The Ocean Salmon Management Program - Archived action notices/updates
(Note: Archived information may include links that are no longer valid)

Current action notices/updates

10/29/2010 ACTION NOTICE: Fishery managers of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have discussed the status of the commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within state waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Elk River at Port Orford.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within the Elk River Terminal Area between Cape Blanco and Humbug Mt. will close to fishing effective 11:59PM on Friday, October 29, 2010.

RATIONALE: The Elk River Fall Chinook commercial troll season was scheduled to be open for the period of October 15 through the earlier of November 30 or a quota of 1,250 landed Chinook, with a single daily possession and landing limit of 20 Chinook. As of the end of fishing on Wednesday, October 27, 1,140 Chinook had been landed, and it was expected that landings on Friday would result in attainment of the authorized quota.

10/19/2010 ACTION NOTICE: Fishery managers of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have discussed the status of the commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within state waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Chetco River at Brookings.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within the Chetco River Terminal Area between Twin Rocks and the Oregon/California border will reopen to fishing for one day on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Participating trollers will be limited to a single daily landing and possession limit of 10 Chinook per vessel.

RATIONALE: The Chetco River Fall Chinook commercial troll season was scheduled to be open for the period of October 13 through the earlier of October 31 or a quota of 500 landed Chinook, with a single daily possession and landing limit of 20 Chinook. On the opening day of the fishery, commercial trollers harvested nearly half of the quota, but the fish bite dropped off and landings after the second day of the season totaled 71% of the quota. Fishery managers took action to close the fishery after 3 days of fishing. There are 79 Chinook remaining on the quota, and managers identified that a single open day of fishing with a reduced landing and possession limit would likely bring the landings in close to the 500 Chinook quota with minimal risk of exceeding the quota.

10/15/2010 ACTION NOTICE: Fishery managers of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have discussed the status of the commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within state waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Chetco River at Brookings.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within the Chetco River Terminal Area between Twin Rocks and the Oregon/California border will close to fishing effective 11:59PM on Friday, October 15, 2010.

RATIONALE: The Chetco River Fall Chinook commercial troll season was scheduled to be open for the period of October 13 through the earlier of October 31 or a quota of 500 landed Chinook, with a single daily possession and landing limit of 20 Chinook. On the opening day of the fishery, commercial trollers harvested nearly half of the quota, but the fish bite dropped off and landings after the second day of the season totaled 71% of the quota. Fishery managers will evaluate the total landings next week to see if enough Chinook remain on the quota to reopen for another day.

9/2/2010 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, representatives from the recreational salmon fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to transfer additional Chinook from the recreational quota to the commercial troll guideline and set a closing date for the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for a final Friday through Tuesday open period from September 3 through 7 with open period landing and possession limits of 30 Chinook and 50 coho per vessel. A transfer of 1,000 Chinook from the recreational fishery to the commercial fishery (on an impact neutral basis) will occur to allow this final open period adequate Chinook for the potential landings.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon has approximately 540 Chinook remaining on their catch quota. During the most recent open period the troll fleet landed an estimated 817 Chinook. The troll fishery would likely exceed their remaining quota with any additional openings, but the recreational fishery has almost 15,000 Chinook remaining on their quota and they are not in any jeopardy of meeting their quota and needing to close early. The adopted action also established that the commercial troll season will close for the remainder of 2010 with this open period.

8/26/2010 Update: The North of Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery will reopen for another five day fishing period of Friday through Tuesday (8/27-31). Open period limits remain unchanged at 30 Chinook and 50 marked coho per vessel.

Trollers landing any salmon into Oregon from this or any other quota managed salmon fishery are reminded that they are required to report landings to the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife at (541)867-0300 ext. 271 within one hour of delivery, or prior to transport away from the point of landing.

8/19/2010 Update: The North of Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery will reopen for another five day fishing period of Friday through Tuesday (8/20-24). Open period limits remain unchanged at 30 Chinook and 50 marked coho per vessel.

Trollers landing any salmon into Oregon from this or any other quota managed salmon fishery are reminded that they are required to report landings to the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife at (541)867-0300 ext. 271 within one hour of delivery, or prior to transport away from the point of landing.

8/12/2010 Update: The North of Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery will reopen for another five day fishing period of Friday through Tuesday (8/13-17). Open period limits remain unchanged at 30 Chinook and 50 marked coho per vessel.

Trollers landing any salmon into Oregon from this or any other quota managed salmon fishery are reminded that they are required to report landings to the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife at (541)867-0300 ext. 271 within one hour of delivery, or prior to transport away from the point of landing.

8/5/2010 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the Chinook open period landing and possession limit for the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for the Friday through Tuesday open periods with the following modification to the open period landing and possession limits: Beginning August 6 the fishery will be limited to open period landing and possession limits of 30 Chinook and 50 coho per vessel. Vessels must land and deliver their catch within 24 hours of each closure. This action becomes effective at 00:01 on Friday, August 6, 2010.

RATIONALE: There are approximately 2,400 Chinook and 9,300 marked coho remaining on the North of Cape Falcon troll quotas. During the most recent open period of July 30 through August 3, trollers landed an estimated 6,600 Chinook and 690 coho. Based on the high catch of Chinook and low number of Chinook remaining on the quota, managers needed to lower the open period landing limit for Chinook. In addition, a trade of coho from the commercial troll fishery for Chinook from the recreational fishery was agreed to with the intent of transferring Chinook from the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area recreational guideline in exchange for a transfer of coho from the commercial troll salmon fishery to the recreational fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area. These trades are expected to allow for a longer recreational coho season in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area and for the commercial troll fishery to better utilize their quotas. The trade involved a transfer of 7,000 coho from the commercial troll quota for 2,500 Chinook from the recreational quota. The Salmon Technical Team will evaluate the coho transfer to consider possible adjustments to keep the transfer on an impact neutral basis for stocks of critical concern. Fishery representatives from both the recreational and commercial fisheries were in agreement to the trade.

7/29/2010 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the open days and the Chinook open period landing and possession limit for the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for the open periods as described in the “2010 Federal Regulations: West Coast Salmon Fisheries” with the following changes: Beginning July 30 the fishery will be open Friday through Tuesday of each week with open period landing and possession limits of 75 Chinook and 50 coho per vessel. Vessels must land and deliver their catch within 24 hours of each closure. This action becomes effective at 00:01 on Friday, July 30, 2010.

RATIONALE: There are 9,000 Chinook and nearly 10,000 marked coho remaining on the quotas. The remaining Chinook quota includes 2,700 Chinook that were “rolled over” from the May-June season. The most recent open period resulted in total landings of 2,900 Chinook and 705 marked coho, and the fishery is expected to be able to proceed for the next open period with the modest increase in the Chinook open period limit without risk of closure. Industry representatives expressed concern that Chinook would soon become much less available as they begin to enter the Columbia River, and that they want to insure that they access the majority of the remaining quota while the fish are available and market prices are high. The overall management intent for this fishery remains a steady flow of product to the markets through at least the third week in August. Trollers landing any salmon into Oregon from this or any other quota managed salmon fishery are reminded that they are required to report landings to the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife at (541)867-0300 ext. 271 within one hour of delivery, or prior to transport away from the point of landing.

7/15/2010 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the open period landing and possession limits for the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for the open periods as described in the “2010 Federal Regulations: West Coast Salmon Fisheries” with the following changes to the open period landing and possession limits. The open period landing and possession limit for Chinook salmon is increased to 60 Chinook per vessel per open period, and the open period landing and possession limit for adipose fin-clipped coho is increased to 50 coho per vessel per open period. This action becomes effective at 00:01 on Friday, July 16, 2010.

7/6/10 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the areas from the US/Canada Border south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the recreational ocean salmon seasons in the Neah Bay, LaPush, Westport, and Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Areas:

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Thursday July 8, 2010, the daily bag limit in the recreational ocean salmon seasons in all ocean areas from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon is increased to allow up to 2 Chinook salmon in the bag limit. Daily bag limit will now be 2 salmon per day, and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.

RATIONALE: In the regulation setting process earlier this spring, the bag limit was set with a limitation of only one Chinook per day. This limitation was established to ensure that adequate Chinook would be available for the full season. Early fishery sampling data indicates that the “no more than one Chinook” bag limit restriction will be unnecessary given the ratio of Chinook in the catch. In order to more fully utilize the available Chinook quota, the removal of the no more than one Chinook in the bag limit restriction was made.

6/24/2010 ACTION NOTICE #2: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the open period landing and possession limits for the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon which is scheduled to open on July 1.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for the open periods as described in the 2010 Federal Regulations: West Coast Salmon Fisheries with the following changes to the open period landing and possession limits. The open period landing and possession limit for Chinook salmon is reduced to 40 Chinook per vessel per open period, and the open period landing and possession limit for adipose fin-clipped coho is reduced to 30 coho per vessel per open period.

RATIONALE: With additional information regarding estimated fleet participation and abundance of Chinook salmon, fishery managers recognized that, in order to meet the industry goal of an extended summer season, the landing and possession limits adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council in April were too high. In order to achieve a 5-6 week season, managers adjusted the catch limits downward to allow for a more consistent flow of product into the market place.

6/24/2010 ACTION NOTICE #1: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the open period landing and possession limit for the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll Chinook salmon fishing for the period of Friday through Tuesday, June 25-29 with an open period landing and possession limit of 25 Chinook per vessel for the open period.

RATIONALE: Commercial landings of Chinook salmon in the area between the US/ Canada Border and Cape Falcon were estimated to be 38,551 out of the quota of 42,000 Chinook as of Tuesday, June 22. With over 8,000 Chinook caught in the previous 5 day open period with a landing and possession limit of 75 Chinook, there were not enough Chinook to open without modification to the landing limits. Any Chinook remaining from this quota will be transferred to the fishery scheduled to open on July 1 on an impact neutral basis.

6/15/2010 ACTION NOTICE #2: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to close the commercial troll salmon fishery to retention of incidentally caught Pacific halibut.

ACTION TAKEN: The retention of Pacific halibut incidentally caught while trolling for salmon is closed from 11:59PM Wednesday June 16 through the remainder of 2010. All of Pacific halibut area 2A is closed. Vessels with halibut on board must land all halibut prior to continuing to participate in the salmon fishery.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll incidental Pacific halibut quota of 25,035 lbs has been met.

6/15/2010 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to reopen the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll Chinook salmon fishing for the Friday through Tuesday periods of June 18-22 and June 25-29 with an open period landing and possession limit of 75 Chinook per vessel per open period.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll fishery in the area from the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon closed to fishing on June 12 in order to allow for some limited fishing opportunity for the remainder of June. Estimated catches through June 12 were 31,900 Chinook out of the quota of 42,000 Chinook. Based on estimated fleet size, managers were confident that the overall quota would not be exceeded with an open period limit of 75 Chinook. Managers will meet by conference call at 2:00PM on June 24 to determine if any other changes need to be made for the final open period of June 25 through 29.

6/10/2010 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to close the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will close to all troll salmon fishing effective at 11:59PM on Saturday, June 12 th. Troll fishers have 24 hours from the end of the fishery to land and deliver their catch.

RATIONALE: Catch in the commercial fishery North of Cape Falcon had been progressing at a moderate pace towards the quota until this week. Catches through June 6 were estimated at 14,200 Chinook, but in the first three days of this week, over 10,000 Chinook were estimated to have been landed. Increasing fishing effort and catch per boat indicated that the commercial catch would likely total 34,000-37,000 by Saturday night.

One goal established for this season in the regulation setting process was to allow harvest available throughout the entire May through June period. In order to achieve that goal, a “trigger” at 35,000 landed Chinook catch was adopted to evaluate catches and consider options for additional fishing for the remainder of June and the total quota of 42,000 Chinook. Following the closure, fishery managers will evaluate total landings in this season, and a conference call is scheduled for 1:00PM on Tuesday, June 15 to consider additional fishing days, landing limits, and other options for the remainder of June.

6/4/10 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the ocean commercial and recreational state waters fall Chinook terminal area seasons for waters off Tillamook Bay, the Elk River, and the Chetco River. Detailed charts and regulations are available by following the links on the Special State Waters Chinook Seasons page.

A table summarizing the adopted seasons follows:

4/23/10 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the ocean commercial troll salmon and ocean recreational salmon seasons as proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). A regulation map of the sport ocean seasons (pdf) is now available.

Complete copies of the PFMC sport and commercial regulations are available on the PFMC website.

4/15/10 ACTION NOTICE : The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has adopted a set of final ocean salmon fishery seasons. These seasons must still be approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, as well as, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission before becoming law. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will review and consider for adoption the PFMC adopted seasons on Friday, April 23 rd. The proposed commercial troll regulations (pdf) are available on the PFMC website and the proposed sport regulations(pdf) are also available

A graphic summary of the commercial seasons proposed off Oregon is available here: Oregon Troll Regulations (pdf)

3/10/10 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Oregon, and fishery interests has taken in-season management action to cancel the March 15 openings in the ocean Chinook salmon seasons off Oregon.

ACTION TAKEN (1): The commercial ocean troll salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and the Oregon/California Border that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 has been closed by in-season management action by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

ACTION TAKEN (2): The recreational ocean salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and Humbug Mt., Oregon that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 has been closed by in-season management action by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

RATIONALE: Chinook salmon forecasts for numerous runs that contribute to ocean salmon fisheries off Oregon are expected to allow some fisheries in 2010, but in order to develop the best range of fishing options for the remainder of 2010, the March and April seasons were eliminated this spring. Of specific concern is the continued low number of fall Chinook within the Sacramento River.

1/8/10 MEETING NOTICE: The 2010 Ocean Salmon Industry Group meeting (OSIG) is scheduled for Thursday, February 25, 2010. This pre-season planning meeting will give an early look at the 2010 salmon forecasts, and develop recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing concepts to take forward through the Pacific Fishery Management Council regulation setting process. The OSIG meeting will be held at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport.

The OSIG meeting is sponsored by the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and is open to all ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2010 season. The meeting is expected to start at 9:30 AM and conclude by 3:30 PM. OCZMA Letter (pdf) and Agenda (pdf) can be downloaded.

10/19/09 ACTION NOTICE: Fishery managers of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have discussed the status of the commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within state waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Elk River.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within the Elk River Terminal Area off the Elk River between will close to fishing effective 11:59PM on Monday, October 19, 2009.

9/10/09 UPDATE COMMERCIAL TROLL SALMON FISHERY: The commercial troll salmon season in the area between the Leadbetter Pt., Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will continue for the final scheduled open period of September 12-15. Fishermen are reminded that the open period landing and possession limits are currently 100 adipose fin clipped coho salmon and 75 chinook salmon.

9/3/09 ACTION NOTICE #1: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington southto Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Monday, September 7, 2009, the ocean recreational salmon fishery between Leadbetter Pt., Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will reopen to fishing. Fishing will continue through the earlier of September 30 or the coho quota of 96,500 fin-clipped coho. Daily bag limit remains two salmon, but all coho salmon must have a healed adipose fin clip.

RATIONALE: Action was taken on August 26 to close the season in the Columbia River Ocean Area effective at the end of the fishing day on August 31 when landings were projected to meet the allowable catch quota. However, catches came in substantially lower than projected due to weather issues, and over 13,000 coho remain on the quota. Delaying the reopening until Monday is expected to provide a better chance to allow the fishery to continue through the end of September without any additional management action.

9/3/09 ACTION NOTICE #2: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, state of Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery from Cape Falcon, Oregon to the Oregon/California border. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: The remainder of the June-August recreational adipose fin-clipped coho quota of 110,000 coho is transferred to the September ocean recreational selective coho quota and to the September ocean commercial troll non-selective coho quota on an impact neutral basis. This transfer results in a transfer of 2,560 coho to the recreational quota for a revised quota of 9,560, and 10,240 coho to the commercial troll quota for a revised quota of 21,240 coho.

RATIONALE: This transfer of coho was established at the April Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting, and is expected to insure that the recreational September selective coho season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will continue for the entire month of September without closure, and that the remaining allowable impacts are available for the commercial troll salmon fishery.

9/3/09 ACTION NOTICE #3: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: The open period landing and possession limit of adipose fin clipped coho salmon is reduced from 200 per open period to 100 per open period effective with the September 5-8 open period.

RATIONALE: An estimated 2,400 coho remain on the quota of 33,600 coho. In the most recent two open periods, 2,550 coho and 2,680 coho were landed respectively. Reducing the open period limit was identified by fishery managers as the most effective means by which to stay within the overall catch quota. Another conference call will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, September 10 to consider whether another open period will be possible in this fishery.

8/27/09 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Regarding the August 26 action taken on the Columbia River ocean area recreational fishery, the following questions and answers are provided:

Q: Why can’t fish be transferred from S. of Cape Falcon quota to N. of Cape Falcon quota?

A: The Ocean Salmon Management Plan established by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) contains the rules that govern what inseason fishery management actions can and cannot be taken. The plan can be found on the PFMC’s website. Direct link to the plan (pdf)

The rule that prohibits the transfers between N and S of Cape Falcon will be found in section 10: Inseason Management Actions and Procedures. The reasons behind prohibiting transfers between N and S of Cape Falcon goes back to the root of how seasons are set in the first place, with modeled impacts on numerous salmon stocks, allocation planning between all the different fishing groups (recreational ocean S of Falcon, commercial ocean S of Falcon, recreational ocean N of Falcon, commercial ocean N of Falcon,, recreational river, commercial river, recreational Puget Sound, commercial Puget Sound, tribal ocean, tribal river, and tribal coastal WA), and conservation limitations.

In the initial season setting process, there were plans established on transferring any remaining portion of the June-August S of Cape Falcon coho quota (on an impact neutral basis) to the September recreational and commercial fisheries. Those transfers will be made in early September after the catch numbers from the summer recreational fishery have been finalized. Any other transfer would violate the adopted regulations as established through the PFMC season setting process that concluded in April.

Q: Why can’t more coho be transferred from Westport?

A: The transfer of fish from Westport to the Columbia River area was made only with the consent of the Westport recreational fishery port representative. That transfer was made with the expectation that it would not result in a closure to the Westport area prior to the scheduled ending date for their season. At this point, the forecast for the coho required to reach the end of the season at Westport, does not allow for the transfer of any additional coho.

It is also important to remember that quotas are not a guaranteed catch, but rather a cap that is not to be exceeded. If a quota is not reached prior to the scheduled ending date for a season, the season still ends on the scheduled date. Also, managers are mandated to stay within the total allowable catch (TAC) for fisheries N of Cape Falcon. Any overage from one coho quota would need to come out of another area or other non-tribal fishery’s quota.

Q: The ocean conditions are going to keep people off the water, why wasn’t the weather taken into consideration when making the decision?

A: Fishery managers have a tough enough time predicting the fish and fishing activity, and meteorologists have not proven to much more reliable at predicting ocean and weather conditions more than a couple of days in advance. Past experience of fishery managers trying to take the weather into account has resulted in several major miscalculations. Fishery managers did try and temper the catch estimate this week due to observed weather issues between Monday and Wednesday, and the realization that conditions were likely to be less than ideal for the remainder of the week, but that still came down to a reasonable chance that the quota would be approached by early in the week of August 31 through September 6.

Q: How fast is the coho quota being caught?

A: The rate of approach to the coho quota had been running at about 16% per week for the three weeks prior to the most recent week. Last week weather conditions slowed the catch to 9% of the quota. With 20% of the adjusted coho quota remaining, and the possibility that almost 18% could be taken during the final eight days of fishing; the only real choice available to managers was to close Monday night. If it turns out that catches were very light and a substantial number of coho remain on the quota, managers will consider the possibility of reopening the season.

Q: Doesn’t the Buoy 10 fishery take some of the pressure off of the ocean fishery?

A: Past experience shows just the opposite. A good Buoy 10 fishery, brings lots more anglers to the lower Columbia River. When the ocean is open, almost all charter vessels will fish the ocean. On top of that, the ocean catch rates tend to be better than the river catch rate (especially early in August), and if ocean conditions are good, many private boat anglers that came to fish Buoy 10 will end up heading outside to fish the ocean.

8/26/09 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the recreational ocean salmon season in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area:

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Monday, August 31, at 11:59PM, the recreational ocean salmon season between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will close to all salmon fishing.

RATIONALE: The Columbia River ocean area is rapidly approaching their adjusted catch quota of 96,500 fin-clipped coho. Landings slowed last week and early this week with poor weather conditions, and allowed fishery managers to leave the season open through the weekend. Note: This closure does not include the ongoing recreational fishery inside the Columbia River upstream of Buoy 10.

8/20/09 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the recreational ocean salmon season in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area:

ACTION TAKEN: Effective August 21, 2009, a transfer of 8,750 coho from the Westport ocean salmon management area coho quota will be made to the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area recreational coho quota. This transfer, which must remain impact neutral to critical stocks, will result in a realized increase of 8,300 coho in the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area with a resulting total quota of 96,500 fin clipped coho (up from 88,200).

RATIONALE: The Columbia River ocean area is rapidly approaching their catch quota of 88,200 fin-clipped coho, and the coho quota was expected to be met sometime around the middle of next week. This transfer will allow the recreational fishery to continue with another evaluation of the fishery scheduled for 1:00 PM on Wednesday, August 26. This transfer of coho is not anticipated to result in an early closure in the Westport area.

8/13/09 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the areas from the US/Canada Border south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the recreational ocean salmon season in the LaPush Ocean Salmon Management Area off Washington:

ACTION TAKEN: Effective August 14, 2009, a transfer of 1,250 coho from the Neah Bay ocean salmon management area coho quota and a transfer of 1,250 coho from the Westport ocean salmon management area coho quota will be made to the LaPush ocean salmon management area coho quota.

RATIONALE: The LaPush ocean salmon management area coho catches were predicted to meet the ocean coho quota for this area sometime this week. The transfer of 2,500 coho to the LaPush quota is expected to allow their season to continue through at least August 23 rd, and the transfer is not expected to result in an early closure in either the Neah Bay or Westport areas.

NOTE: Another conference call has been tentatively scheduled for 1:00 PM Thursday, August 20 to discuss the North of Cape Falcon fisheries. It is anticipated that action will need to be taken with respect to the Columbia River ocean salmon management area at that time as catches are forecast to be approaching the coho quota.

8/12//09 DISCUSSION POINT - RECREATIONAL ALBACORE LANDINGS: The 2009 recreational albacore fishery off Oregon got a late start this year due to weather and ocean conditions, but has now had two strong weeks of landings. Total 2009 Oregon sport albacore landings have already exceeded all years except 2007. Two graphs comparing the annual catches from 1999 through 2008 to the 2009 landings through August 9th are available here (pdf) and here (pdf)

7/31/09 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the areas from the US/Canada Border south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the recreational ocean salmon seasons in the Neah Bay , LaPush, Westport , and Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Areas:

ACTION TAKEN: Effective August 1, 2009, the daily bag limit in the recreational ocean salmon seasons in all ocean areas from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon , Oregon is increased to allow up to 2 chinook salmon in the bag limit. Daily bag limit will now be 2 salmon per day, and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.

RATIONALE: In the regulation setting process earlier this spring, the bag limit was set with a limitation of only one chinook per day. This limitation was established to ensure that adequate chinook would be available for the full season. Through July 26, chinook catches in the areas between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon had only reached 24% of the quota, and historical average catches in August indicate that less than 50% of the quota would be likely to be taken in August. In order to more fully utilize the available chinook quota, the removal of the no more than 1 chinook in the bag limit restriction was made. Anglers are reminded that the chinook minimum length is 24 inches.

7/16/09 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTIONS TAKEN: (1) The open period landing limit of 40 chinook per vessel is increased to 75 chinook per vessel per open period effective with the July 18-21 open period, and (2) the remainder of the chinook quota from the May-June troll fishery was tentatively transferred to the summer fishery on an impact neutral basis. This resulted in a transfer of 2,800 chinook to the summer fishery increasing the quota from 6,765 to 9,565 fish. This tentative transfer will be reviewed by the Salmon Technical Team before being finalized.

6/26/09 DISCUSSION POINT - RECREATIONAL SELECTIVE FISHERY: The advent of selective (fin-clipped hatchery) coho fisheries in recent years has been an effective tool to allow for longer fishing seasons and larger quotas than could be allowed in a fishery where non-clipped coho are allowed in the bag limit. Selective fishing seasons are considered in those areas where hatchery salmon will make up the majority of the catch, where the majority of the hatchery salmon are fin-clipped, and where conservation concerns do not allow for a non-selective season of acceptable length. Allowable impacts to some of our wild coho populations have meant that as little as 8% of the population can be impacted. In 2009, ocean fisheries for coho were limited to 13% of the wild run for Lower Columbia River coho (LCN) and 15% of the Oregon Coastal Natural coho (OCN). When divided up between all of the ocean fisheries that intercept those coho, LCN coho was the stock that most limited fisheries along the Oregon Coast, and only 2.6% of the LCN coho were allowed to be impacted in the South of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery.

The most common concern expressed by anglers about selective fisheries is that some of the released fish will not survive. That is the tradeoff that has to be made for a selective fishery to work. The hook and release mortality rate for ocean sport caught salmon is estimated to be about 15% of the fish handled. This mortality is included in the analysis when the ocean salmon seasons are developed in the spring. In a non-selective fishery every wild coho encountered counts against the allowable impact, but in a selective coho fishery only 15% of the wild coho caught and released will count against the allowable impact. In most years, that means a selective fishery coho quota that will be at least three to four times greater than if anglers were allowed to retain all coho.

Currently, about 70% of the hatchery coho in the ocean off Oregon were fin-clipped at their hatchery of origin. When combined with the wild coho, the fin-clipped rate should be somewhat better than 50% of the coho anglers encounter in 2009. This rate will vary depending on when and where you are fishing. Highest fin-clipped rates will be encountered prior to mid-August, and should be higher on the North and Central Oregon Coast than on the South Coast. This is because the majority of hatchery coho in the ocean off Oregon come from releases in the Columbia River basin. Those fish begin to return to the Columbia in August, and tend to be in greater abundance closer to the Columbia. Of the fish that are unclipped, roughly half of those are actually of wild origin with the remainder being unclipped hatchery coho.

For example, using a rough breakdown of the preseason expectations from this season, out of 100 coho hooked and brought to a boat, if 58 of those were fin-clipped hatchery coho that would be kept, there would be 25 non fin-clipped hatchery coho that would have to be released, and 17 wild coho that would be released. Of the 17 released wild coho, the expectation is that 2-3 would not survive (15% mortality). For the same 58 retained coho catch in a non-selective fishery, the catch would consist of 48 hatchery coho and 10 wild coho. So for that same boat to stay with the same number of impacted wild coho as in the selective fishery, their catch in a non-selective season would decline from the 58 retained fin-clipped hatchery coho to a total of 15 retained coho (12-13 hatchery coho and 2-3 wild coho).

When the public has been presented the option of a larger selective quota vs. a much smaller non-selective coho quota, they have always chosen the selective fishery option. This year, the choice for the Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California Border season was between a selective quota of 117,000 fin-clipped coho and a non-selective quota that would have been about 30,000 coho. Other changes to season dates, bag limit, and days open per week would have likely been made as well.

Some of our local runs of OCN coho have been doing very well over the past several years, and this year we are planning to allow for limited harvest of coho in four of our coastal estuaries and two of our lakes where we have seen the strongest populations. The four newly adopted estuary seasons will be managed with very conservative quotas to insure that harvest does not put the spawning population at risk.

As the Oregon Coastal Natural coho population continues to rebound, we remain hopeful that we may yet be able to move towards more of the traditional non-selective fisheries. In the meantime, we will continue to strive towards providing fish and fishing opportunities where we can.

6/26/09 UPDATE: The May/June commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon will continue without modification through the final scheduled open period of June 27-30. Trollers are reminded that any chinook from this open period must be landed and delivered prior to participating in the coho season that opens on July 1.

6/17/09 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon that opened on May 1 has taken an estimated 10,320 Chinook out of the quota of 13,735 through the first seven open periods. This leaves 3,416 Chinook on the quota, and the fishery is expected to continue without modification at this time, through the next opening scheduled for June 20-23.

6/12/09 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon that opened on May 1 has taken an estimated 9,759 Chinook out of the quota of 13,735 through the first six open periods. This leaves 3,976 Chinook on the quota, and the fishery will continue without modification at this time, but a conference call to discuss the status of the fishery and potential inseason changes may occur prior to the opening scheduled for June 20-23. Catches have been best along the central Washington Coast, but continued very poor in the Columbia River ocean area. Oregon landings have totaled less than 300 Chinook during the first six open periods.

6/8/09 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted State Waters (0-3 NM) fall chinook seasons for sport and commercial fisheries off Tillamook Bay and Elk River on Friday, June 5, 2009. No State Waters fall seasons were approved off the Chetco River for fall 2009. Links to the regulations for these approved seasons can be found on the Special State Waters Chinook Seasons webpage.

6/4/09 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon that opened on May 1 has taken an estimated 8,103 Chinook out of the quota of 13,735 through the first five open periods. This leaves 5,632 Chinook on the quota, and the fishery will continue without modification at this time, but a conference call to discuss the status of the fishery and potential inseason changes are likely prior to the opening scheduled for June 13-16. Catches have been best along the central Washington Coast, but continued very poor in the Columbia River ocean area. Oregon landings have totaled less than 250 Chinook during the first five open periods.

5/22/09 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon that opened on May 1 has taken an estimated 3,401 Chinook out of the quota of 13,735 through the first three open periods. This leaves 10,334 Chinook on the quota, and the fishery will continue without modification at this time. Catches have been best along the North Washington Coast, but very poor in the Westport and Columbia River ocean areas. Oregon landings were less than 100 Chinook during the first three open periods.

5/15/09 UPDATE: The regulations for ocean salmon seasons as proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council have been ratified by both the Secretary of Commerce and by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

4/16/2009 MEETING NOTICE:
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Contact: Ron Boyce (971) 673-6081
Bob Buckman (541) 265-8306
Jessica Sall (503) 947-6023
Internet: www.dfw.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009

ODFW seeks input on upcoming coho, fall chinook salmon seasons

SALEM – The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will be hosting public meetings in several coastal communities to solicit input on regulations for the 2009 fall chinook salmon season and on new wild coho fisheries being proposed for selected waters on the Oregon coast.

The meetings are planned for April 28-30 in North Bend, Newport, Gold Beachand Tillamook.

While fishery biologists predict another weak return of fall chinook to coastal rivers, bays and estuaries, they also are anticipating a large wild coho salmon return that could mean the first wild coho fisheries in an Oregon coast river basin since 1994. These proposed fisheries will have daily and seasonal bags limits and overall quotas similar to fisheries on wild coho that have been open in Siltcoos and Tahkenitch lakes since 2003.

“We anticipate the final 2009 regulations for coastal fall chinook may look a lot like the emergency regulations put in place last year for some rivers but may need to be more restrictive for other rivers,” said Ron Boyce, ODFW Ocean Salmon Columbia River Program manager.

“I think chinook anglers who were on the coastal rivers and bays last year saw just how poor the return was,” Boyce said. “We’re not predicting this year’s return to be much better.”

But the prediction for coastal coho salmon is much brighter, according to Bob Buckman, ODFW district fish biologist inNewport.

Buckman credits a combination of factors for the large coho return, including a good spawning population in 2006 (the parents of this year’s returning fish), favorable ocean conditions, and the habitat protection and restoration activities that have occurred under the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds.

The proposed regulations call for limited wild coho fisheries in the tidewater areas of the Nehalem, Yaquina, Coos, and Coquille rivers. The Oregon Coast coho is currently listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. This has required ODFW to conduct extensive biological analysis and take a very precautionary approach in proposing the fisheries.

The recent history of coho returns has been good,” said Buckman. “Combine that with the expected large return this year and we’re confident that a conservative fishery is consistent with the continued conservation of these fish populations.”

Any plan to allow the harvest of wild coastal coho must first be approved by NOAA-Fisheries and the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

At the upcoming public meetings ODFW staff will present information on the run forecasts and proposed structures of the seasons.

“We also hope to get some feedback from the public that we can present to the Fish and Wildlife Commission when it considers these fisheries at its June meeting,” Boyce said.

All meetings are from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The meeting dates and locations are:

North Bend, April 28
North Bend Community Center, 2222 Broadway St, North Bend
Contact: Gary Vonderohe, ODFW, (541) 888-5515

Newport, April 29
Hallmark Resort Newport, 744 Elizabeth, Newport
Contact: Bob Buckman, ODFW, (541) 265-8306 X224

Gold Beach, April 30
Curry Showcase Bldg., Curry Co. Fairgrounds, 29392 Ellensburg Ave.(Hwy 101), Gold Beach
Contact: Todd Confer, ODFW, (541) 247-7605

Tillamook, April 30
Oregon Dept. of Forestry, 5005 Third St. , Tillamook
Contact: Chris Knutsen, ODFW, (503) 842-2741

4/8/09 UPDATE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council finalized their recommendation to Department of Commerce for the 2009 ocean salmon seasons. The final sport and commercial troll salmon recommendations can be found on the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s website Summary graphics of the 2009 proposed seasons are available on this site for both commercial troll (pdf) and recreational seasons (pdf).

3/12/09 UPDATE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) completed development of a range of recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing options for the 2009 season. These options now go out for public review and comment prior to March 31. The PFMC will reconvene for the week of April 5-10 to select a final set of recommended salmon season that will then be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce for final approval. A copy of the proposed options can be found on the PFMC website.

3/11/09 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Oregon, and fishery interests has taken in-season management action to cancel the March 15 openings in the ocean Chinook salmon seasons off Oregon.

ACTION TAKEN (1): The commercial ocean troll salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and the Oregon/California Border that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 has been closed by in-season management action by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

ACTION TAKEN (2): The recreational ocean salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and Humbug Mt., Oregon that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 has been closed by in-season management action by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

RATIONALE: Chinook salmon forecasts for numerous runs that contribute to ocean salmon fisheries off Oregon are estimated to be very low. Of specific concern is the critical low number of fall Chinook within the Sacramento River, which is at the head of the list of issues facing salmon managers this year. This closure will allow fishery managers to better develop a full range of fishing options for the 2009 ocean salmon seasons. A decision on the structure of the salmon seasons will be made at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Millbrae, CA during the week of April 4-9.

1/12/2009 MEETING NOTICE: The 2009 Ocean Salmon Industry Group meeting (OSIG) is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2009. This pre-season planning meeting will give an early look at the 2009 salmon forecasts, and develop recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing concepts to take forward through the Pacific Fishery Management Council regulation setting process. The OSIG meeting will be held at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport.

The OSIG meeting is sponsored by the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and is open to all ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2009 season. The meeting is expected to start at 9:30 AM and conclude by 3:30 PM.

10/9/08 ACTION NOTICE: Fishery managers of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have discussed options regarding the statusof the commercial troll ocean Chinook salmon fishery within state waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Chetco River.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll ocean salmon fishery within Oregon State waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Chetco River between Twin Rocks (42°05’36” N. Lat.) and the Oregon/California border (42°00’00” N. Lat.) will be open for fishing on Sunday, October 12, 2008, with a single daily possession and landing limit of 5 Chinook.

RATIONALE: The Chetco State Waters Fall Chinook commercial troll season was scheduled to be open for the period of October 12-15, with a single daily possession and landing limit of 10 Chinook.  After the first open period of October 5-8 the landings totaled 213 Chinook. In order to stay within the 250 Chinook quota, and taking into account the anticipated fishing effort, the decision was made to reopen for the first day only of the scheduled October 12-15 period and to reduce to possession and landing from 10 Chinook to 5 Chinook.

10/2/08 ACTION NOTICE: Fishery managers of the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife have discussed options regarding the status of the recreational ocean Chinook salmon fishery within state waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Chetco River.

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon fishery within Oregon State waters (0-3 nautical miles) off the Chetco River between Twin Rocks (42°05’36” N. Lat.) and the Oregon/California border (42°00’00” N. Lat.) will open for one additional day of fishing on Saturday, October 11, 2008.

RATIONALE: The Chetco State Waters Fall Chinook recreational season was scheduled to be open for the period of October 1-4. Alternate fishing dates of October 10, 11, 17, and/or 18 were to be considered if weather conditions significantly restricted ocean access during the first four days of the season, and Chinook remained on the guideline. On the first day of the season, catches totaled 190 Chinook (0.3 Chinook per angler), but weather and ocean conditions will preclude any ocean fishing for the period of October 2-4. Taking into account the preseason intent and goals of the fishery, the desire to provide recreational fishing opportunity, the weather/ocean conditions, and the status of the catch relative to the guideline; the decision was made to reopen for one of the alternate dates. Since the original intent of the season structure was to include a weekend day, managers agreed that Saturday, October 11 was the best choice.

8/15/08 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the recreational and commercial Oregon salmon fisheries, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to close the recreational ocean salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Point, Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon.

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon closes to all salmon fishing effective 2:00 PM Sunday, August 17.

8/13/08 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The rule restricting gear to plugs six inches or larger is removed effective Saturday, August 16.

RATIONALE: The gear restriction was originally added to insure that commercial catches of coho would not outpace the chinook catches. At this point in time the coho landings have been slower than chinook, and the troll industry has expressed concern that they are unable to effectively catch chinook with the 6 inch plug requirement. By removing the plug requirement the fishery is expected to continue in an orderly manner. Although discussed, no changes were made to either the open days or open period landing limits.

8/12/08 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the recreational and commercial Oregon salmon fisheries, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to close the recreational ocean salmon fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California Border.

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California Border closes to all salmon fishing effective 11:59 PM Thursday, August 14.

RATIONALE: The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California Border opened for fin-clipped coho retention on June 22nd with a quota of 9,000 coho. Through August 3, landings had progressed at an average of 8% of the quota per week with total landings of 5,342 coho (59% of quota) landed by August 3. During the week of August 4-10, effort and catch accelerated over the weekend, and brought total landings to 8,462 coho by Sunday evening (94% of quota). Weekday catches are currently estimated to average 300 coho per day which will result in the quota being entirely caught by Tuesday, August 12. In order to provide adequate notice of the season closure to the recreational fishing community, the season will close on Thursday night.

7/30/08 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The open period landing limit of 35 chinook per vessel is increased to 50 chinook per vessel per open period. In addition, the 616 chinook remaining from the spring fishery were added to the existing quota of 8,300 chinook bringing the chinook quota for the summer fishery up to 8,916 chinook. Changes will go into effect on Saturday, August 2.

RATIONALE: The troll fishery had taken only 15% of the chinook quota in the first five openings in the summer fishery. Troll industry representatives had requested an increase in the limit to better access the total chinook quota.

6/20/08 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the recreational fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to modify the recreational salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon (Columbia River Ocean Area).

ACTION TAKEN: The daily bag limit in this area will increase from one chinook per angler to two chinook per angler effective Saturday, June 21. In addition, during the all salmon season which is scheduled to open on Sunday, June 29, the daily bag limit will be all salmon, two salmon per day, and all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip.

RATIONALE: At the request of the fishing community, the bag limit adjustment was considered. The season structure in the area and the separate sub-limit on chinook was initially adopted to reduce the chance of exceeding the chinook quota early. After reviewing the first three weeks of the fishery, it appears that going to a bag limit that will include two chinook has a minimal chance of reaching the quota early.

6/19/08 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon season in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon will continue for the next scheduled open period of June 21 through June 24 with a reduction in the open period landing and possession limit from 50 chinook to 35 chinook per vessel. In addition, the fishery will not reopen on June 28.

RATIONALE: The fishery has taken an estimated 9,995 chinook out of the catch quota of 11,700 chinook. It was anticipated that the number of fish remaining on the quota (1,705) was insufficient under the current regulations to continue for the next scheduled open period of June 21 through 24 without exceeding the quota. By reducing the landing limit to 35 chinook the chance of exceeding the quota should be greatly reduced.

6/11/2008 UPDATE: Through June 10, the North of Cape Falcon to the US/Canada border commercial troll Chinook season has landed approximately 7,700 Chinook out of the 11,700 fish quota (66%). The season will continue for the next scheduled opening of June 14 through 17 without adjustment.

5/30/2008 UPDATE: The North of Cape Falcon to the US/Canada border commercial troll Chinook season has landed approximately 4,100 Chinook out of the 11,700 fish quota (35%) through May 28. The season will continue for the next scheduled opening of May 31 through June 3 without adjustment.

5/1/2008 UPDATE: The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce have approved the 2008 ocean salmon seasons as proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Please visit the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at www.pcouncil.org for full regulations for the sport and commercial ocean salmon seasons for 2008.

3/12/2008 ACTION NOTICE:The National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Oregon, and fishery interests has taken in-season management action to cancel the March 15 openings in the ocean Chinook salmon seasons off Oregon.

ACTION TAKEN (#1): The commercial ocean troll salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and the Oregon/California Border that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 has been closed by in-season management action by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

ACTION TAKEN (#2): The recreational ocean salmon fishery for all species except coho between Cape Falcon, Oregon and Humbug Mt., Oregon that was scheduled to open for the period of March 15 through April 30 has been closed by in-season management action by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

RATIONALE: Chinook salmon forecasts for numerous runs that contribute to ocean salmon fisheries off Oregon are estimated to be at very low levels. Specific concerns over critically low numbers of fall Chinook within the Sacramento River, and a very low forecast for Klamath River three year old Chinook are at the head of the list of issues facing salmon managers this year. This closure will allow fishery managers to better develop a full range of fishing options for the 2008 ocean salmon seasons. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Pacific Fishery Management Council are still considering options for fishing opportunity within this area that could start as early as April 15. A decision on any April seasons will be made at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Tacoma, Washington during the week of April 7-11.

1/24/08 MEETING NOTICE: The 2008 Ocean Salmon Industry Group meeting (OSIG) is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2008. This pre-season planning meeting will give an early look at the 2008 salmon forecasts, and develop recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing concepts to take forward through the Pacific Fishery Management Council regulation setting process. The OSIG meeting will be held at the Best Western Agate Beach Inn, 3019 North Coast Highway 101, Newport from approximately 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

9/12/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the California Department of Fish and Game, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and fishery interests has taken action to close the commercial troll salmon fishery between the Oregon/California Border and the Humboldt South Jetty (CA) at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, September 12.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective 11:59 PM on Wednesday, September 12, the commercial troll salmon season between the Oregon/California Border and the Humboldt South Jetty will close to all commercial troll salmon fishing. Vessels have 24 hours to land and deliver their catch from this fishery.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll fishery from the Oregon/California Border to the Humboldt South Jetty opened on September 10 with a 6,000 chinook quota and daily landing limits of 30 chinook per vessel. At the end of fishing on September 10 over 2,100 Chinook had been caught, and by the end of fishing on September 11 an additional 2,400 Chinook had been landed. There have been in excess of 80 boats fishing, with most boats catching their full daily limit of 30 Chinook. By the close of fishing on September 12, it is expected that landings will be in excess of the 6,000 Chinook quota.

9/5/07 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon season between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon, Oregon will re-open for the period of Saturday, Sept. 8 through Tuesday, Sept. 11 with open period landing and possession limits of 20 chinook and 140 adipose fin clipped coho per vessel. There are an estimated 331 chinook and 4,193 coho remaining on the catch quotas (approximately 6% of the chinook quota, and 19% of the coho quota remain at this time).

9/5/07 ACTION NOTICE: The commercial troll salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will reopen to the retention of coho salmon for the period of September 10-13. The coho retention is in addition to the previously scheduled chinook salmon opening for the same time period.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective 00:01 AM on Monday, September 10, the commercial troll salmon season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will re-open to the retention of all salmon including coho salmon (no fin clip required). The fishery will close at 11:59 PM on Thursday, September 13. Troll vessels are limited to a landing and possession limit of no more than 50 coho and 150 chinook for the open period.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll fishery is estimated to have taken less than 6,000 coho out of the 10,000 non-selective coho quota. Catches during the most recent opening of August 25-28 were estimated at 1,600 coho, and the projected catches from the next open period are expected to fall below the catch quota. Oregon fishery managers confirmed with NOAA Fisheries on August 30, that the current federal regulations would allow the fishery to continue without requiring a change in the adopted federal rules. After further review of catches to date, Oregon fishery managers were in agreement to reopen the fishery as originally scheduled. State action has been taken to reopen the fishery under Oregon Administrative Rules to be in alignment with the federal regulations.

8/30/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and recreational fishing interests, has taken in-season action to re-open the recreational salmon fishery between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon effective Sunday, September 2.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Sunday, September 2, at 00:01 AM, the recreational ocean salmon fishery between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will re-open to salmon fishing. Bag limit remains two legal size salmon, but no more than one chinook and all coho must have a healed over adipose fin clip.

RATIONALE: The recreational ocean salmon fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Area closed to salmon fishing on Saturday, August 25 due to attainment of the coho quota. The initial quota in the area was 58,800 coho and a transfer of 4,250 coho from Westport allowed the fishery to continue through Saturday, August 25. At the end of fishing on Saturday, just over 2,000 coho remained on the combined quota. An additional transfer of 8,400 coho from the Westport Ocean Area quota is expected to allow the Columbia Ocean Area fishery to continue through most of the remainder of September.

8/30/07 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will continue under the same landing limits and rules as during the most recent open period. This next opening is from Saturday, Sept. 1 through Tuesday, Sept. 4. Vessels are limited to a landing and possession limit no more than 20 chinook and 140 adipose fin-clipped coho for the open period. Special call in and landing restrictions also apply.

The most recent catch update from this fishery indicates that during the last open period of August 25-28 there were approximately 90 chinook and 1,700 coho landed by Oregon and Washington troll fishers. At this point, there are an estimated 320 chinook and 4,800 coho remaining on the quotas.

8/28/07 UPDATE: A conference call was held today to discuss the status of the Cape Falcon to Oregon/California Border recreational selective coho salmon fishery. The fishery is at 81% of its coho quota through Sunday, August 26, but catches and effort slowed substantially during this past week. With the lower effort and catch, the fishery WILL continue through the Labor Day weekend, and no changes to the season structure were made at this time.

Note that the recreational salmon fishery is closed in the area between Humbug Mt. and the Oregon/California Border beginning September 5.

8/22/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and fishery representatives; has taken in-season action to re-open the commercial troll salmon fishery to the retention of coho in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. beginning Saturday, August 25.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective 00:01 AM on Saturday, August 25, the commercial troll salmon season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will re-open to the retention of coho salmon. Troll vessels are limited to a landing and possession limit of no more than 50 coho per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday).

RATIONALE: The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opened to the retention of all coho salmon greater than 16 inches in length on Wednesday, August 15 with a landing and possession limit of no more than 50 coho per vessel per calendar week. The fishery was scheduled to be open for the period of August 15 through August 28, and September 10 through 13 or a catch quota of 10,000 coho. Early catch estimates indicated that the troll fleet may be catching as much as 1,800 to 2,500 coho per day, and there was a risk that allowing the fishery to continue past Monday, August 20 could result in the quota being exceeded. Updates on catches indicate that for the period through Monday, August 20 landings totaled 4,300 coho, and that a reopening for the period of August 25 through 28 should still result in total landings coming in below the 10,000 non-selective coho quota.

8/22/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and recreational fishing interests, has taken in-season action to close the recreational salmon fishery between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon effective Saturday, August 25 at 11:59 PM.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Saturday, August 25, at 11:59 PM, the recreational ocean salmon fishery between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will close to all salmon fishing.

RATIONALE: The recreational fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Management Area (Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon) is forecast to have less than a day of fishing remaining on the coho quota for that area at the end of fishing on Friday, August 24. A transfer of coho from the Westport Ocean Management Area to the Columbia River Ocean Management Area will allow enough coho for fishing to continue through Saturday night.

8/22/07 UPDATE: The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon will reopen for selective coho (fin-clipped hatchery only) and chinook harvest as scheduled for the period of Saturday, August 25 through Tuesday, August 28. Open period landing limits of 20 chinook and 140 adipose fin clipped coho apply as in the previous open period. A conference call is anticipated for Thursday, August 30 to consider management action prior to the next scheduled open period of Saturday, September 1 through Tuesday, September 4.

8/22/07 UPDATE:The recreational ocean salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California Border is approaching the coho catch quota for the area. Landings through Sunday, August 19 totaled 76% of the quota. A conference call is scheduled for 3:00 PM on Tuesday, August 28 to review landings through Sunday, August 26 and consider whether any management actions need to be taken at that time.

8/17/ 07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and fishery representatives; has taken inseason action to close the commercial troll salmon fishery to the retention of coho in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. on Monday, August 20. This closure does not affect the ongoing chinook salmon fishery.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective 11:59 PM on Monday, August 20, the commercial troll salmon season between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will close to retention of coho salmon. Troll vessels have 24 hours following the closure to land and deliver any coho caught in this fishery. Vessels may not have any troll gear in the water following the closure until all coho have been offloaded.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opened to the retention of all coho salmon greater than 16 inches in length on Wednesday, August 15 with a landing and possession limit of no more than 50 coho per vessel per calendar week. The fishery was scheduled to be open for the period of August 15 through August 28, and September 10 through 13 or a catch quota of 10,000 coho. Early catch estimates indicated that the troll fleet may be catching as much as 1,800 to 2,500 coho per day, and there was a risk that allowing the fishery to continue past Monday would result in the quota being exceeded. If sufficient quota remains, a reopening of the coho retention fishery will be considered prior to the scheduled ending date of September 13.

8/15/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and commercial and recreational fishing interests, has taken inseason action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery landing and possession limits between the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Saturday, August 18, commercial troll salmon vessels participating in the fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon, Oregon are restricted to open period landing and possession limits of 140 coho and 20 chinook per vessel.

RATIONALE: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon had taken 15,758 coho out of the quota of 22,400 coho. This left 6,642 coho on the quota. There are also an estimated 621 chinook remaining on the chinook quota. During the most recent open period of August 11-14, troll vessels landed an estimated 7,164 coho and 384 chinook. Without adopting the coho landing limit of 140 coho per vessel per open period, there was a substantial risk of exceeding the coho quota.

NOTE: Oregon vessels landing into Garibaldi, Oregon from this fishery are additionally limited to no more than 50 coho total under the provisions listed in the annual federal salmon regulations.

8/13/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken inseason action to close the August commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from Humbug Mt. to the Oregon/California Border.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective noon on Tuesday, August 14, the commercial troll salmon season between Humbug Mt. and the Oregon/California border will close to salmon fishing for the remainder of August. Troll vessels have 24 hours following the closure to land their catch.

RATIONALE: The August troll fishery in the area between Humbug Mt. and the Oregon/California border opened on August 1 with a quota of 1,800 chinook. Weather kept boats off the water until August 6. However, by Sunday, August 12 almost 1,400 chinook had been landed. Catches were forecast to meet the quota within the next two days, and NOAA Fisheries at the recommendation of the State of Oregon, decided to close the season effective at noon on Tuesday. This will allow for more time to get the notice out to the troll fleet, and also keep the catch within the quota.

8/8/07 UPDATE - TROLL CHINOOK NORTH OF CAPE FALCON: Current catch estimates indicate that landings to date total approximately 8,200 coho out of the 22,400 fin-clipped coho quota and 4,300 chinook out of the 5,400 chinook quota. No management action is being considered prior to the next open period of August 10-14.

7/26/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken inseason action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Leadbetter Pt., Washington.

ACTION TAKEN: Effective Saturday, July 28, commercial salmon troll vessels fishing North of Leadbetter Pt., Washington will be limited to an open period landing and possession limit of 20 Chinook. Note: There were no changes adopted to the landing and possession limits in the area between Leadbetter Pt. and Cape Falcon, Oregon.

RATIONALE: The summer fishery has a Chinook quota of 5,400 fish, but the spring fishery had exceeded its quota by 407 chinook. Catches in the summer fishery through July 24 are estimated to total 3,650 Chinook and 2,659 coho salmon, with quotas remaining to be caught of 1,343 Chinook and 19,741 fin-clipped coho. Open period Chinook catches have been as high as 1,292 fish, and to insure that the Chinook quota is not exceeded a reduced open period limit was adopted. Fishery managers will continue to monitor the fishery and consider whether any additional action is required prior to the next scheduled open period of August 4-7.

7/23/07 UPDATE - TROLL CHINOOK: A conference call was held with NOAA Fisheries, and PFMC representatives regarding the status of the commercial troll chinook fishery in the area between Humbug Mt. and the OR/CA Border. As of Sunday July 22, trollers fishing in the area were estimated to have taken 1,149 chinook out of the 1,600 fish quota (72%). Although all boats appear to be fishing today, ocean/weather conditions are forecast to deteriorate by this evening with strong North winds. A decision was made on the conference call to postpone any action until at least Wednesday, July 25 when an update on catches from Monday and Tuesday will be available. Trollers should check this website for updates prior to fishing in the area on Thursday, July 26.

Another conference call will be convened on Wednesday, July 25 to determine what action, if any, needs to be taken.

7/19/07 UPDATE - TROLL CHINOOK: A conference call was held with NOAA Fisheries, and PFMC representatives regarding the status of the commercial troll chinook fishery in the area between Humbug Mt. and the OR/CA Border. As of Wednesday July 18, trollers fishing in the area were estimated to have taken 1,057 chinook out of the 1,600 fish quota (66%). Very few boats are fishing today and weather conditions are expected to keep most boats off the water on Friday. A decision was made on the conference call to postpone any action until at least Monday, July 23 when another catch update will be available. If catches have accelerated again, then the fishery could be closed as early as Monday night. Trollers should check this website for updates prior to fishing in the area on Tuesday, July 24.

Another conference call will be convened on Monday, July 23 to determine what action, if any, needs to be taken.

6/28/07 UPDATE - SPORT HALIBUT: The all-depth sport halibut fishery off the central Oregon coast will reopen July 5, 6 and 7.

About 40,000 pounds remain of the quota for the central Oregon coast – from Cape Falcon 30 miles south of the Columbia River , to Humbug Mountain south of Port Orford.

If sufficient quota remains after July 7, the spring fishery will continue on one or more of the following days: July 21, 20 and 19, with preference given to Saturday, then Friday, then Thursday. The spring all-depth quota is 170,242-pounds. “These dates were set preseason in case quota remained,” said Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut project leader for ODFW.

6/21/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken inseason action to modify the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon season in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon will continue for the scheduled June 23 through June 26 opening with a reduction in the open period landing and possession limit in the area north of Leadbetter Point from 60 chinook to 50 chinook per vessel (no change in the 30 fish landing and possession limit in the area from Leadbetter Point south to Cape Falcon). In addition, the fishery will not reopen on June 30.

RATIONALE: The fishery has taken an estimated 9,514 chinook out of the catch quota of 10,850 chinook. It was anticipated that the number of fish remaining on the quota (1,314) was insufficient under the current regulations to continue for the next scheduled open period of June 23 through 26 without exceeding the quota. By dropping the landing limit to 50 chinook for the boats north of Leadbetter Pt. the chance of exceeding the quota should be greatly reduced.

The June 30 single day opening that had been scheduled was deemed by both industry and state representatives to not be advisable. The summer fishery is already scheduled to open on July 1 for chinook and coho, and a June 30 chinook only fishery was considered to be a complication better avoided.

4/13/07 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved and adopted ocean salmon seasons as proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

In addition, the Commission also adopted a series of state waters bubble fisheries for fall of 2007. The regulations for these special bubble fisheries will be posted on this website in the coming weeks.

4/6/07 ACTION NOTICE: Mid-day today, April 6, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) adopted a final ocean salmon season regulation package. This package will now be forwarded to NOAA Fisheries and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce for signature. The draft regulations must also be approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for Oregon state waters.

In addition, summaries of the draft regulations are also available on this website. Go to the Regulation Index page and select the appropriate link.

3/8/07 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken inseason action to modify the previously scheduled March and April commercial troll salmon seasons off the Oregon Coast.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon season will remained closed off the entire Oregon Coast until April 10, 2007. From Cape Falcon south to the Oregon California border, commercial troll salmon fishing will be open from April 10 through April 29 for all species of salmon except coho. Vessels are limited to a calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) landing and possession limit of 100 chinook/vessel/week. Chinook minimum length is 28" total length, vessels are limited to no more than 4 spreads per line, and single point barbless hooks are required.

RATIONALE: Although the season was slated to open from March 15 through April 30, troll industry representatives wanted to review forecasts and harvest models prior to any opening and consider possible changes for the March and April seasons. That occurred this week and the decision was made today to reduce the early fishery so as to allow more options later in the season. This season change does not affect the recreational chinook season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. that is scheduled from March 15 through April 30.

All seasons from May 1, 2007 through April 30, 2008 are currently under development through the Pacific Fishery Management Council process. Final PFMC regulation proposals will not be set until the week of April 2-6.

1/3/07 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host their annual "Ocean Salmon Industry Group" meeting from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport. This meeting will review the 2006 season, provide 2007 forecasts of abundance of salmon stocks, review current issues related to salmon management, and be used to develop a set of ocean salmon regulation proposals for ODFW staff to take forward to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2007 season are encouraged to attend this meeting.

9/19/06 ACTION NOTICE: Effective Saturday, September 23, retention of cabezon in the recreational boat fishery is prohibited for the remainder of 2006. Shore anglers are not affected by this change.

9/19/06 ACTION NOTICE: The all-depths recreational Pacific halibut quota in the area between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. has been met and the fishery will remain closed for the remainder of 2006. The 40 fathom curve Pacific halibut season from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. closes to fishing effective Friday, September 22.

9/6/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 12:30 PM today with representatives from NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial troll fishery representatives. The goal of the conference call was to discuss the status of the commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon. There have been eight openings (July 15-18, July 22-25, July 29-August 1, August 5-7, August 12-14, August 19-22, August 26-29, and September 2-5) with total estimated landings of 5,965 chinook and 2,927 adipose clipped coho, out of the quota of 11,550 chinook and 6,800 coho. There are also approximately 1,500 chinook remaining from the 22,450 spring chinook quota. Current landing limits in this fishery are 80 chinook and 40 adipose clipped coho salmon per open period.

ACTION TAKEN: The commercial ocean troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon will reopen to fishing from Friday September 8 through Friday September 15. With open period landing limits of 160 chinook and 80 adipose clipped coho salmon.

RATIONALE: Catches and effort in this fishery have remained relatively light, especially in the area from Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon and approximately 7,100 chinook and 3,900 coho remain on the quotas as of this time. This action will add four days of fishing and a similar number of fish in the landing limits, and will provide additional opportunity without significantly increasing the risk of exceeding the harvest quotas.NOTES: All other regulations for this fishery remain as listed in the 2006 Federal Regulations for West Coast Salmon Fisheries including mandatory call-in provisions for all boats landing fish from this fishery anywhere into Oregon, and the adipose clipped coho landing and possession limits remain unchanged.

9/6/06 ACTION NOTICE: The recreational Pacific halibut quota in the area between Leadbetter Pt., Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon (Columbia River Area) has been met and the fishery will remain closed for the remainder of 2006. The recreational Pacific halibut fishery between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. will reopen in all depths each Friday through Sunday beginning September 8 with a 2 halibut bag limit.

8/25/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 1:00 PM today with representatives from NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and recreational fishery representatives. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife staff proposed re-opening the area between Tillamook Head south to Cape Falcon to recreational salmon fishing for the remainder of the recreational fishery in the Columbia River Ocean Area (Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon).

ACTION TAKEN: The area from Tillamook Head to Cape Falcon will reopen to recreational salmon fishing effective Saturday August 26 through the end of the fishery in the area from Leadbetter Pt., WA to Cape Falcon, OR.

RATIONALE: As of August 20, over 53% of the coho quota in the Columbia River Ocean Area remained, and the catch projections do not indicate that the quota is at risk of being taken prior to the scheduled ending date of September 30. Prior year's conservation concerns for Tillamook area native coho have been diminished with several good years of spawning escapement. This will also provide some additional limited opportunity to access more of the Columbia River Ocean Area coho quota. There were some concerns expressed about the potential for incidental catch and release mortality to canary and yelloweye rockfish; however, evaluation of 2004 and 2006 sampling data (through 8/20/06) showed no interceptions of either species by recreational salmon anglers in this area.

NOTES: All other regulations for this fishery remain as listed in the 2006 Federal Regulations for West Coast Salmon Fisheries.

8/23/06 ACTION NOTICE: The recreational Pacific halibut fishery will re-open in all depths between Leadbetter Pt., Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon (Columbia River Area) on August 25-26 and September 1-3 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). The recreational Pacific halibut fishery will re-open in all depths between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. for September 1-3 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

8/18/06 UPDATE: The recreational selective coho salmon fishery from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border will reopen as listed in the regulations for the period of September 1-6. There have been a number of questions about whether or not adipose fin clipped coho retention would be allowed during this period, and sufficient quota remains for the fishery to proceed as scheduled.

8/17/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 1:00 PM today with representatives from NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial troll fishery representatives. The goal of the conference call was to discuss the status of the commercial troll salmon fishery from the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon. There have been five openings (July 15-18, July 22-25, July 29 - August 1, August 5-7, and August 12-14) with total estimated landings of 3279 chinook and 630 adipose clipped coho, out of the quota of 11,550 chinook and 6,800 coho. There are also approximately 1,500 chinook remaining from the 22,450 spring chinook quota. Current landing limits in this fishery are 60 chinook and 40 adipose clipped coho salmon per open period.

ACTION TAKEN: Changes to the open period, chinook possession limit, and gear restrictions begin Saturday, August 19, 2006 for the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. The open period will increase to four days, Saturday through Tuesday. The chinook possession limit will increase from 60 chinook to 80 chinook per vessel per open fishing period. The six-inch or longer artificial plug restriction was removed; however all other gear restrictions are still in effect.

RATIONALE: Low participation during the first five open periods was due to poor ocean conditions and low landing limits. By increasing the open periods and landing limit to 80 chinook as well as reducing gear restrictions, it is expected that the number of boats participating will increase, catch rates will improve, and still allow for an orderly managed harvest of the remaining chinook quota.

NOTES: All other regulations for this fishery remain as listed in the 2006 Federal Regulations for West Coast Salmon Fisheries including mandatory call-in provisions for all boats landing fish from this fishery anywhere into Oregon, and the adipose clipped coho landing and possession limits remain unchanged.

8/4/06 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission today unanimously voted to adopt a series of commercial troll chinook state waters fisheries to begin in September. These fisheries, often referred to as "bubble fisheries," will mostly begin in September, and are designed to target on returning local stocks of fall chinook while minimizing the risk of intercepting non-local stocks of salmon. The Commission took this action to provide some limited relief to the Oregon commercial troll fleet who are facing the most restricted season in history.

ODFW staff testifying before the commission made a point of identifying that these are not new fisheries, as fishing has been allowed in these areas for over 100 years. The difference this year is that much of the area and/or season had been closed by NOAA Fisheries to reduce impacts to Klamath River fall chinook. Changes to previously adopted state waters terminal area fisheries off Tillamook Bay, Elk River, and Chetco River were also approved. Gear restrictions in all fisheries include the four spreads per wire limitation, and only single point barbless hooks. All bubble and terminal area fisheries are limited to retention of only chinook salmon. A summary of Commission actions is as follows:

Nehalem/Tillamook Bubble (Cape Falcon to Pyramid Rock and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-16 and Oct. 1-16, or quota of 2,000 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Garibaldi or Nehalem. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Tillamook Terminal Area Extension (Twin Rocks to Pyramid Rock and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open Nov. 1-15. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Nestucca Bubble (Cape Kiwanda to Neskowin Cr. and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-16 and Oct. 1-16, or quota of 1,000 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Pacific City or Garibaldi. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Yaquina Bubble (Yaquina Head to 44º33'00"N and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-16 and Oct. 1-16, or quota of 1,000 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Newport or Depoe Bay. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Alsea Bubble (44º29'00"N to 44º23'00"N and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-16 and Oct. 1-16, or quota of 2,000 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Newport or Depoe Bay. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Siuslaw Bubble (Heceta Head to 44º00'00"N and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-16 and Oct. 1-16, or quota of 2,000 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Newport, Florence, Winchester Bay, or Coos Bay. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Umpqua Bubble (Tahkenitch Cr. to 43º37'00"N and inside 30 fathom curve - defined by waypoints): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-30, or quota of 1,000 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Winchester Bay, or Coos Bay. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Coos Bubble (43º31'00"N to Cape Arago and inside 30 fathom curve - defined by waypoints): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-Oct. 16, or quota of 1,500 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Coos Bay. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Elk Bubble (Cape Blanco to Humbug Mt. and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open Sept. 15 through Dec. 15. All fish must be landed in Port Orford. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Rogue Bubble (Nesika Reef (42º30'00"N) to Cape Sebastian and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Sept. 1-15, or quota of 750 chinook. Total landing and possession limit (all bubbles and general season combined) of 50 chinook/vessel per calendar week (Sunday through Saturday). All fish must be landed in Port Orford, Gold Beach, or Brookings. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

Chetco Terminal Area (Twin Rocks (42º05'36"N) to the Oregon/California Border (41º59'47"N) and within 0-3 Nautical Miles of shore): Open through the earlier of Oct. 13 through Nov. 3, or quota of 1,000 chinook. Single daily landing and possession limit of 25 chinook per vessel. All fish must be landed in Brookings. Chinook minimum length of 28 inches.

7/27/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 2:00 PM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial troll fishery representatives. The call was to discuss the status of the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. There have been two openings in July (July 15-18 and July 22-25) with estimated landings of 644 chinook and 36 adipose clipped coho out of the quotas of 11,550 chinook and 6,800 coho. In addition, there are approximately 1,500 chinook remaining from the spring chinook quota of 22,450 chinook. Current landing limits in this fishery are 35 chinook and 35 adipose clipped coho salmon per open period. Beginning August 5 the open period landing and possession limit was scheduled to change to 30 chinook and 40 adipose clipped coho.

ACTION TAKEN: Beginning Saturday, July 29, the commercial troll salmon chinook landing limit between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will increase from 35 to 60 chinook per vessel per open fishing period.

RATIONALE: The low participation level during the first two open periods is due to poor ocean conditions and the low landing limits. By increasing the landing limit to 60 chinook, it is expected that the number of boats participating will increase and allow for an orderly managed harvest of the remaining chinook quota.

NOTES: All other regulations for this fishery remain as listed in the 2006 Federal Regulations for West Coast Salmon Fisheries including mandatory call-in provisions for all boats landing fish from this fishery into Oregon, the 6 inch or longer artificial plug restriction, and the adipose clipped coho landing and possession limits remain unchanged.

7/24/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 9:30 AM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and recreational fishery interests. The purpose of the call was to discuss the status of the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon recreational salmon seasons and potential inseason actions related to the current bag limit and the open days per week. For the Columbia River catch area (Leadbetter Pt., WA to Cape Falcon, OR) current regulations allow for a daily bag limit of two salmon with no more than one chinook (all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip), and salmon fishing is open five days per week (Sunday through Thursday). Discussion centered on two potential actions: Opening the fishery to fishing all days of the week, and eliminating the restriction of no more than one chinook in the bag limit.

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational salmon fishery in the ocean between Leadbetter Pt., Washington and Cape Falcon, Oregon will open to fishing seven days per week effective August 11, 2006. Concurrently, the bag limit will go to two salmon per day (all retained coho must have a healed adipose fin clip). Note: The Columbia River Control Zone closure remains in effect, and the area between Tillamook Head and Cape Falcon closes to all salmon fishing beginning August 1.

RATIONALE: The fishery management plan for the recreational seasons North of Cape Falcon sets as a goal having open fishing through the Labor Day holiday, and when possible open for all species. Analyses of the seasons by Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife staff using current effort and catches through July 16, and forecasting into September using two separate methods indicated that relaxing the one chinook restriction and opening to seven days per week could possibly result in not attaining the Labor Day weekend if the change occurred as early as August 4. By waiting until August 11 to implement the changes, there was a much stronger chance of being able to fish through at least the Labor Day weekend and meet the established management goal.

6/30/06 ACTION NOTICE: The recreational Pacific halibut fishery will re-open in all depths between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. for the period of July 6, 7, and 8. Approximately 15% of the spring harvest quota remains, and will allow for the additional fishing days.

6/15/06 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 12:00 PM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial troll fishery representatives. The call was to discuss status of US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. As of June 13, total catch in this fishery was estimated at 21,567 chinook out of a quota of 22,450, leaving approximately 880 chinook remaining to be caught. There was concurrence that there were not enough fish remaining to open for the next scheduled open period on June 17. The following action was taken:The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area between the US/Canada to Cape Falcon will close to all troll salmon fishing from June 16 through June 26. There will be another opening scheduled for the period of June 27 through June 30 with an open period possession and landing limit of 20 chinook per vessel. Vessels have 24 hours after the close of the fishery to land and deliver their catch, and vessels delivering into Oregon must meet specific call-in provisions as adopted for all seasons North of Cape Falcon. All other special catch and landing requirements remain in effect.

6/15/06 ACTION NOTICE: The recreational Pacific halibut fishery will re-open in all depths between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. for the period of June 22, 23, and 24. Approximately 17% of the spring harvest quota remains, and will allow for the additional fishing days.

5/10/06 Correction to the HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES MEETING NOTICE of 5/5/06: The meeting schedules have been changed by NOAA Fisheries due to a conflict with ODFW scheduled groundfish meetings. The corrected information has been added to the original post below.

5/5/06 HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES MEETING NOTICE: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, in collaboration with the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the respective state natural resource agencies, will hold a series of public meetings to discuss topics important to commercial and recreational fishermen of Highly Migratory Species (HMS) such as tunas, sharks and billfish. The meetings will highlight the current status of domestic and international HMS activities along with the rules and regulations of the federal Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for U.S. fishing vessels targeting HMS off the coast of California , Oregon and Washington. Topics to be discussed include the following:

• 2005 north Pacific albacore season summary and stock status
• U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty with update on 2006-07 management measures
• Status of regional HMS Resolutions and Conservation measures
• HMS FMP regulations (logbooks, vessel markings, bycatch issues, observers, HMS permits, exempted fishing permits)
• Preliminary albacore tagging results and future plans

  The meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m . at the date and locations listed below

  Date	Location	Port Areas
  May 15	Woodley Island Marina Conference Room, 601 Startare Dr. , Eureka , CA, 95501. (707) 443-0801	Eureka-Crescent City , California
  May 16	Hatfield Marine Science Center , 2030 SE Main Science Drive Newport , OR 97365 . (541) 867-0100.	Newport , Oregon
  May 17	Comfort Inn Suites, 3420 Leif Erickson Dr. , Astoria , OR , 97103 . (503) 325-2000.	Astoria , Oregon - Ilwaco , Washington
  May 18	Boat Basin Auditorium, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, 63466 Boat Basin Drive , Charleston , OR , 97420 . (541) 888-2581, ext. 200.	Charleston-Coos Bay , Oregon
  May 19	Hotel Chateau, P.O. Box 349 , Westport , WA 98595 . (360) 268-9101	Westport , Washington - Ilwaco , Washington

  
  For more information on the FMP please visit the NMFS Southwest Region website or the Pacific Fisheries Management Council website.

** Salmon are not a part of the HMS FMP and will not be discussed at these meetings **

Contacts:

Jim Milbury (562) 980–4006 or cell (310) 245-7114
Craig Heberer (760) 431–9440, ext. 303

4/28/06 ACTION NOTICE: The Secretary of the Department of Commerce signed into law the PFMC adopted ocean salmon regulations for 2006. The regulations were signed into law at 5:05 PM (Eastern Time) and will be published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2006.

4/10/06 ACTION NOTICE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has posted on their website a draft version of the adopted ocean salmon seasons for both the recreational ocean salmon fishery and the commercial ocean troll salmon fishery. These proposed regulations must still receive approval from NOAA Fisheries and the Secretary of Commerce.

4/7/06 ACTION NOTICE: Late Thursday, April 6, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) adopted a final ocean salmon season regulation package.

3/10/06 ACTION NOTICE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) voted late this morning to cancel the scheduled commercial troll salmon fishery scheduled to open March 15. This fishery was originally scheduled to run from March 15 through April 30 from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border. Due to concerns over an extremely low abundance forecast for Klamath River fall chinook, the National Marine Fisheries Service has stated that no fishing can be allowed, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council's action was taken with respect to that guidance.Note: The Oregon recreational ocean salmon fishery which is also scheduled to open March 15, will continue as scheduled for March and April.

2/3/06 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host their annual "Ocean Salmon Industry Group" meeting from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport. This meeting will review the 2005 season, provide 2006 forecasts of abundance of salmon stocks, review current issues related to salmon management, and be used to develop a set of ocean salmon regulation proposals for ODFW staff to take forward to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2006 season are encouraged to attend this meeting.

9/13/05 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area recreational ocean salmon season:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon season from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Tillamook Head, Oregon will REOPEN to retention of chinook salmon effective 0001 hours Saturday, September 17, 2005.

9/7/05 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area recreational ocean salmon season:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon season from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon closes to retention of chinook salmon effective 0001 hours Friday, September 9, 2005.

8/23/05 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 9:00 AM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial and recreational fishery representatives. The call was to discuss the status of the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. As of August 22 total catch in this fishery was estimated to be 43,700 chinook out of the 2005 overall troll quota of 43,250 chinook. There have been a total of 3,430 coho landed out of the quota of 23,200 fin clipped coho. The following action was taken:The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area between the US/Canada and Cape Falcon will remained closed to all troll salmon fishing. Note: There will be a reevaluation of the recreational chinook salmon harvest after Labor Day weekend. If sufficient chinook remain on the recreational quota to allow for a transfer of fish to the commercial fishery, then there may be consideration of reopening the commercial troll salmon season in this area prior to September 15.

8/04/05 ACTION NOTICE: The incidental commercial troll halibut fishery quota has been met and the season will close effective midnight August 7, 2005.

7/25/05 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken relative to the Columbia River Ocean Salmon Management Area recreational ocean salmon season:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon season from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon will open to salmon fishing seven days per week with a bag limit of two salmon per day (all coho must have a healed adipose fin clip) effective July 29, 2005 .

6/8/05 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 1:00 PM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial fishery representatives. The call was to discuss status of US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. As of June 7 total catch in this fishery was estimated to be 27,300 chinook out of a quota of 29,000, leaving approximately 1,700 chinook remaining to be caught. The following action was taken:The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area between the US/Canada to Cape Falcon will reopen for all species except coho for the period of Sunday, June 26 through Thursday, June 30 with a 30 chinook per vessel per open period landing and possession limit. Vessels have 24 hours after the close of the fishery to land and deliver their catch, and vessels delivering into Oregon must meet specific call-in provisions as adopted for all seasons North of Cape Falcon. All other special catch and landing requirements remain in effect.

5/31/05 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 1:00 PM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial fishery representatives. The call was to discuss status of US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. As of May 27 total catch in this fishery was estimated to be 24,800 chinook out of a quota of 29,000, leaving approximately 4,200 chinook remaining to be caught. An option allowing another opening was adopted with a reduced possession and landing limit, the following action was taken:The commercial troll salmon fishery in the area between the US/Canada to Cape Falcon will reopen for all species except coho for the period of Friday June 3 through Monday June 6 with a 60 chinook per vessel per open period landing and possession limit. Vessels have 24 hours after the close of the fishery to land and deliver their catch, and vessels delivering into Oregon must meet specific call-in provisions as adopted for all seasons North of Cape Falcon. All other special catch and landing requirements remain in effect.On Wednesday, June 8 at 1:00 PM, another conference call will be convened to consider whether enough fish remain on the quota for further open periods.

5/20/05 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held at 1:00 PM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial fishery representatives. The call was to discuss status of US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. As of May 17 total catch in this fishery was estimated to be 19,200 chinook out of a quota of 29,000, with 9,000 chinook having been taken in the most recent open period. Weather conditions are expected to continue poor through Sunday, and the total chinook landings within this current opening are anticipated to be very low. A variety of options were considered with the following action taken:The current adopted troll fishery opening of May 20-23 will be extended an additional three days to Thursday May 26. There will be no change in the vessel landing and possession limit, so boats will be allowed no more than 125 chinook for the entire seven day open period. Vessels have 24 hours after the close of the fishery to land and deliver their catch, and vessels delivering into Oregon must meet specific call-in provisions as adopted for all seasons North of Cape Falcon. All other special catch and landing requirements remain in effect.On Tuesday, May 31 at 1:00 PM another conference call will be convened to consider whether enough fish remain on the quota for further open periods.

4/15/05 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission approved and adopted the PFMC proposed ocean salmon seasons for waters off Oregon today.

4/8/05 ACTION NOTICE: At the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting on Thursday, the final regulations for 2005 ocean salmon seasons were adopted.

3/10/05 ACTION NOTICE: At the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting today in Sacramento, a conference was held to discuss the upcoming March and April commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border. The following actions were taken:1. Humbug Mt., OR to the Oregon/California border - The period from April 16 through April 30 will be closed to all salmon trolling. Rationale: This adjustment to the open period will match the open period with the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. opening and eliminate the chance for a large effort shift into the area in the last half of April.2. Cape Falcon, OR to the Oregon/California border - will close to all salmon trolling for the period of March 26 through March 31. Rationale: By reducing fishing effort in late March, a substantial increase in the number of open fishing days in May and June can now occur.The PFMC will continue to develop the salmon season options through the rest of this week, with the options going out for public review, hearings, and comments through the rest of March. The PFMC will reconvene the week of April 4-8 to finalize fishing seasons for the remainder of the 2005 salmon fishing year (May 1, 2005 - April 30, 2006).

3/9/05 ACTION NOTICE: At the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting today in Sacramento, a conference was held to discuss the upcoming March and April commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border. The following actions were taken:1. In the area from Cape Falcon, OR to Humbug Mt., OR, the all species except coho salmon season will open March 15, 2005 and continue through April 15, 2005. Chinook minimum length is 27". All fish caught within this area MUST be landed in Oregon.2. In the area from Humbug Mt., OR to the Oregon/California border, the all species except coho salmon season will open March 15, 2005 and continue through April 30, 2005. Chinook minimum length is 27". All fish caught in this area MUST be landed into Port Orford, Gold Beach, and Brookings.The PFMC will continue to develop the salmon season options through the rest of this week, with the options going out for public review, hearings, and comments through the rest of March. The PFMC will reconvene the week of April 4-8 to finalize fishing seasons for the remainder of the 2005 salmon fishing year (May 1, 2005 - April 30, 2006).

2/3/05 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host their annual "Ocean Salmon Industry Group" meeting from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Thursday, March 3, 2004 at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport. This meeting will review the 2004 season, provide 2005 forecasts of abundance of salmon stocks, review current issues related to salmon management, and be used to develop a set of ocean salmon regulation proposals for ODFW staff to take forward to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2005 season are encouraged to attend this meeting.

9/7/04 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held today to discuss the commercial troll ocean salmon fishery North of Cape Falcon. The following action was taken: The commercial fishery has met its revised non-selective coho quota of 10,000 and the troll fishery in this area will be closed for the remainder of the year.

9/2/04 ACTION NOTICE: The recreational salmon fishery in the area from Tillamook Head to Cape Falcon will reopen to salmon angling for chinook and adipose fin clipped coho effective Saturday, September 4, 2004.

8/19/04 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held today to discuss the upcoming September commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from Humbug Mt. to the Oregon/California border. The following actions were taken:(1) Landing limit was changed from 65 chinook per trip possession and landing limit to a single daily landing and possession limit of 50 chinook per vessel.(2) The fishery will be open on the following dates or until the quota of 3,000 chinook is attained: Sept. 1-3, Sept. 8-10, and Sept. 15-30.

8/19/04 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held today to discuss the commercial troll ocean salmon fishery North of Cape Falcon. The following actions were taken:(1) The commercial troll salmon fishery traded 20,000 coho salmon from their quota to the recreational fishery in the Westport catch area for 5,000 chinook. These additional chinook should allow the commercial troll salmon fishery to continue their coho fishery into September.(2) The remaining commercial coho quota in the area from Cape Falcon to the Queets River will be converted from adipose clipped coho to 10,000 coho with and without fin-clips.(3) The area from Queets River to Cape Falcon will open for a non-selective coho fishery (no fin-clip requirement) beginning September 1. The additional fishery restrictions are as follows: Open periods of Sept. 1-5, Sept. 8-12, and Sept. 15; no more than 125 chinook per vessel per open period; no more than 500 coho per vessel per open period; fish must be landed and delivered in the area from the Queets River to Cape Falcon, or they may be landed into Garibaldi, OR (note special call-in requirements if fish are landed into Garibaldi or delivered outside of the area in Oregon); all fish must be landed and delivered within 24 hours of any closure in the fishery.

8/10/04 ACTION NOTICE: Effective 00:01, Friday August 13, in the recreational salmon fishery in the area from Cape Alava, Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon; the chinook length limit is lowered to 24 inches from the current 26 inches. This action was taken due continued low total chinook catches in the area, and the expectation that the chinook quota for the area North of Cape Falcon will not be met.

8/3/04 ACTION NOTICE: The commercial troll chinook fishery in the area from Humbug Mt. to the Oregon/California border will close to salmon fishing effective 11:59 PM Wednesday August 4. Vessels must land all catch into Port Orford, Gold Beach, or Brookings within 24 hours of this closure. This action was taken due to effort and catch rates that were expected to result in attainment of the 2,500 chinook quota by Wednesday night.

7/27/04 ACTION NOTICE: The Incidental Halibut Harvest in the commercial troll chinook fishery will close effective 11:59 PM Wednesday July 28 in the area north of the Florence South Jetty to the US/Canada Border, and will close 11:59 PM Thursday July 29 in all areas south of the Florence South Jetty. Vessels are not allowed to have fishing gear in the water once the closure goes into effect until all Pacific halibut have been landed. This action was taken due to assessments of landed halibut that indicated that the entire quota of 44,554 lbs is likely to be landed by the scheduled closure dates.

7/19/04 ACTION NOTICE: The commercial troll chinook fishery in the area from Humbug Mt. to the Oregon/California border will close to salmon fishing effective 11:59 PM Monday July 19. Vessels must land all catch into Port Orford, Gold Beach, or Brookings within 24 hours of this closure. This action was taken due to an increase in effort and catch rates that was expected to result in attainment of the 1,600 chinook quota by Monday night.

7/16/04 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held today to discuss the status of the North of Cape Falcon recreational salmon fishery. After thorough discussion, a consensus was reached between Oregon and Washington managers and NOAA Fisheries to make the following modifications to the season structure in the Columbia River ocean catch area ( Cape Falcon , OR to Leadbetter Pt., WA):Effective Friday, July 23, the recreational ocean salmon fishery from Cape Falcon to Leadbetter Pt. will open to fishing seven days per week (currently open Sunday through Thursday only) and will eliminate the one chinook limitation in the two salmon per day catch limit.

7/14/04 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held today to discuss the status of the North of Cape Falcon commercial troll chinook and selective coho fishery. The recent opening from July 8-12 had somewhat lower than anticipated fishing pressure and catches of chinook were modest over about half of the open area. After thorough discussion, a consensus was reached between Oregon and Washington managers and NOAA Fisheries to make the following modifications to the season structure: The fishery will open as currently scheduled on Friday, July 16 and continue through Monday July 19 (4 days), however the chinook per open period landing limit will be increased from 100 to 125.Following this open period, the fishery will resume the season structure and open period landing limits as established preseason i.e. five days open (Thursday through Monday until August 9, and Wednesday through Sunday beginning August 11) and 125 chinook per open period until further notice.

7/2/04 ACTION NOTICE: A conference call was held today to discuss the upcoming North of Cape Falcon commercial troll chinook and selective coho fishery scheduled to open July 8. After thorough discussion, a consensus was reached between Oregon and Washington managers and NOAA Fisheries to make the following modifications to the season structure: The fishery will open Thursday, July 8 and continue through Monday, July 12 (5 days) with a 100 chinook per open period landing limit. The second period would open Friday, July 16 and continue through Monday July 19 (4 days) with a 100 chinook per open period landing limit. A conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, July 14 at 3:00 PM to evaluate the status of the fishery following the first open period, and consider any need to change open days or landing limits prior to the second open period. Any Oregon trollers wishing to attend this conference call are asked to make prior arrangements by calling Eric Schindler at 541/867-0300 x252 in advance of the scheduled call.

6/29/04 UPDATE: Two listening posts will be available for the conference call that is scheduled for the afternoon of July 2 to discuss the upcoming commercial troll salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon. One post will be at the Astoria ODFW office, and the other will be at the Newport ODFW office. Trollers with questions about the conference call are encouraged to contact Eric Schindler at 541/867-0300 x252 for more information.

6/24/04 UPDATE: A conference call is scheduled for the afternoon of July 2 to discuss the upcoming commercial troll salmon fishery north of Cape Falcon. This fishery is scheduled to open on July 8 on a cycle of Thursday through Monday open with a 125 chinook per open period landing limit, and no landing limit per vessel on coho. This call may result in changes to the open periods, the open period landing limits, or other aspects of the fishery. Commercial salmon trollers planning to participate in this fishery should check back here after 4:00 PM on July 2 to confirm whether any action was taken.

6/18/04 ACTION NOTICE: The commercial troll chinook fishery in the area from Humbug Mt. to the Oregon/California border will close to salmon fishing effective 11:59 PM Saturday June 19. Vessels must land all catch into Port Orford, Gold Beach, or Brookings within 24 hours of this closure. This action was taken due to an increase in effort and catch rates that was expected to result in attainment of the 2,600 chinook quota by Saturday night.

5/21/04 ACTION NOTICE: The commercial troll chinook fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon will re-open to salmon fishing effective 00:01 Monday, May 25 through 23:59 Wednesday, May 26 with an open period landing limit of 70 chinook per vessel. Regulations require that boats land and deliver all catch with 24 hours of the closure within the area or into Garibaldi, Oregon. Additional call in provisions apply to troll fishers landing in Oregon if they intend to land into Garibaldi, sell their fish via a limited fish sellers permit, or transport their catch out of the area for sale. A conference call will take place on Friday, May 21 to evaluate the status of the fishery and consider reopening the fishery on Saturday, May 22.

5/19/04 UPDATE: The recreational regulation booklet for halibut and ocean salmon fisheries has been published and is currently being distributed to license agents.

5/14/04 ACTION NOTICE: The commercial troll chinook fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon, Oregon will re-open to salmon fishing effective 00:01 Saturday, May 15 through 23:59 Tuesday, May 18 with an open period landing limit of 125 chinook per vessel. Regulations require that boats land and deliver all catch with 24 hours of the closure within the area or into Garibaldi, Oregon. Additional call in provisions apply to troll fishers landing in Oregon if they intend to land into Garibaldi, sell their fish via a limited fish sellers permit, or transport their catch out of the area for sale. A conference call will take place on Friday, May 21 to evaluate the status of the fishery and consider reopening the fishery on Saturday, May 22.

5/5/04 ACTION NOTICE: Conference call was held at 3:00 PM today with representatives of NOAA Fisheries, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and commercial fishery representatives. The call was to discuss status of US/Canada border to Cape Falcon commercial troll salmon fishery. There is concern that high effort and good catch rates may result in early attainment of the chinook quota of 29,800 fish. Very preliminary catch estimates indicate that landings through May 5 could already exceed 22,000 chinook with an unknown number of fish remaining on board boats at sea. Due to the uncertain estimate of the number of participating boats and their catch, the following action was taken: COMMERCIAL TROLL SALMON FISHERY FROM US/CANADA BORDER TO CAPE FALCON CLOSES EFFECTIVE MIDNIGHT, WEDNESDAY 5/5/2004. BOATS HAVE 24 HOURS TO LAND AND DELIVER THEIR CATCH. FISHERS ARE REMINDED TO REVIEW THE REGULATIONS FOR CALL IN REQUIREMENTS FOR LIMITED FISH SELLERS, BOATS LANDING IN GARIBALDI, AND FISHERS TRUCKING THEIR CATCH TO BUYERS OUTSIDE OF THE AREA.

4/19/04 UPDATE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission met in Beaverton on April 16. They adopted the proposed regulations from the Pacific Fishery Management Council for ocean salmon fisheries and set state waters (0-3 nautical miles) terminal area fall chinook fisheries with the same seasons as in 2003.

4/14/04 UPDATE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council met in Sacramento from April 5-9. A final package of the proposed ocean salmon fishing regulations was adopted and forwarded to Secretary of Dept. of Commerce for adoption. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will review the proposed regulations at their next meeting on April 16, and vote on whether or not to adopt the regulation package. A summary of the final proposals will be posted on the website within the next two days.

2/9/04 UPDATE: The Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host their annual "Ocean Salmon Industry Group" meeting from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on March 4, 2004 at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport. This meeting will review the 2003 season, provide 2004 forecasts of abundance of salmon stocks, review current issues related to salmon management, and be used to develop a set of ocean salmon regulation proposals for ODFW staff to take forward to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2004 season are encouraged to attend this meeting.

8/20/03 UPDATE: 5,000 chinook will be transferred from the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon, Oregon (includes Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon) Recreational Ocean Salmon Fishery to the Commercial Troll Salmon Fishery from the same management area. The adjusted overall chinook quota for the recreational fishery is 54,600 chinook.

8/14/03 ACTION NOTICE: The NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Fishery Management Council, the state of Oregon, and ocean recreational salmon fishers discussed by conference call today the status of the ocean recreational selective coho salmon fishery in ocean waters between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean selective coho salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt, Oregon will close to retention of coho salmon effective 11:59 PM Tuesday, August 19.

RATIONALE: Through Wednesday August 13 the landed coho catch in this fishery totaled 76,132 coho which is 86.5% of the quota of 88,000 coho. Weather conditions forecast for early this week are anticipated to limit fishing opportunity along much of the coast, but catches are anticipated to approach the quota by Tuesday night. In order to provide ample notice to anglers, and to insure that the quota was not exceeded, the decision was made to close the fishery at the end of fishing on Tuesday, August 19. Fishing for all species except coho will remain open as described in the “2003 Oregon Ocean Salmon and Halibut Sport Fishing Regulations.”  Chinook fishing continues to be good throughout the area, and should provide plenty of good opportunity for ocean salmon anglers for the remainder of the ocean season. 7/18/03

ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean recreational salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean salmon season from Leadbetter Pt., Washington to Cape Falcon, Oregon will open to salmon fishing seven days per week effective July 25, 2003

RATIONALE: The recreational season has a quota of 112,500 adipose fin-clipped coho, and initially Friday and Saturday closures were implemented to help insure that the quota would not be taken too quickly and that the fishery could progress at least until Labor Day. It now appears that going opening Fridays and Saturdays is not likely to result in the quota being taken prior to Labor Day. NOTE The area off Washington from Queets River to Leadbetter Point will also open to seven days per week effective July 25. 6/5/03

ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Fishery Management Council, states of Washington and Oregon, and ocean troll salmon fishers have reviewed the status of the ocean commercial troll chinook fishery off northern Oregon (north of Cape Falcon) and off Washington. The following action was taken:

3/24/03 UPDATE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted a set of ocean salmon fishery options for public review prior to the final decision making process and adoption of season recommendations at their next meeting in Vancouver, Washington on April 7-11. Details on the options are available at: March Salmon Options

1/7/03 UPDATE: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will host their annual "Ocean Salmon Industry Group" meeting from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm on March 5, 2003 in meeting room #9 at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. This meeting will review the 2002 season, provide 2003 forecasts of abundance of salmon stocks, review current issues related to salmon management, and be used to develop a set of ocean salmon regulation proposals for ODFW staff to take forward to the Pacific Fishery Management Council the following week. Ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2003 season are encouraged to attend this meeting.

Contact:

Justine Kenyon-Benson - Assistant Project Leader
E-mail: Justine.Kenyon-Benson@odfw.oregon.gov

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
2040 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, Oregon 97365
(541) 867-4741