Commercial Market Squid FisheryPublic Meeting

Troy BuellGreg Krutzikowsky

Brett RodomskyMaggie Sommer

May 20, 2021Webinar and Teleconference

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Photo courtesy of Cameron Sharpe, ODFW

Presentation and Discussion

• Describe recent and historical fishery periods

• History of fishery management and recent changes

• Outcomes of March 2021 Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting

• Next Steps

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Fishery Data

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Photo courtesy of Scott Malvitch, ODFWPhoto courtesy of Heather VanMeter, ODFW

Landings and Climate Conditions

Very Strong El NinoStrong El Nino

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Landings thru 4/30/21

Oregon Squid Fishery Periods

OR FisheryPrimary Months

# Boats Per Year Gear Types Main Ports

1982 - 85 Apr - May 1 - 14 lampara, trawl, seine Newport

1993 - 97 May - Aug 2 - 6 trawl, seine Charleston

2016 - 21 Mar - Oct 11 - 40 seine, trawlAstoria, Newport,

Charleston, Winchester Bay

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Recent Fishery Participation

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53 different vessels

2016-2021

Few participated in all years

Recent Fishery Participation

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Recent Fishery Area

Squidgrounds

< 30 fm

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Fishery Monitoring

Squid Biological Data from Landings

Average Mantle Length (mm)Year Males Females All Size Range Sex Ratio M:F1984 112 114 111 30 - 181 57:43

1985 128 128 128 66 - 170 54:46

2016 122 120 121 92 - 150 55:45

2018 129 125 128 85 - 162 52:48

2019 124 122 124 44 - 165 56:44

2020 123 123 123 89 - 156 52:48

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Logbook and Fish Ticket Bycatch

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Reported bycatch <1%

of squid landings

Prohibited Species Bycatch

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*Logbook crab count2016 - 412018 - 22

*

Prohibited Species Bycatch - Salmon

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Crab Pot Interactions

• Loss and movement of crab pots due to squid fishery reported each season from 2018-2021

• Oregon has strong laws that protect crab gear as personal property• Illegal for anyone other than the crab permitted vessel to retrieve, move,

or tamper with actively fished crab pots

• ODFW asked squid fleet notify crabbers and avoid conflict voluntarily, but interaction reports continue

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Fishery Management

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Photos courtesy of Dean Headlee and Scott Malvitch, ODFW Photo courtesy of Heather VanMeter, OSP

Fishery Management

1984 – set tight fishery controls:• Trawl permits limited to 5 at a time

• Areas < 50 fathoms• Trip limits; short permit duration; renewable

• Midwater trawl permits limited to 3• Areas > 50 fathoms

• Seine and lampara gear also allowed

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Fishery Management

1985 – held public meetings, loosened controls and set harvest guideline• ODFW is required to hold a public hearing to evaluate the fishery:

Prior to reaching a harvest of 4.5 million pounds of squid, with not more than 3 million pounds taken north or south of Heceta Head.

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Fishery Management

2016-2020 – concerns raised through public meetings, direct contacts• Squid resource sustainability• Size and efficiency of fleet, Restricted Participation• Bycatch, especially crab & salmon• Bottom impacts, squid egg disturbance• Fishery conflicts, interactions with crab gear• Use of light boats to hold ground• Effects of lights on seabirds, protected species interactions• Ecosystem and food web impacts

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2021 – new rules adopted• Weekend closure (noon Friday-noon Sunday) – conserve squid

resource• Includes attracting squid by light

• Rib line requirement – reduce bycatch, crab pot interactions• 18” above lead line for 2021, • 36” as of Jan 1, 2022

• Light boat logbook – track participation and effort• Revise definition of take – include attracting squid by light• Marine Reserve and Marine Protected Area clarifications

Fishery Management

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2021 – Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission tasked ODFW staff to:• Form an industry advisory committee• Recommend a control date for potential future development of

Restricted Participation program• Evaluate net length restrictions• Consider vessel monitoring for squid vessels• Evaluate if weekend closure achieves 30% egg escapement goal• Evaluate impacts of the squid fishery on food web, predators

Fishery Management

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Other Near-term Management Considerations

Lighting restrictions• Reduce potential interactions with protected seabirds• Needs further evaluation by ODFW

Observer coverage• Assess bycatch and protected species interactions• Not feasible immediately due to COVID-19

Reduce interactions with crab gear• Seasonal squid closure (e.g., December 1-April 15)

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Industry Advisory Committee

Help to develop recommendations for• Control date• Restricted Participation• Gear specifications (e.g., net length)• Vessel monitoring

Identify additional fishery issues and concerns

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Representation and size• 6-10 members• Catcher vessels & Processors/buyers• Geographic – within OR and/or out of state• Permits in other seine fisheries – e.g. CA squid, OR sardine• Participation in other OR fisheries – e.g. crab

Application and selection process• ODFW will solicit applications and select members considering input

from this meeting

Industry Advisory Committee

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Next Steps

Continue to evaluate the fishery• Receive public input• Monitor the fishery and sample landings• Assist with compliance

• Form advisory committee, develop management options in response to Commission requests

• Review information available to evaluate food web impacts and weekend closures

• Update Commission on progress and recommend management actions (early 2022)

• Continue holding public hearings when Harvest Guideline is approached23

Thank you!

Marine Resources ProgramOregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

2040 SE Marine Science DriveNewport, OR 97365(541) 867-4741

Contact us!Troy Buelltroy.v.buell@odfw.oregon.govO: (541) 867-0300 ext. 225C: (541) 961-8135

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