[ODFW-News] Commission considers groundfish harvest

[ODFW News]

For immediate release	Friday, Sept. 10, 2004

Commission considers groundfish harvest

SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted 2005 ocean
groundfish harvest levels Friday, but deferred until December adopting
nearshore harvest caps.

The Commission listened to reports from staff and testimony from
citizens that focused, for the most part, on the closure of the
groundfish sport fishery that occurred just before the Labor Day
weekend. Much of the public testimony came from coastal residents and
members of the charter boat industry who were hard-hit by the closure.
This was the first year the groundfish sport fishery closed before the
end of the year.

Ed Gray, commissioner for the Port of Brookings, offered testimony that
was typical of what the Commission heard on the issue.

"We need to develop ways to extend the fishing season," he said. "For
some charter people, this was the weekend that was going to carry them
over the winter. But it extends beyond the fishing industry to the
restaurants and other businesses in town."

ODFW Director Lindsay Ball said that agency staff agonized over the
decision to close the fishery. "I hope everybody understands that this
agency is aware of the hardships this closure caused," he said.

"There isn't anybody who wants to solve this problem more than this
agency and this Commission," said Ball. "I ask that the industry help us
develop ways for us to extend the fishery to make 2005 better than
2004."

"We are aware of the effects of this decision to the coastal economy,"
said Ball, "but there's no way we could ignore hitting the federally
mandated cap. I was not going to allow this state to go over that cap.
That would have penalized us and hurt our ability to negotiate for
fishing caps in the future."

The delay in adopting the 2005 nearshore harvest caps and commercial
trip limits until the commission's December meeting will allow ODFW
staff to meet with anglers and charter boat operators to find ways to
extend the season. Four public meetings are set for October in
Tillamook, Newport, Brookings and Bandon.

"The industry is going to give us the solutions," Patty Burke told the
commission. Burke is the manager of the Marine Resources Program for
ODFW headquartered in Newport. "The charter fleet understands that there
is a need to slow down the fishery, and there are some really good ideas
for doing that."

Several members of the Commission expressed their support of Burke and
recognized how difficult her decision was.

"I applaud you and your staff for closing the fishery when we reached
our agreed-upon caps," said Commissioner Dan Edge. "I know that was
difficult and took courage."

Ball said that he and his staff have been working to provide additional
sport fishing opportunities on the coast and to get the word out about
them. 

"We're hoping these additional opportunities will mitigate the early
closure," he said. "There are a lot of fishing opportunities on the
coast."

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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002