Oregon Docks Busy Loading Crab Gear for Dungeness Season as Fishermen Share Price Info Online

With less than a day to go before crabbers can start hauling their Dungeness crab gear, many Oregon ports have been busy loading gear onto vessels for deployment.

In the check-off list of things to do before the season starts, fishermen counted negotiating crab prices with processors as one of the top things to do before taking the gear to sea.

The formal "dump day," or 73-hour pre-soak time, for crabbers fishing between Cape Foulweather, ...

Oregon and Washington Seek Nominations for Columbia River Fishing Advisory Groups

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon are seeking nominations for advisers to fill positions on the recreational and commercial advisory groups that provide input on fishing seasons on the Columbia River.

The Oregon and the Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife are accepting nominations for appointees to three-year terms on the Columbia River Commercial Fishing Advisory Group and Columbia River Recreational Fishing Advisory Group through Nov. 3, 2023. The new terms begin in January 2024 and ...

Safeguarding Oregon's Sustainable Seafood Industry: DEQ Urged to Reconsider Unachievable Permits

Oregon's coast boasts the heart of our commercial fishing industry, renowned for its delectable, sustainable seafood that attracts nearly 30 million visitors annually. The bustling waterfronts not only offer picturesque scenery but also serve as vital economic hubs, providing generational fishing families with a market to deliver their catch and distribute Oregon's seafood nationwide and across the globe.

As proud stewards of the marine ecosystem, Oregon’s seafood industry has worked diligently for over a century to foster a sustainable environment, supporting thriving communities and vibrant coastal economies...

Oregon Lawmakers Push to Ensure Community Engagement on Wind Energy

Oregon Commission Nixes Light Boats in Growing Market Squid Fishery

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission last week voted unanimously to prohibit the use of light boats in the market squid fishery. The rule was filed with the Secretary of State Friday afternoon and took effect immediately.

According to the Oregon Department of fish and Wildlife said light boats are operated independently of squid catching vessels to attract squid to the surface at night, making the squid easier to catch. Light boats have been used in the California squid fishery for more than 100 years, ODFW staff said in ...

Oregon Dungeness Crab Available Just in Time For Valentine’s Day Despite Setbacks 

The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission and West Coast Seafood Processors Association want to get the message out that fresh Dungeness crab is available for  Valentine’s Day! 

“Now is the time to go out and share the joy of Oregon Dungeness Crab with someone you care about,” said Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission Executive Director Tim Novotny. “You will also be showing you care about your own heart health! A 3-ounce portion of cooked crab yields 19 grams of protein and contains important minerals and amino acids, including...

Another Biotoxin Wrinkle Adds to Oregon Crab Season Woes

Oregon's southern coast has had its share of biotoxin woes this year and another crab with an elevated level of domoic acid triggered a scramble Friday.

Zones 50-J, K and L -- roughly Bandon to the California border -- have remained closed due to one elevated crab with an elevated level of domoic acid, while Central Oregon opened on Jan. 15. Fishermen and processors were hoping for a Feb. 1 opening for those areas, like the area from Cape Falcon north to ...

Offshore Wind in the West: CA Goes All In; Angst in Oregon; Background Work in WA

If California's political leaders' efforts for offshore wind are the equivalent of a tropical storm, both Oregon and Washington's efforts are more like a cold northwest wind that puts a damper on the sunniest day. There's progress, but it's slow and is accompanied by some not-so-happy campers.

Last week California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 286, which would speed up permitting for floating offshore wind projects, cutting years off the process to bring towering...

BOEM Releases Draft Wind Energy Areas off Oregon, Representing 80% Reduction from Call Areas

The offshore wind squall hit storm strength Tuesday when the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released the draft wind energy areas narrowed from the Oregon call areas.

BOEM has been eager to show its work to winnow down the call areas to the most de-conflicted spots in the areas off Oregon that were released as call areas more than a year ago. The agency worked with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to model several uses and habitats of the ocean in the ...

Marine Reserves Staff Tackling Ocean Temperature, Hypoxia Research in Oregon

While some sport and commercial fishermen were wary of Oregon Marine Reserves' value when first implemented more than 20 years ago, ongoing studies are showing their importance to fisheries.

For example, recent monitoring for ocean temperature changes and hypoxia are proving useful for potential changes to adapt for the future, especially as they relate to groundfish and Dungeness crab.

On-going ocean monitoring in Oregon’s Marine Reserves is unlocking secrets about temperatures and oxygen levels known to impact groundfish and invertebrate ... 

Oregon Marine Reserves Efforts Pay Off with Collaborative Research on Rockfish

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff tasked with working in the Oregon Marine Reserves Program shared work with Oregon State University researchers on a new paper published recently.

The paper focused on the presence of microplastics and microparticles in Oregon black rockfish sampled near marine reserves.

The study showed that 93% of subadult and 92% of juvenile rockfish had microplastics in their guts. While this study did not look for microparticles in the fishes’ flesh, ongoing research shows only low levels of microparticles – far less than ...

PODCAST: Oregon Crab Update; Valentine’s Day Spending and More

Join SeafoodNews Managing Editor Amanda Buckle and Urner Barry Seafood market reporter Lorin Castiglione as they talk about the latest news regarding Oregon crab; Valentine’s Day Spending predictions from the National Retail Federation and much more!

This episode of the SeafoodNews weekly podcast is  brought to you by the new retail experience that is now live on the premier protein market intelligence platform, COMTELL . A newly enhanced and comprehensive retail experience gives subscribers access to retailer-based IRI scanner data with an in-depth and accurate view of the buying process...