Status Report on Oregon's Pacific Whiting Shoreside Observation Program for 1994

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Barss, Bill

Publish Date: 1994

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: Pacific whiting is the most abundant species pursued by U.S. commercial fishermen off the Pacific coast states. This species is primarily harvested by large and moderate sized vessels using large midwater trawls. These trawls can also capture non targeted species swimming with or near the dense schools of whiting. The incidental bycatch in the whiting fishery, particularly of sensitive species, is a management concern. This is especially true in recent years when unpopular management measures have been suggested or imposed on sport and commercial species to restrict the harvest of salmon and rockfish. Since 1991, when the domestic whiting fishery was completely established, a voluntary bycatch observer program has been in place. Initially, the at-sea processor component supplied observers as an extension of arrangements the fleet operated under in compliance with the North Pacific Councils mandatory observer program. In 1992, a large increase in shoreside processing was expected, and a voluntary program to provide observations on catches destined for shoreside processing was established. Information from this fishery was needed to determine the results of catch restrictions, such as, prohibition of night fishing, area closures, and seasons implemented to protect salmon. This observation program, which was called The Pacific Whiting Shoreside Observation Program, was successfully conducted during 1992 and has continued with minor modifications through 1994. Since 1992, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Oregon fishermen and processing industry, has made a commitment to take an active roll in observing whiting catches, because it was apparent that most of the whiting destined for shoreside processors would be delivered to Oregon ports. In 1994, the Oregon fishing industry hired observers for the Astoria area, Newport and Charleston. They also provided direct supervision to their observers and increased their funding roll over 1993. In 1994, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) made a commitment to observe shoreside landings of whiting at llwacco, WA, and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) committed to provide observation of whiting landings at Crescent City, CA and Eureka, CA. The Pacific whiting shoreside observation program was established for the purpose of providing data on bycatch from catches delivered shoreside, and bycatch discarded at sea. ODFW's expectation during 1992, was that the observation program serve as a pilot project. The objectives were to determine the feasibility of conducting a cooperative observation program between industry and government, to determine an appropriate sampling rate for the shoreside whiting fishery, and to confidently show whether directed whiting fishing can maintaining a salmon bycatch rate less than .05 salmon per metric ton of whiting. The impact of regulation on fish catch and industry, and the manpower and funding needed to conduct a successful program were also major objectives during 1992. The 1993 and 1994 programs were designed to take advantage of what was learned during 1992, and to add additional years of target whiting fishery bycatch data to try to get some sense of interannual variation in bycatch.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1994

Geographic Extent: Washington, Oregon, and California

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF

Data Quality Information

Lineage-Source:

Data Information

No data information was supplied.

Entity and Attribute Information

Attributes Description: Field attribute information is available in the attached file(s).

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? Unknown