[ODFW-News] Public meetings on groundfish harvest caps, halibut seasons

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife =09
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356=09
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700
	=09
For Immediate Release	Friday, January 17, 2003

Public meetings on groundfish harvest caps, halibut seasons to be held in =
January

PORTLAND - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife invites members of =
the public to three meetings scheduled for the last week of January to =
discuss nearshore groundfish harvest reductions and recreational halibut =
fishing days.=20

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering reductions in the =
allowed commercial and recreational harvest of blue and black rockfish, =
other rockfish, cabezon and greenling because of concerns over the =
sustainability of the fishery. In recent years the harvest of many of =
these nearshore species has increased significantly, largely due to the =
loss of fishing opportunity in offshore waters. The abundance and overall =
status of these nearshore species is unknown. In addition, some of these =
species live for decades and would take many years to recover if overfished=
.The Commission, in an attempt to prevent overfishing, directed ODFW staff =
to solicit public input on a proposal to reduce the allowed harvest to 20 =
percent below the harvest in 2000. More information about the harvest caps =
can be found at http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/odfw/nsgroundfish/index.html .

The nearshore groundfish meetings will be held:
=B7	7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Garibaldi City Hall
=B7	7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30, at Port Orford City Hall

ODFW also seeks public comment on a separate proposal to establish fishing =
days for the recreational "all depth" halibut season. The International =
Pacific Halibut Commission sets the allowable catch for the ocean between =
Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain off the coast of Oregon. Once the =
allowable catch is established, the fishing days are established by NOAA =
Fisheries with input from ODFW and anglers.=20

ODFW wants to hear comments on the following:
=B7	The number and dates of fixed open days during the May "all-depth" =
season from Cape Falcon to the Florence north jetty.
=B7	The number and dates of fixed open days during the May "all-depth" =
season for the area from the Florence north jetty to Humbug Mountain.
=B7	The number and dates of fixed open days for the August "all-depth" =
season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.
=B7	Contingency dates for each of the above fisheries in case the =
allowed harvest quota has not been reached after the fixed dates.=20

The halibut public meeting will be held 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, in the =
Fireside Room of the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

For more information on either nearshore groundfish or recreational =
halibut, contact ODFW in Newport at (541) 867-4741.
###


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