|
The albacore tuna fishery is managed internationally through the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, as well as regionally by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). Management measures, with regards to the albacore stock and fisheries within each group's respective areas of jurisdiction, are coordinated to provide consistent implementation where possible.
This fishery has a U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty that addresses reciprocal fishing effort off the U.S. West Coast.
Authorized ports for Canadian vessels landing albacore in Oregon when a regime is in place are Astoria, Newport and Coos Bay.
The Oregon albacore tuna fishery is an open access fishery, however, a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit is required from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). A logbook is also required by NMFS and should be kept up to date and submitted per NMFS rules.
Beginning in 2026, there will no longer be a separate license solely for the landing of albacore tuna in Oregon.
Instead, all commercial fishing vessels, including those exclusively targeting albacore, making more than a single
landing will be required to obtain standard Oregon commercial fishing licenses. These licenses include:
- A Commercial Boat/Vessel License
- An Individual Commercial Fishing License or transferable Crew Member License for every person on the vessel
Vessels making a single delivery in a 12-month period may still purchase one single- delivery landing license per vessel in lieu of ODFW commercial fishing and boat licenses.
If the vessel has an Oregon commercial vessel license and everyone on board has either an Oregon individual or crew member license, then only a federal HMS permit is required (no additional Oregon licenses) and you can catch all HMS species.
Oregon Albacore Commission
Oregon Commercial Fishing Regulations synopsis
Oregon commercial license applications
|
