Oregon Forage Fish Management Plan

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildllife

Publish Date: 2016

Online Link: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/

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 Oregon Forage Fish Management Plan (hereafter ‘Plan’) is intended to provide active protection for a defined suite of forage fish species in Oregon marine waters. This Plan specifically pertains to commercial species that are not currently managed, regulated, or targeted by Oregon marine fisheries (hereafter ‘Forage Fish’). These protections are conveyed by a number of management tools, including prohibition of new directed commercial harvest of these species, and limiting bycatch in other fisheries. Forage Fish provide great benefit to the ecosystem as a whole and to all of Oregon’s marine finfish fisheries as an important source of prey for a wide range of species in Oregon waters. Fisheries supported by Forage Fish prey include both state and federal fisheries for groundfish, highly migratory species, coastal pelagic species, and salmon. Ecosystem sustainability also depends on Forage Fish, which provide prey for marine mammals and marine birds and other non-fishery species. In recognition of the importance of Forage Fish to the state and the larger ecosystem, the Plan complements protections provided through joint federal action by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service, by extending similar protections into state waters. In combination, these state and federal protections promote coordinated management for these species across their distribution within the state and federal waters offshore of Oregon.

Purpose: The management goals for this Plan are to provide protections in state waters that complement the federal action, by prohibiting new directed commercial harvest of Forage Fish and limiting bycatch in other fisheries in order to support 1) existing fisheries and 2) ecosystem function. As defined in this Plan, the management goals are as follows: 1) Support existing ecosystem resilience and reliance on Forage Fish 2) Allow existing fisheries 3) Support sustainability of existing fisheries, relative to the reliance on Forage Fish prey 4) Monitor Forage Fish landings.

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon Coast

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