News

The Port of Coos Bay says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Workplan includes $34.65 Million to Repair Coos Bay’s North Jetty. The funding will cover the completion of all environmental work and contracting and construction for the Jetty head only. Repairs to the Jetty trunk and root will come in following years.

The N. Jetty has been losing approximately twenty feet per year, which has
resulted in its receding a total of 900 feet since its original construction design. The jetty’s construction was completed in 1929.

The USACE project will include the addition of approximately 120’-150’ in jetty length, stabilization of the head of the jetty, and addition of rock to the jetty’s trunk and root to further stabilize the structure. This work will be critical in ensuring the safety of mariners transiting in and out of the Coos Bay harbor.

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay (Port) has worked very closely with Representative Peter DeFazio, the US Army Corp of Engineers, and a variety of users such as the Pilots and Commercial Fishing Fleet to secure the funding to execute this work.

The opening of the commercial Dungeness crab season from Cape Falcon northward to the Washington border is further delayed until at least mid-January.

In consultation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), the Oregon commercial crab industry, and California and Washington fishery managers, ODFW is continuing to delay the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River from Cape Falcon northward to the Washington border in order to coordinate an orderly start with the Washington coastal Dungeness crab fishery. Oregon’s harvest area 50-A (Cape Falcon to the OR/WA border) will remain closed until around January 15 (or longer) to allow for the additional domoic acid testing in both states.

Oregon Dungeness commercial crab fishermen, from the California border up to just north of Garibaldi (Cape Falcon), will be allowed to start pulling their pots on the morning of December 16th.

The commercial Dungeness crab fishery will remain closed in the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River from Cape Falcon northward to the Washington border in order to coordinate an orderly start with the Washington coastal Dungeness crab fishery. Results from recent domoic acid testing of crab conducted by the state of Washington exceeded federally established thresholds for human health, and therefore Washington is delaying the coastal fishery until further testing is conducted.

Based on preseason testing results and consultations with Washington and California Departments of Fish and Wildlife, there is a Tri-State agreement to delay the ocean commercial Dungeness crab season from Point Arena, California to the US/Canada border until at least December 16. This delay will allow completion of additional testing for meat recovery.

ODFW is asking commercial Dungeness crab industry representatives to help design the next steps in reducing risk of whale and sea turtle entanglements in crab fishing gear. ODFW is hosting virtual public meetings Oct. 8 and Oct. 22 to further develop the draft conservation plan describing Oregon’s actions to support both this culturally iconic fishery and reduce entanglements. NEWS RELEASE

SALEM, Ore.—The Fish & Wildlife Commission adopted measures to reduce the risk of whale entanglement in commercial Dungeness crab gear, while balancing economic impacts to this important fishery during their meeting today(Friday, September 11th).

The new rules will be effective during the coming crab season, which begins Dec. 1, 2020. Starting May 1 each season, the new rules reduce crab pot limits by 20 percent, and restrict gear to inside 40 fathoms (the commission opted to adjust from 30 fathoms), to avoid deeper waters where humpback whales are more abundant. A season tag requirement to identify gear used after May 1 and a three-year sunset to evaluate these measures were also adopted. The Commission also put in place other measures to reduce overlap that are detailed in the Commission agenda item summary. For biotoxin management measures in the crab fishery, the Commission aligned buffer area management and effective date of management measures to be consistent with the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s crab biotoxin rules.

The USDA announced that it is making approximately $530 million available to assist U.S. fishermen through the Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP). This program is being funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation and administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

Fishermen can sign-up for relief through the program from September 14, 2020 to December 14, 2020.

Payments are based on 2019 landings of Atka mackerel; Crab, Dungeness, King, Snow, Southern Tanner; Flounder, Geoduck, Goosefish, Herrings, Lobster, Pacific Cod, Pacific Ocean Perch, Pollock, Sablefish, Salmon, Sole, Squid, Tuna, and Turbot.

ODFW Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishery Update

The post-season derelict commercial crab gear recovery program is open 8/31 through 10/11.

Report locations of derelict commercial crab gear to 541-867-0300, ext. 267 or email Eric.S.Anderson@state.or.us.

For more information see https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/commercial/crab/psdgrp.asp.

Nearly $16 million in CARES Act funding to be made available to Oregon’s marine-related and coastal fishery businesses impacted by COVID-19 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Buoy 46015 off Port Orford is expected to be redeployed,possibly within the next ten days.