The following is the news release from June 9, 2006
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION LIMITS COMMERCIAL CRAB POTS
SALEM - The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today moved to establish limits on the number of Dungeness crab pots commercial crab boats may fish in the ocean during their Dungeness crab season.
The decision came after more than two years of meetings with the public, and members of the crab industry. The pot-limit plan grew out of a crab summit last July, when crab fishermen met with the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and ODFW to discuss issues important to the industry. Since then, ODFW has worked with Oregon crab permit holders, processors and other interested public and received hundreds of phone calls, letters and emails as a result.
The Commission directed the agency to develop a plan for crab pot limits after many members of the commercial crab industry voiced concerns about problems associated with unregulated gear in this fishery.
The Commission was briefed on the development of the plan and heard public testimony on it during its regular monthly meetings in October, March and April.
The plan adopted today will have three tiers of limits - 200, 300, and 500 pots per vessel, depending on the vessel's landings during the six seasons between 1995 and 2001. This plan meets the Commission's target of reducing the total number of pots in the fishery from approximately 200,000 pots to around 150,200.
The pot limits will be in effect throughout the season, which usually begins Dec. 1 but seasons may be delayed to ensure the crabs are of top quality. The Commission directed that the pot limits take effect for the 2006-2007 commercial crab season.
The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly.
###
Details of the selected plan (option A2) as well as three other options that were not selected can be seen in the Commission Exhibit H (pdf) prepared for the June, 2006 meeting.
New rules (pdf) limiting pot gear in the Oregon ocean Dungeness crab fishery have been filed and take effect Dec. 1, 2006. These rules include the pot limit and qualifying landings criteria, new buoy tag requirements, maximum pot size, the appeals process, and other pertinent details.
The Final list (pdf) of Oregon ocean Dungeness crab permits and their associated pot limit.
In order to allow for growth of crab businesses, the concept of pot stacking will be pursued in the near future. The details of such a program will need to be formulated through a public process including crabbers, processors, and enforcement and regulatory agencies. A brief explanatory Pot Stacking Fact Sheet (pdf) on potential pot stacking can be viewed here.
For specific questions concerning licensing, permit transfers, buoy tags, or pot limit appeals, contact:
DeAnna Erickson
ODFW Licensing Services Division
3406 Cherry Avenue N.E.
Salem , OR 97303
503-947-6112
Deanna.m.Erickson@state.or.us
For general questions regarding pot limits or other commercial crab issues, contact:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Marine Resources Program
2040 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport , OR 97365
541-867-4741
FAX # 541-867-0311
Mitch Vance
541-867-0300 ext. 233 mitch.vance@state.or.us |
Cyreis Schmitt
541-867-0300 ext. 265cyreis.c.schmitt@state.or.us |
|
