ODFW Press Release: Crab fishing opening date

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Thursday, November 21, 2002

Crab fishing opening dates split into two coastal zones

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a temporary rule to change the Oregon 2002-2003 season opening date for crab fishing from one date for the entire coast to a split season.

Sunday, Dec. 1, crab fishing will open from Floras Creek (42( 57' N. Lat.) south to Port Arena in California.

Tuesday, Dec. 10, crab fishing will open from Floras Creek (42( 57' N. Lat.) north to the northern Washington border.

This rule, which is in effect only for the 2002-2003 season, was issued following discussions with Oregon commercial crab fishermen and industry representatives, and adjoining states. The split opening allows Oregon to align with both California's Dec. 1 opening date and Washington's new Dec. 10 date, without creating conflicts in border-area fisheries where fishermen traditionally move across borders. Washington's new date was implemented as part of that state's recent negotiations with Washington coastal tribes.

Questions have arisen concerning the regulation related to the vessel inspection and area declaration process. Present Oregon rules state that if there is an area season delay, a vessel operator must declare whether he will fish an earlier open area fishery, or wait until the delayed area opens. If he declares that he will fish the earlier season beginning Dec. 1 (Floras Creek, Ore., to Sonoma County, Calif.), he may not fish in an Oregon-delayed area within the first 30 days of the delayed area's opening date.

"This means that anyone fishing in the Dec. 1 season may not fish north of Floras Creek until Jan. 10, 2003," said Rodney Kaiser, ODFW Marine Program assistant program manager. "The rule provides an orderly start, protects local area fisheries, and minimizes effort shifts."

For more information, call the ODFW Marine Program at Newport, at 541-867-4741.

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Information and Education Section
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 872-5264 ext 5528