Members of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the states of
Washington and Oregon, have reached an agreement with National Marine Fisheries
Service on management action for the commercial troll salmon season from the
US/Canadian border to Cape Falcon.
In a conference call on Tuesday, April 20, it was agreed that the
commercial fishery for all salmon except coho will open from May 1-15, as described
in the 2020 season regulations.
The announcement from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
said the season will follow the same rules and specifications adopted by the
PFMC on April 15 for the 2021 seasons.
The season will continue through the earlier of June 29, the
May-June overall quota of 15,375 Chinook salmon, or the Leadbetter Point,
Washington to Cape Falcon, or May-June subarea quota of 4,195 Chinook salmon.
The minimum length for Chinook salmon beginning with the May 1
season opening from the US/Canada border to Cape Falcon will be 27 inches total
length, and this will apply in all open seasons in this area through May 15,
2022.
State officials said these actions will bring the adopted seasons
from 2020 into compliance with the recently adopted seasons for 2021.
Additional regulations that apply to vessels fishing out of Oregon
North of Cape Falcon that apply to the 2021 seasons include vessels landing in
Oregon being limited to only fishing between Leadbetter Point, Washington and Cape
Falcon, Oregon. The regulations also include a limit on vessels landing into
Oregon being limited to locations on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, the
beaches at Gearhart/Seaside and Cannon Beach, or into Garibaldi.