Oregon’s Tiny Fish Win Significant Protections
Fish and Wildlife Commission Adopts Forage Fish Management Plan
Press Release Date: September 2, 2016
Location: Welches, OR
Contact:
Dustin Cranor, APR | email: dcranor@oceana.org | tel: 954.348.1314
Today, in a unanimous vote, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a forage fish management plan for hundreds of individual small, schooling fish that occur in state waters (0-3 miles from shore). Oceana commends the Commission for its action today and appreciates the dedicated work of the Department of Fish and Wildlife for developing the management plan.
“These tiny fish make a tremendous difference for healthy oceans,” said Erin Kincaid, Pacific Marine Scientist for Oceana. “They function as an essential food source for a multitude of marine mammals, seabirds, and commercially important fish in Oregon waters.”
The state management plan mirrors action taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in March of 2015 to protect seven groups—representing hundreds of species—of forage fish from new commercial development. The National Marine Fisheries Service implemented regulations this May to effect the Council’s decision, which applies to harvest in all federal ocean waters offshore Washington, Oregon, and California (3-200 nautical miles). Oregon’s state regulations will go into effect January 1, 2017.
Globally, there is increasing demand for forage fish used to produce fishmeal for aquaculture and agriculture industries. Today’s action will prevent new commercial fisheries from developing for these small fish without careful consideration and analysis of potential effects on the ocean ecosystem and existing fisheries.
Healthy and robust populations of forage fish benefit whales, dolphins, and seabirds. Forage fish are also critical to the diets of many larger recreationally and commercially targeted species, like rockfish, tuna, halibut, and salmon.
The Oregon state regulations are nearly identical to the federal regulations adopted in the spring. The state regulations exclude protection for round herring and thread herring because those species typically are not found in Oregon state waters. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently developing conforming regulations as well. It is anticipated California’s federally equivalent regulations will also go into effect the first of the year. The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a forage fish management plan in 1998.
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Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one third of the world’s wild fish catch. With over 100 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that one billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.
