have for finding fish)

A very simple explanation of what they were trying to accomplish is, these scientist were trying to determine which type of structure which fish liked and then counting the fish in each of those areas, so they could track if the populations were going up or down for those types of structures over time.

Threemuch · 05-31-2002, 12:43 PM

It's really a shame how there isn't a selective way to fish these deep water species, and a bigger shame that they can't survive release. Boccacio are nasty fish too. Slimy worm hotels with large grained meat. Nobody wants them, but when you catch them, they are dead.

The fish they list, boccacio, canary, and yelloweye, are all deep water species. Fishing inside 100' should still be allowed. Furthermore, C&R of rockfish inside 75' can work.

We need to make sure this is considered if it looks like this proposal will become reality.
KB

Orca · 05-31-2002, 01:21 PM

Did these so called "scientists" just get off their duffs last year and dicover that something needed to be done? Where's the data? Where's the data from 20 years ago, 10 years ago, 5 years ago?

It's maddening!!

Phil Layer · 05-31-2002, 01:37 PM

This would impact salmon fishing too, not just bottom fishing. If I read this correctly, its the whole kit and kaboodle.

I guess we'll all be launching our ocean rigs at Green Peter to go after the 10 inch kokanee now.

OceanBlue · 05-31-2002, 02:10 PM

Meeting to be held on Monday/Tuesday next week:

http://www.pcouncil.org/

Ad Hoc Allocation Committee Modification of Meeting Dates and Times: Ad Hoc Allocation Committee to Develop Preliminary Options for 2003 Pacific Coast Groundfish Allocations June 3-4, 2002 Portland, OR The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Ad Hoc Allocation Committee (Committee) will convene a meeting on Monday, June 3, 2002 at 10 a.m. and continue until business for the day is completed. The original start time was set for 8 a.m., but at the request of Committee members, changed to 10 a.m. Additionally, a June 4 meeting was added to give the Committee more time to develop management recommendations for the difficult decisions that will affect Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries next year. The June 4 meeting will start at 8:30 a.m. and continue until business for the day is completed. The June 3 and 4 meetings will be held at the following location: Holiday Inn Portland Airport <http://www.sixcontinentshotels.com/h...see=PDXAP>; I-205 at Columbia Exit 8439 NE Columbia Blvd Portland, OR 97220 Hotel Phone: (503) 256-5000 The purpose of these meetings is to develop preliminary options for allocations and other management measures for the 2003 Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. The Committee will discuss the types of provisions that may be necessary to prevent overfishing, to reduce bycatch of overfished species in the various groundfish fisheries, and to reduce bycatch in nongroundfish fisheries. The need to rebuild bocaccio, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, and other groundfish species will require consideration of dramatic reductions in fishing opportunities across all sectors of the groundfish fishery starting next year. The Committee recommendations that will be shaped at the June 3 and 4 meetings will initiate the Council decision-making process for next year's fisheries. The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter <mailto:carolyn.porter@noaa.gov> at (866) 806-7204 at least five days prior to the meeting date. For further Ad Hoc Allocation Committee meeting information, contact Mr. John DeVore <mailto:john.devore@noaa.gov> at (503) 820-2280.

Brinckman (who wrote the Oregonian article) will be covering the Tues meeting. Article to appear in the Wed Oregonian.

Pilar · 05-31-2002, 02:20 PM

Good point Orca. There has been an explosion of 'science' lately based on new more accurate data collection. We have satellites to collect data in excruciating detail. What is missing here is the detailed data from years past to compare to.

Global Warming is a classic study of this problem. The climate varies from year to year as it always has. Now we can detect shifts in seasonal average temperatures of less than a fraction of a degree. Without this type of accurate info from years past we will just have to collect data over a period of time before we can analyze and draw conclusions about what is going on with the climate. To do anything else is irresponsible, to draw hasty conclusions based on such incomplete analysis is ludicrous

There is little doubt about declining Rockfish populations. What we lack is a sense of historical fluctuations of these populations.

What is a historical normal population for these fish? If the concern is bycatch on commercial fisheries then why only now? Why did the fisheries managers look the other way on bycatch?

Aren't we all on the late show here? Why did the regulating authorities never concern themselves with bycatch until it was too late? How do we manage this fishery using common sense?

sturgn · 05-31-2002, 02:22 PM

Well we've known for years that the fish offshore where being over harvested, and for the most part have ignored it, looks like we may not be able to ignore it any longer.

I have avoided posting on this topic because its going to get heated in the future this type of thing always does, I dont feel that this topic is way off course, we have heard about huge amounts of bycatch fish being dumped(Dead) back into the water. we've heard about the changing ocean conditions, we've heard about the techniques used in commercial fishing destroying the underwater habitat.... and more...

Did any of you honestly think it would get better without something drastic happening? I for one don't want to see anyone lose a Job, but commercial fishing is just that a career that a person has chosen. If it gets down to it and I can no longer Guide Sturgeon and Salmon to make a living, then so be it! it will be time for a career change!

The thing that will be the worst out of all this is the Coastal communities if commercial and sport fishing gets shut down Oregon loses about 200 Million in revenue.

I'm not trying to **** anyone off in here, but its pretty common knowlege that the Commercial guys are destroying fishing off of our coastline, the real question as I see it is what can we do about it?

seasquid · 05-31-2002, 02:37 PM

Here is another view of sorts -- this is from the Newport paper and has the commercial take on the situation.

http://www.newportnewstimes.com/nt_n...html#TopOfPage

I feel for the commercial guys, but for crying out loud, with their technology they can catch every last fish in the ocean -- and if they could, they would. They aren't exactly the best for policing themselves either.

The first day of the halibut season, there were two trawlers hauling in their nets pretty damn close to the halibut grounds off of Garibaldi. There is a lot of talk around the docks that a boat or two went through the hill -- maybe, maybe not. But, this spot is automatic for halibut, but not the first four days for some reason. When you have charter boats coming in with three, four or five fish for 12-20 people -- hmm...

I know these guys have to make a living, but if there are no fish, there are no fish! Just how many tons do these trawlers have to catch to break even? Let's see, you have your crew, regular maintenance, diesel, moorage fees, licenses, etc., etc., etc.

Kind of makes me think.

ss

CrazyHorse · 06-04-2002, 08:23 AM

This is really scary, :depressed:

I saw in one of the articles that the near shore , state owned waters wouldn't be affected...how far out do these waters go? I do alot of bottom fishing off the rocks of newport...would that be affected?

OceanBlue · 06-04-2002, 08:46 AM

Although they are concluding an "ad hoc" meeting today, it looks like no final decisions will be made until September.

Here is current information (as of 5/30). The site also has a link that explains "how to get involved"...

http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gfnewinfo.html

Well thought-out suggestions (rather than complaints or about current rules or proposed changes) to the council would be a constructive way to go.

My $.02

There should be an article in the Oregonian tomorrow about the meetings that occurred yesterday and today.