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| What about halibut? |
Pacific halibut is managed separately from groundfish.
Halibut management |
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A public meeting is generally held during the summer to introduce the public to possible sport bottomfish (groundfish) seasons for the following year or two.
Federal regulations
Federal management of groundfish takes place on a two-year cycle. For example, federal sport fishing management measures (regulations) adopted in 2020 are effective from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022. ODFW normally hosts public meetings before federal regulations are adopted.
State regulations
At the state level, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission annually establishes seasons, methods and bag limits for recreational and commercial fishing. The Commission can adopt regulations that are more restrictive than federal regulations but not less restrictive.
A stock, or population, assessment is a scientific evaluation of the status and well-being of a fish stock. Few fish stocks on the West Coast have been fully assessed, primarily because adequate information is available only for a limited number of the stocks. Learn more at NOAA Fisheries
The need to control sport fishery impacts on groundfish arises from one or more factors such as:
- Decreasing fish populations
- Escalating harvest
- Uncertainty about the sustainability of a fishery
- The need to share a quota among user groups
Various resource management tools are used to control sport impacts on groundfish in Oregon: daily bag limits, size limits, conservation area closures, and annual quotas.
Christian Heath
Project Leader
Christian.T.Heath@odfw.oregon.gov
(541) 857-2531
Melanie Bukovec
Assistant Project Leader
Melanie.A.Bukovec@odfw.oregon.gov
(541) 857-2530 |
