Halibut regulation proposal

[Longfin]

PROPOSAL TO CHANGE OREGON STATE CATCH REGULATIONS
FOR OCEAN HALIBUT SPORTFISHING

Under current regulations there are two day set season openers, usually two a month, starting in May, until quota is reached. Due to safety concerns and to give more fishermen the chance to participate in the offshore halibut fishery, the following proposal is being made:

1. Retain the current set date system in place for 90% of the total allocated quota.
2. Reduce the season bag limit, per angler, to 4 fish from the current 6 fish.
3. Initiate a tag system through an ODFW controlled application process, which will utilize 10% of the allocated quota of halibut. This tag would be good for a period of time (i.e., June 1 - July 31) and the total poundage quota would be reduced by the estimated poundage utilized by the number of tags issued (# of tags x average weight per halibut). This assumes 100% success.
4. Cap the percentage of allocated quota for the tag system to 10% for every season.

A brief explanation of how this proposal works for all: The charter boat operators and private boat sports fisherman are combined for purposes of allocating "Sports Fisherman Quotas" for pacific halibut. By retaining the current "2 day openers" system, all interests have a chance at participating in May, a good "early" fishery. The situation many smaller private boat operators found with the current system is that with set dates, many days were either unfishable or extremely marginal for fishing due to weather and ocean conditions. Larger boats are not as affected. By initiating a tag system, capped at 10% of total poundage allocated, this gives anglers a chance to pick a day when boat size and ocean conditions match each other in a favorable way. By reducing the season bag limit to 4 fish from 6, this in essence puts back into the total quota approximately the same poundage of fish that the tag system removes. Thus, bottom line, it creates opportunity for more anglers to participate. This has a number of positive attributes - (1) Tag system creates revenue for management; (2) More anglers means more dollars for local coastal communities; (3) Charter boat operators should not experience any loss in total days allocated to be fished, and (4) Small boat operators have an opportunity to pick a day which is safe and enjoyable.

[Mark Mc]

Hi Fred, at first glance I really, really, like this proposal. At the ODFW Commission meeting in Corvallis when this subject was discussed, the primary concern / objection by the Commission was "how the heck would they be able to staff the enforcement & fish counters" during all these open days. But the idea of a 10% allottment to the tags, and the assumption of 100% catch rate, solves this issue of staffing.

Now I'm not sure if 10% of the quota will satisfy the number of people applying for the tags, but it's a good start. Thanks for sharing..... Mark Mc