Oregon Sportfishing Access Issues

In early 2008, Governor Kulongoski expressed his desire to establish a network of ‘fewer than ten’ no-take MPAs, also known as marine reserves, in state waters. The governor instructed the OPAC to provide him with recommended locations for marine reserves.

The OPAC issued a call for proposals from members of the public. In fall 2008, OPAC received a variety of proposals from the public, including the recreational and environmental communities. Members of the environmental community proposed a series of marine reserves (no-take zones) and marine conservation areas (allowing some form of limited fishing access) that would place 30 percent of Oregon’s waters in either a reserve or conservation area.

In June 2009, the Oregon legislature passed a bill, signed by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, that establishes two pilot marine reserves and four additional sites for further study. The bill was in response to recommendations made by Oregon’s Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) regarding establishing marine reserves or marine protected areas (MPAs) off Oregon’s coast.

The act also requires the development of a “work plan” that outlines clear goals and objectives for the two marine reserves and a process for the further consideration and development of the additional sites through “community action teams.” Most importantly, the law says that if the state does not have adequate resources to scientifically monitor the marine reserves, then the fishing restrictions would be lifted. A map illustrating the areas approved by the legislature can be found here.

Development of the work plan is expected to continue through the summer. For more information, please visit www.oregonocean.info/marinereserves.

Keep America Fishing’s Goal and Purpose for Oregon

The sportfishing community’s position is that recreational fishing should not be restricted without clear scientific evidence that it is causing damage to habitat or fish populations.  Access to the resource is a critical element in having successful recreational fishing. Recreational anglers, and boaters, have always been in the forefront of fisheries conservation in the United States financing countless conservation and restoration projects through license fees, motorboat fuel taxes and the federal excise tax on fishing gear. Anglers and boaters, who shoulder most of the fisheries conservation efforts in this country, should not be penalized by arbitrary MPA designations. Thus, recreational fishing should be fully protected, and further promoted, in any MPA proposals.

At $71.7 million, Oregon earns a significant amount of state and local tax revenues from sportfishing.  The goal of Oregon’s sportfishing advocates and anglers is to protect the marine environment while minimizing unwarranted closures Oregon’s coastal waters to recreational fishing. The purpose of pursuing this goal is to:

• Maintain and improve the conservation of Oregon marine fisheries and associated marine resources so as to improve the overall health of the ocean;
• Assure that the process for future closures or designations under in Oregon relies on biological and economic information in a balanced fashion; and
• Increase sportfishing opportunities in Oregon from their current economic and participation levels.

Deliberation and consensus are the keys to ensuring that conservation and protection of our ocean resources occurs now and in the future while still allowing for continued recreational fishing. We have just one chance to get it right. A decision to implement MPAs – especially no-take areas – without careful consideration and due process could have disastrous consequences for regional economies, recreational anglers and boaters.

Oregon Saltwater Recreational Fishing Facts

• Generates $250.2 million annual economic output
• Generates $153.7 million in retail sales
• Generates $16.7 million in State and local income taxes
• Pay $76.5 million in Oregon salaries, wages, and business profits
• Over 150,000 saltwater anglers

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association, is working to ensure that anglers' and boaters' voices are heard as marine and aquatic management plans are developed. You can help ASA in its efforts to minimize recreational fishing closures by donating to the Keep America Fishing Fund.