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Oregon-- On June 8th, Congressman David Wu wrote a letter to the Pacific Fishery Management Council to express his support for a coastal reallocation of the sardine fishery. Oregon fish processors and fishermen desire a greater access to the coast wide allocation since the return of the fishery to the Pacific Northwest.
In 1999, the Pacific Northwest started to see a return of the sardine fishery. To follow, it became clear that the current fishery allocation did not provide the optimal harvest opportunity for Oregon processors and fishermen. In response, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) agreed to an interim reallocation in August of 2003. Since that time, PFMC has proposed a series of alternatives. PFMC is expected to make a final decision by the end of next week. The new allocation will be implemented for the 2006 fishery.
The current allocation allows 33% of the fishery to the north of the 'harvest guideline' or 39 degrees north latitude and 66% to the south, beginning on January 1st. On September 1st, 20% of the remaining allocation goes to the north and 80% goes to the south. After December 1st, any remaining fish is equally available to all fishermen and processors.
On behalf of Oregon fish processors and fishermen, Congressman Wu supports alternative #3, a coast-wide allocation in three periods that would allow all portions on the west coast to be full and active participants in the sardine fishery.
Below is the full text of Congressman Wu's letter:
June 8, 2005
Mr. Mike Burner
Pacific Fishery Management Council
7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200
Portland, OR 97220
Dear Mr. Burner,
I am writing on behalf of processors and fishermen who work the sardine fishery off the Oregon coast. As the Member of Congress for Oregon's First Congressional District I am vitally interested in the sustainable future of this industry.
The sardines caught off Oregon's shores and processed in Northwest processing plants are top quality with new, expanding and diverse markets growing each season. While I am aware of the cyclical nature of sardine populations, it makes good sense to set a catch allocation based on the best science available to assure sustainability with a view in mind to utilize the allocation to its fullest extent.
Accordingly, Alternative #3 (Seasonal)--Coast-wide Allocation in Three Periods -- as proposed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, would allow all portions of the west coast to be full and active participants in the sardine fishery. I offer my support for this alternative.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Please contact me in my Portland District Office at 503-326-2901 if you have additional questions regarding this matter.
With warm regards,
David Wu
Member of Congress
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