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The commercial nearshore fishery first developed as an open access fishery in the early 1990's and transitioned to a State limited-entry permit system in 2004. The commercial nearshore fleet is composed of small vessels, averaging 25 ft., that target shallow (< 180 ft.) nearshore rocky reefs. Vessels use mostly hook & line jig or bottom longline fishing gear. A variety of groundfish species are harvested and managed in this fishery including Black Rockfish, Blue Rockfish, Deacon Rockfish and 21 other "nearshore species". These species are managed in six State management groups: Black Rockfish, Blue and Deacon Rockfish, Other Nearshore Rockfish, Greenling, Cabezon, and Other Nearshore Species.
Two separate permit types exist for Oregon's limited-entry commercial nearshore fishery. These two permits allow access to different harvest allocations. The first permit type, the Black and Blue Rockfish permit, allows for the harvest of Black and Blue Rockfishes in amounts up to the bimonthly limits set by the Commission, while allowing for only incidental harvest of all other nearshore fish species. The second permit type, the Black and Blue Rockfish permit with a Nearshore Endorsement, allows for harvest up to the bimonthly limits specified by the Commission for Black and Blue Rockfishes, Other Nearshore Rockfish, Greenling, and Cabezon. The nearshore endorsement is also required to catch the federal monthly landing limit of Tiger and Vermilion Rockfishes, both of which are on Oregon's nearshore species list.
| Commercial nearshore fishery general regulations |
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The table below summarizes the initial 2-month cumulative trip limits for Nearshore Fish, Black Rockfish, and Blue Rockfish set for 2020. See the Action Notices for any recent changes and current regulations. Also, see the Black Rockfish Management Area regulations page for single trip limits for the current bimonthly period.
For species under federal regulations, such as lingcod, see complete federal regulations. |
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Commercial nearshore fishery action notices (pdfs) |
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| Permit |
Black rockfish and blue rockfish |
Nearshore fish |
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Black Rockfish and Blue Rockfish Permit WITH a Nearshore Endorsement |
Black Rockfish:
- January – February: 1,500 pounds
- March – April: 1,500 pounds
- May – June: 1,800 pounds
- July – August: 2,400 pounds
- September – October: 2,700 pounds
- November – December: 2,700 pounds
Blue Rockfish: 1,500 pounds per 2-month period |
Cabezon : 2,000 pounds per 2-month period
Greenling – 1,000 pounds per 2-month period
Other Nearshore Rockfish – combined 450 pounds per 2-month period |
Black-Blue Rockfish Permit WITHOUT Nearshore Endorsement |
- January – February: 1,500 pounds
- March – April: 1,500 pounds
- May – June: 1,800 pounds
- July – August: 2,400 pounds
- September – October: 2,700 pounds
- November – December: 2,700 pounds
Blue Rockfish: 1,500 pounds per 2-month period |
15 pounds per day for other Nearshore Fish combined not to exceed cumulative trip limits for permits with a Nearshore Endorsement. |
Open access
Vessel without a Black-Blue Rockfish Permit (WITH or WITHOUT a Nearshore Endorsement) |
See Exception 1 below |
See Exception 1 below |
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LE groundfish trawl |
Up to 1,000 pounds per year
Must be less than or equal to 25% of landing for each trip; cannot exceed 2-month cumulative trip limits set for Black and Blue Rockfish permits. |
15 pounds per day
Must be less than or equal to 25% of landing for each trip; cannot exceed 2-month cumulative trip limits set for Nearshore Endorsed permits. |
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Salmon troll |
100 pounds per day
All landed dead; cannot exceed the 2-month cumulative trip limits set for Black and Blue Rockfish permits.
See Exception 2 below |
15 pounds per day
Must be less than or equal to 25% of landing for each trip; cannot exceed the 2-month cumulative trip limits set for Nearshore Endorsed permits. |
Exception 1: Vessels that do not have a Black Rockfish and Blue Rockfish permit are allowed to land up to 15 pounds of Black Rockfish, Blue Rockfish or Nearshore fish in any combination per day. This amount must be less than or equal to 25% of landing. No vessel may exceed the permitted vessel 2-month cumulative trip limits.
Exception 2: Salmon trollers with a valid troll permit may land 100 pounds of Black Rockfish, Blue Rockfish, or a combination thereof in the same landing per day in which a salmon is landed not to exceed 2-month cumulative trip limits. These rockfish may only be landed dead. If the cumulative landing of Black and Blue Rockfish combined in the salmon troll fishery reaches 3,000 pounds in any calendar year, then each salmon troll vessel is limited to 15 pounds of Black Rockfish, Blue Rockfish, or a combination thereof per troll landing for the remaining calendar year.
| Species |
Minimum size
commercial |
| China RF |
12 in. |
| Copper RF |
12 in. |
| Grass RF |
12 in. |
| Quillback RF |
12 in. |
| Greenling |
12 in. |
| Cabezon |
16 in. |
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| Rockfish conservation areas off Oregon |
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| Additional information |
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