2001 Shoreside Whiting Observation Program

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Parker, Steve

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 Shoreside Whiting Observation Program (SWOP) was established in 1992 to provide information for evaluating bycatch in the directed Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) fishery and for evaluating conservation measures adopted to limit the catch of salmon and other prohibited species. Though instituted as an experimental monitoring program, it has been continued annually to account for all catch in targeted whiting trip landings, potential discards, and accommodate the landing and disposal of non-sorted catch from these trips. In 1995, the SWOP’s emphasis changed from a high observation rate (50% of landings), to a lower rate (10% of landings) and increased collection of biological information (e.g., otoliths, length, weight, sex, and maturity) from Pacific whiting and selected bycatch species (yellowtail and widow rockfish, sablefish, Pacific mackerel, and jack mackerel). The required observation rate was decreased as studies indicated that fish tickets were a good representation of what was actually being landed. Focus shifted again due to 1997 changes in the allocation of yellowtail rockfish and increases in yellowtail bycatch rates. Since then, yellowtail bycatch in the shoreside whiting fishery has been dramatically reduced because of increased awareness by fishermen of the bycatch and allocation issues involved in the SWOP program. The SWOP is a cooperative effort between the fishing industry and state and federal management agencies to observe and collect information on directed Pacific whiting landings at shoreside processing plants. Participating vessels apply for and carry exempted fishing permits (EFPs) issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Permit terms require vessels to land unsorted whiting at designated shoreside processing plants. Permitted vessels are not penalized for landing prohibited species 2 (e.g., Pacific salmon, Pacific halibut, Dungeness crab), nor are they held liable for overages of groundfish trip limits. Participants in the SWOP are mid-water trawlers carrying EFPs, designated shoreside processing plants in California, Oregon, and Washington, the PFMC, the NMFS, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Purpose:

Time Period of Content: 1992-2001

Geographic Extent: Oregon, Washington, and California Coast

Status: Final

Use Constraints:

Format: PDF file

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).

Bibliography Information

Field Name	Value
Biblio ID	5981
Year	2001
Publisher
Request Type	Report
Location	Salem HQ
Date Created	2001 December
Date Cataloged	6/5/06
Date Published	2001
Type	stp crnr
Pages	19 pp
Volume
Status	2
Descriptor	whiting; coast; 2001
Date Entered	2006-06-05 00:00:00
Location In Clackamas Library	Whiting, S wall, E end
Author	Steve Parker
Duplicates	0
Number Remaining After Requests
Presumed All Distributed
Back Room Duplicates
Author	Parker, S.
Risk
Species
Disposition Of Requests	Jean McCrae - 2: Requested, but no copies available
Disposition Of Requests	StreamNet Library: Requested, but no copies available

Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? No