ODFW News: Commercial Black & Blue Rockfish

Pete · 10-01-2003, 12:41 PM

For Immediate Release Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Blue and black rockfish commercial seasons end

SALEM - Commercial fishing seasons for blue and black rockfish ended yesterday because the quota has been reached, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

In addition, no commercial boat may land a yelloweye rockfish, under the new rules going into effect today.

Black rockfish and blue rockfish are one of several nearshore species that are managed under a new nearshore management plan adopted last December that held harvest to the levels harvested in 2000. Commercial boats are estimated to have harvested about 365,000 pounds of all nearshore rockfish species combined through September.

ODFW today also announced the commercial season closure for cabezon, tiger rockfish, vermillion rockfish and other minor nearshore rockfish species starting Nov. 1, 2003. Commercial boats are limited to landing 2,000 pounds of cabezon Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 and 900 pounds of allowable rockfish Sept. 1 - Oct. 31. The allowable cumulative catch for cabezon is expected to be reached by the end of October. The total catch for nearshore rockfish will fall short of the 2003 harvest cap, which was reduced by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission because of the unknown population status of many nearshore species.

Commercial harvest of fresh and live rockfish, cabezon and greenling has increased in recent years due to market demand. Complicating matters is the lack of biological data on many of these nearshore groundfish species. ODFW and other organizations are conducting research on several nearshore species to better manage them and prevent over-harvest.
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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Mark Saelens, Newport (541) 867-4741
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (541) 867-0311

fish assassin · 10-01-2003, 12:48 PM

Wow! Thanks for posting that Pete! I'd hate to go out fishing for ling cod
this weekend and end up with a few blacks or blues in the mix and get myself
into a bunch of trouble.

Thanks again,
-assAssin-

corrirod · 10-01-2003, 02:34 PM

Thanks Pete.

Here's a question, what do the commercial fishermen do that are already out to sea(overnight) with a catch of these fish? Can they still land them or do they just dump them over the side like the yelloweye and canary's even though they were "caught" during the open season?

Just curious.

Miss B Haven · 10-01-2003, 02:53 PM

They (the CG) anounce these closures (and openings) on the "broadcast to mariners" notices (16 then switch to 22). They always tell the commercial guys what the "drop dead" is for landing their catch.
Didn't hear any ths summer but the radio was so dang noisy (rescue missions, open mikes, bs and locked up scanners were the rule) I didn't sit on 16 hardly at all. I pay more attention to 16 and 22 when the tourists go home and the radio quiets down. (ha you say... and what am I if not a tourist?). :grin:

[ 10-01-2003, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Miss B Haven ]

Metal Manipulator · 10-01-2003, 05:02 PM

Can't land or can't keep ? What's the difference when their survival rate is almost zero. How can they harvest fish with yellow eye incidentals when they will almost assuredly die. Someone help me on this and give a remedy

Pilar · 10-01-2003, 09:58 PM

Wet fly, sad news for you man. The rules are all about what is landed. Check out the concept of
bycatch and the wrong fish caught is shoveled over the side dead on a daily basis. Since the wrong fish is not landed it's all good by the rules as written and enforced.

It has been a long time coming but ODFW and the nearshore program managed by Patty Burke are taking steps to limit the take of rockfish and to do some research into abundance and sustainable yield. Instead of the same old BS of managing the particular fish stock as it goes extinct under commercial fishing pressure.

fish assassin · 10-02-2003, 06:07 AM

Come on, Pilar, tell us how you *really* feel! :grin: :grin: :grin:

You won't have to worry about commercial fishing too terribly much longer ... :depressed: :depressed:

-assAssin-

Pilar · 10-02-2003, 06:12 AM

assAssin, Don't get me started. I have no problem with commercial fishing per se. It is just the way the rules are interpreted and the 'no problem, keep fishing' attitude that has had results like those seen on the Grand Banks with the cod decimation and our current rockfish dillemma.

Know what I mean?

Miss B Haven · 10-02-2003, 06:23 AM

FA- if you had a net reel and big doors on the back of your boat it would be a little different discussion. Your fishing methods and selectivity are the same as all us sport anglers. :smile:
Different story with the draggers, netters and longliners and I'll say again, it's not there fault. It's a legal method of fishing and as long as the law allows them to do it you can not blame them.
Might see ya over at the big zoo soon, I gotta start coming over for some meetings and some field work real soon.
Take care (only what...4 weekends left in the season :depressed: ).

fish assassin · 10-02-2003, 06:31 AM

Mel,

I know ... I wrote a big long disertation about not all commercial fishing
methods being the same in response to Pilar, but then deleted it because I
figured it was just WAY to controversial.

Nets of any kind bug me too! Just say NO to nets! :grin: :grin: :grin:
Selective fisheries is the way of the future.

Troll, troll, troll my boat, gently on the ocean ...

-assAssin-

Skipper · 10-02-2003, 10:11 AM

fish assassin,

Are you a Commercial Fisher?

If sport fisher, why would you worry about catching Blues and Blacks this weekend?

Cheerio'
Skipper

fish assassin · 10-02-2003, 10:15 AM

Uh, yeh, that's why this was of so much interest to me. There are a few of
us from the "dark side" that lurk here ...

-assAssin- :grin: :grin: :grin:

Pilar · 10-02-2003, 10:34 AM

assAssin, sorry, I was being way to general. It is the draggers, longlines and seiners I am concerned with for the most part. Some of the Live fish boats, especially 'The Network', the only guy allowed to use fish traps on the central coast, stationed in Garibaldi and the guys on the S. coast reefs are causing problems too.

Much of the damage to rockfish was done with bycatch allowed by the netters. They caught the wrong fish and could not land it so they basically killed it and sent back to Davy Jones locker. You are right that they are following the rules but catching a fish and discarding it just seem wrong to me.

Pursuing a certain species with nets or longlines and being aware of the discards and damage done thereby must require a pretty callous attitude or perhaps a river in Africa.

I love to see the troll caught fish. They are a better quality generally and represent a work ethic in commercial fishing I respect. Now if we could just get a respectable price for your work it would pay a decent living to fish with some integrity.

Keep up the good work Doryrod, assAssin and others.

Skipper · 10-02-2003, 12:00 PM

fish Assassin,

I would not consider you from the dark side.

I have no problem with commercial fishers, they keep the markets, and restaurants with fish. That's good when I go out to eat a fine meal.
Thanks for providing part of the meal.

Cheerio'
Skipper

fish assassin · 10-02-2003, 11:28 PM

Thanks for that John ... and yeah, a good price *would* be nice. If I understand
it correctly they (the State) will be introducing a "limited entry" permit for what
was formerly the Open Access fishing for blacks and blues next year. This will take
a whole lot of pressure by hook and line fishermen off these species, but will do nothing
about the discards from the draggers. I think I am going to be one of the few that
will get the new permits because I fished black rock a few years back and caught the
required number of fish to qualify. I sure hope that the price of those quality, hook and line
caught fish goes up!

Thanks again ...

-assAssin-