[ODFW-News] Commission hears options for 2003 ocean salmon

[Anne Pressentin]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: Anne Pressentin Young (503) 872-5264 x5356
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 872-5700

For Immediate Release	Friday, March 21, 2003

Commission Hears Options for 2003 Ocean Salmon Seasons;
Gear change proposal to be considered

NEWPORT * State fisheries staff Friday described options currently being considered by the Pacific Fishery Management Council for the 2003 ocean salmon seasons that take advantage of predicted strong wild and hatchery coho returns to Oregon coastal rivers and the Columbia River. The options also include seasons on expected good populations of chinook. 

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will make a final decision on nearshore salmon seasons at its next regular meeting April 11. State rules are adopted for the ocean out to three miles that mirror the federal rules adopted for the area three to 200 miles off shore. The federal rules are expected to be adopted around April 10, 2003. 

The Commission is the rule-making body for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The seven-member panel meets monthly to establish policies and administrative regulations for the agency to implement. Friday's meeting was the second day of a two-day meeting held in Newport.

-Sport options being considered include the following: 

·	North of Cape Falcon, which includes the Columbia River Buoy 10 fishery: Three options exist that would allow a fishery from late June or early July through September. The proposed bag limit is two salmon per day, of which only one could be a chinook. The allowable harvest ranges from 9,100 to 12,700 chinook and 75,000 to 112,000 coho. 
·	Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain: A chinook season is proposed for March 15 to Oct. 31. Options for a fin-clipped coho fishery include seaso openings in late June with an ending in early to late August. The allowable harvest ranges from 60,000 to 88,000 coho. 
·	South of Humbug Mountain: Proposed seasons would be open 109-120 days from late May through Labor Day. The season is anticipated to be closed up to 11 days in July. 

The Commission also will consider a gear change proposal in April for ocean fisheries. The draft proposal would allow rods of all legally-licensed anglers to remain fishing until everyone catches their personal limit. The proposal would not allow an individual to harvest more than the daily bag limit. 

-Commercial troll options being considered include the following:

·	North of Cape Falcon: Proposed seasons would occur May-June and July * Sept. 15. Quota proposals range from 47,500 to 64,400 chinook and 42,500 to 75,000 coho. Proposed seasons would occur May * Sept. 15 with variable days and quotas. 
·	Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain: The proposed seasons would occur March 15 * Oct. 31 for chinook with 27-28 closed days in July and August.
·	South of Humbug Mountain: A season is proposed March 15 * May 31, with additional seasons based on a monthly quota in June, July, August and September.  

Detailed descriptions of the ocean fishery options are posted to PFMC's Web site: www.pcouncil.org .

Commercial Trip Limits Imposed for Two Nearshore Ocean Fish

Commercial fishing boats will be limited to landing 1,200 pounds of cabezon and 350 pounds of greenling during each of two-month catch periods, under a permanent rule adopted Friday to stretch out the season to Oct. 31 and prevent an early fishery closure.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission made permanent a temporary rule adopted last month. An ODFW review of the 2003 nearshore groundfish catch data found that without the change, the commercial nearshore fishery would reach the harvest quota before early-summer. The action taken ensures local fish markets of fresh cabezon and greenling through October. 

The trip limits apply to five catch periods in2003: Feb. 22 * April 30, May 1 * June 30, July 1 * Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 * Oct. 31, and Nov. 1 * Dec. 31. In 2003, the season is scheduled to end Oct. 31 due to the adopted harvest level cap. 

Both species are marketed as live fish for sale in specialty fish markets. Greenling also are known as sea trout. The species are among four categories of "nearshore groundfish." Recently, harvest cuts have been imposed on groundfish that live in deeper waters due to overfishing. Little is known about many nearshore species, but concern exists that harvest pressure will continue to increase as some commercial boats shift to nearshore fisheries with off shore regulation changes and market demands.  

The harvest quota for 2003 is about 31.3 metric tons (69,000 pounds) for cabezon and 19.5 metric tons (nearly 43,000 pounds) for greenling. In 2002, the total harvest was 45.3 metric tons for cabezon and 53.4 metric tons for greenling. Between 1997 and 2002, the commercial harvest more than doubled due to improved fishing techniques for these species fueled by high demand for the high priced, live product. 

ODFW will continue to monitor the catch and will adjust trip limits up or down to achieve the goal of reaching the harvest quota by Oct. 31. 

Components of Draft Hatchery Management Policy Presented

The Commission heard a summary Friday on the components of a draft Hatchery Management Policy that describes a range of allowable alternatives for the use of hatcheries and hatchery fish. When adopted, the hatchery policy will be used jointly with the newly-adopted Native Fish Conservation Policy to manage hatchery fish in specific watersheds. 

The Commission expects to adopt a final hatchery policy in May. Public comments continue to be taken on the draft that is posted to the ODFW Web site: 

The draft policy:
·	Lists four goals for hatcheries, including providing fish for harvest, contributing to the sustainability of native fish populations, and minimizing adverse ecological impacts;
·	Requires a progrm management plan for each hatchery facility that meets the requirements of the Native Fish Conservation Policy and other planning objectives;
·	Provides general guidelines for fish culture: broodstock collection, disposition of surplus fish, spawning, rearing, marking, handling, release and fish health;
·	Calls for effective monitoring and evaluation to gauge the success of meeting program objectives; and
·	Describes record-keeping requirements.


In other action, the Commission:
·	Adopted a permanent rule to require by-catch reduction devices in the commercial pink shrimp fishery. Two devices are allowed under the adopted rule. The allowed devices were developed in cooperation with fishermen to nearly eliminate the unintended harvest of rockfish.
·	Adopted new rules that clarify the process the Commission uses to approve fish passage proposals. The new rules delegate some authority for fish passage determinations to the ODFW director. Oregon law requires landowners or managers to provide fish a pathway around artificial barriers in all waters in which native migratory fish are currently or historically have been present. 
·	Approved an exemption to the fish passage requirement for Nye Creek in Newport. The Oregon Department of Transportation requested the exemption because no fish exist in the stream and there would be no appreciable benefit to fish resources by rebuilding a culvert to allow fish to move up and down stream. 
·	Appointed four new members to the Developmental Fisheries Board. The board makes recommendations to the Commission on changes to newly created commercial fisheries. New members include Heather Munro of Newport, William Schreiber of Bay City, Bob Jacobson of Newport, and Mark Barnes of Port Orford. 
·	Approved a funding proposal for the Lane County Fair "Fish N' Kids" educational activities and exhibits. A Restoration and Enhancement Program grant of $14,428 was awarded to Emerald Empire Steelheaders to help fund the $54,667 project. 
·	Approved "incidental take permits"for lower Columbia River coho that are listed as endangered under the Oregon Endangered Species Act. The incidental take permits allow the unintended mortalities associated with handling and releasing the wild fish during ocean and Columbia River fisheries, fish trap operations, monitoring and research. 
·	Denied two requests to renew commercial fishing permits for sardines because the applicants did not meet the renewal deadlines.
·	Received a petition from Les Helgeson, Beaver Creek, to allow a reduction in the number of hatchery winter steelhead smolts released to the Nestucca River. The Commission will vote whether to accept the petition April 11. 
·	Decided to vote April 11 on whether to accept a petition received by William Lackner, Newport, calling for a prohibition on commercial harvest of razor clams south of Tillamook Head.

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