Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closur

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics What you need to know

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics The area off the Oregon coast out to the 200 mile (US Jurisdiction Zone) comprises 60,000 Square Miles of fishable waters 200 Miles 300 Miles 200 X 300 = 60,000 Sq. Miles

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Most of the year (April through October), all waters outside of 40 fathoms is closed to bottom fishing to protect rockfish. This closed area is 58,214 Sq. Miles, or 97% of the total area. Very few (if any) recreational fisherman target rockfish November through March due to weather conditions. Closed

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics This leaves 1,786 square miles available to recreational fisherman, or about 3% Open

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Additionally, ODF&W occasionally will pull in the boundary to the 20 fathom line – effectively cutting the open area in half – or to 1.5% of the available area!

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Existing Marine Preserves and Research Areas

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Within the existing open area, there are several marine preserves at present: - Haystack Rock

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics - Three Arches Rocks

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics - Cape Kiwanda Marine Garden

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Boiler Bay Research Reserve Pirate Cove Research Area

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Whale Cove Habitat Refuge

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Otter Rock Marine Garden

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Yaquina Head Marine Garden

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Yachats Marine Garden

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Cape Perpetua Marine Garden Neptune State Park Research Reserve

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Gregory Point Researce Reserve Cape Arago Research Reserve

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Harris Beach Marine Garden Brookings Research Reserve

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics The existing preserves make up a small portion of the total area (about 2 square miles). The proposed Marine Reserve claim a significantly larger portion of the sea

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New Marine Reserve Proposals

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Cape Falcon @ 19.8 sq. miles accounts for 1.1% of the total available coastline

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Cascade Head @ 21.6 sq. miles accounts for 1.2% of the total available area

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Otter Rock Marine Reserve is small compared to the three others under consideration at 1.2 sq. miles, or 0.1% of the available coastline

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve encompasses 37.8 sq. miles, or about 2.1% of the available area

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Otter rock, like redfish rocks, is relatively small at 7.4 sq. miles or 0.4% of the available area

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How Will These New Closures Affect Fishing?

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By comparing very accurate navigation charts with Google Earth, and relying upon years of fishing knowledge, we can get an estimate of the amount of coastline that actually holds rockfish Rocky Structure = Rockfish Habitat

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Analysis reveals: The Oregon Coast has approximately 122 miles of habitat suitable to rockfish. The proposed Marine Reserves would claim 30 miles of this habitat – or around 1/4 of the fishing areas along the coast. So Recreational fisherman are concerned about the following math: 60,000 Sq. Miles Available -58,214 Sq. Miles Closed 1,786 Sq. Miles Open (3%) - 91 Sq. Miles for Reserves 1,695 Sq. Miles Open (2.8%) Or 350 Miles of Coastline -228 Miles of Sandy Bottom (not conducive to rockfish) 122 Miles Contains Fish Habitat (35%) - 30 Miles for Reserves 92 Miles for Recreational Fishing (26%)

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Additionally, the environmental community has called these proposals “A First Step” toward further closures. They have sent out a call to their membership to expand reserves – even before the first one has been implemented. Clearly there is little interest in learning of the results prior to pushing for further closures. The stated goal of organizations such as Oceana are to lock up 30% of the Oregon coast. Recall that the coast contains only 35% of areas suitable to fishing. This is clearly a call to halt all coastal bottom fishing.

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics Otter rock, like redfish rocks, is relatively small at 7.4 sq. miles or 0.4% of the available area Concerns: We hear the ocean is in trouble – something must be done! Fully 97% of traditional fishing areas are already closed Oregon is the only Western State with no Marine Reserves! Oregon has 13 existing Marine Preserves and Marine Gardens. No scientific studies are being done in these existing closed areas. Only California has Marine Reserves in coastal waters. Washington Marine Reserves are all located in Puget Sound. Proposed marine reserves make up but a small percentage of the coast! True but fully 97% of the coast is already closed to recreational fishing! The new reserves would take up around 7% of 3% which is currently open, and 25% of the actual fishable areas. Remember, Oceana and OurOcean consider these to be “a small first step”. The stated goal is closure of 30% of the remaining open area to fishing – meaning a full 98% of the ocean will be closed to recreational bottom fishing, and 95% of the fish holding structures would be locked up forever. What will these cost? California estimates are about $1MM per year per percent of coastline claimed. The two pilot reserves in Oregon are estimated at $1.5MM per year and they represent 0.5% of the coastline!

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Oregon Ocean Recreational Fishing Closure Statistics What can you do to help? Join Recreational Fishing Alliance: www.JoinRFA.Org Contribute to the RFA Oregon Legal Defense Fund www.RFAOregon.Org Keep informed www.OregonMarineReserves.Com 4) Become Involved!