Marine Nearshore Groundfish

Interim Management Plan

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (OFWC) adopted an Interim Management Plan (pdf) for Oregon 's Nearshore Commercial Fishery on October 11, 2002. The main intent of the plan is to protect nearshore groundfish populations, which are primarily reef fish, from over harvest. The action taken is only an interim measure pending the adoption of a comprehensive Oregon Nearshore Fisheries Management Plan. Development of the comprehensive fisheries management plan, which will cover commercial and recreational nearshore fisheries, is currently underway. Public meetings to gain input on management plan structure and harvest management strategies for individual nearshore fishery sectors will begin in 2007.

The Interim Management Plan for Oregon's Nearshore Commercial Fishery (pdf)

Upcoming Actions

Nearshore Fishery Management

Oregon will set the commercial and sport nearshore regulations through the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in December of this year. Public meetings will be conducted later in the summer and early fall to review harvest data with the public and to obtain feedback on any adjustments to the harvest regulations. This includes cabezon, greenling, "other" nearshore species, black rockfish, and blue rockfish. Oregon notified the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) that our goal is to be conservative in tracking nearshore hook and line lingcod harvest and that we may impose in-season regulations to avoid over harvest due to potential fishery shifts under the new sport and commercial regulations for 2005-2006.

Actions Taken

• Summary of the Interim Management Plan
  
  
• Black Rockfish/Blue Rockfish/Nearshore Fish Limited Entry
  The 2003 Oregon State Legislature passed into law House Bill 3108. Starting January 1, 2004, a vessel must have a permit for landings of black rockfish or blue rockfish for commercial purposes other than the daily prescribed incidental limit. This permit with a nearshore fish endorsement is also required for commercial vessels landing other selected species of nearshore fish.

Reports

• Harvest Cap Report, February 2003
  
  
• Synopsis on the biology, life history and ecology of nearshore species covered by the interim plan, October 2002( pdf)
  
  
• Nearshore species list
  
  
• Commercial Regulations: Visit the commercial regulations section of this site
  
  
• Marine Sport Fishing Regulations: Visit the sport regulations section of this site