Oregon's Sardine Fishery, 2000

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: McCrae, Jean

Publish Date: 2001

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: The first major landings of sardines (Sardinops sagax) into Oregon in over fifty years occurred in 1999. Three vessels made directed landings of just over 1.7 million pounds (775.7 mt). Prior to 2000, sardines were managed by the individual states. In 1999, Amendment 8 to the Pacific Fishery Management Council's Northern Anchovy Fishery Management Plan (FMP) was approved, to take effect in 2000. The plan is now the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan, and includes sardines. Under the FMP, the biomass of sardines is estimated each year and a coast-wide harvest guideline is established. The harvest guideline is then allocated 2/3 to the southern California fishery and 1/3 to the northern California, Oregon, and, Washington fisheries. The division between northern and southern areas is Point Piedreas Blancas (35°40'N). Any portion of the harvest guideline that is unused by October is then re-allocated 50/50 between the northern and southern areas. Except for the coast-wide harvest guideline, the fisheries off of Oregon and Washington continue under state management. Even though the area north of California is figured into the biomass estimate, there is little data from this area that is used in the model. There is a need for data from outside the areas of the traditional California fisheries to improve stock assessment since these areas are now taken into account to calculate the biomass estimate. There has traditionally been little by-catch in the sardine fishery because of the harvest methods used. Most of the harvest is with seine gear and fish are pumped from the net onto the vessel without being sorted. However, the portion of the FMP that deals with by-catch in the sardine fishery was initially disallowed because of a lack of data. There are also concerns with by-catch of salmon, particularly with a fishery located just off the mouth of the Columbia River.

Purpose: The goals for this year's work was to gather information on sardines off Oregon to improve the coast-wide stock assessment of sardines; to document the extent of by-catch; and to monitor the size and age composition of the population. Objectives include: • Collect size, age, and distribution data of adult sardines off Oregon, from both the harvest areas and outside harvest areas. • Document bycatch, in terms of species and amount. Recommend management measures to reduce by-catch if necessary. • Document harvest methods, distribution of harvest, and catch per unit of effort.

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon

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