Anybody going?

[corrirod]

The Oregon ocean salmon regulation setting process for the 2003 seasons will kick off on March 5 with the Ocean Salmon Industry Group (SIG) meeting in Newport. The SIG meeting provides interested parties an opportunity to assist in the development of regulation options for both the commercial ocean troll salmon fishery and the recreational ocean salmon fishery. An agenda for the SIG meeting is attached and included below. The SIG meeting will primarily address ocean fisheries between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California border, but some discussion on the north of Cape Falcon seasons will also occur.

The options developed at the SIG meeting will be taken forward as the “preferred Oregon options” to the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) public meeting at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento, California from March 10-14. During the March PFMC meeting, a series of regulation options will be developed, and will then be available for further public comment during a series of public hearings late in March and the first week of April.

From April 7-11, the PFMC will meet at the Red Lion at the Quay hotel in Vancouver, Washington. During this meeting, the PFMC will adopt their final regulation package for the 2003 ocean fishing seasons (May 1, 2003-April 30, 2004). This regulation package must then be certified by the National Marine Fisheries Service, and signed into law by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. In addition, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission must also adopt those regulations for State Waters (0-3 miles).

We have been notified of an unfortunate schedule conflict. In Newport on March 5, the Marine Extension Service is holding a direct marketing workshop for commercial fishers. For those commercial trollers interested in attending both the SIG meeting and the direct marketing workshop sponsored by the Marine Extension Service, it is recommended that you attend the direct marketing workshop in the morning and then come to SIG after the lunch break to discuss the actual season structure.

Individuals who are interested in participating in this process to develop the preferred Oregon options for the ocean salmon seasons are encouraged to attend the SIG meeting. Please contact me if you need further information regarding the meeting.


Ocean Salmon Industry Group Meeting
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Meeting Room 9 (Fireside Room), Hatfield Marine Science Center
Newport, Oregon

AGENDA
9:30 AM Introductions and Process Description – Burnie Bohn

9:40 AM Review of 2002 Ocean Fisheries - Eric Schindler

10:00 AM Review of 2002 Salmon Spawner Escapements - Craig Foster

10:20 AM 2003 Coho and Chinook Abundance Forecasts – Curt Melcher

10:45 AM Endangered Species Status and Implications – Steve King

11:00 AM Break

11:15 AM Sideboards, Guidelines, and Issues Affecting 2003 Season
Structure – Steve King and Curt Melcher

11:50 AM Best Guess at Season i.e. “Food for Thought” – Burnie Bohn

12:00 PM Break for Lunch

1:00 PM Develop Oregon Preferred Options to Take to the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (advice to Oregon Representatives to PFMC)
• Recreational Fishery Options
o North of Cape Falcon
o Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt.
o Klamath Management Zone
• Commercial Troll Fishery Options
o North of Cape Falcon
o Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt.
o Humbug Mt. to OR/CA Border

3:15 PM Recap of Preferred Oregon Options, Sport and Troll Representatives and ODFW Staff

3:30 PM Adjourn