Staff participated in RecFIN committee work and planning. Sampling of marine anglers was conducted in 1999 and continues in 2000. ODFW also conducts an intensive ocean boat sampling program during the summer months, while samplers from the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) conduct additional interviews of ocean boats during the spring, fall and winter period. MRFSS samplers also collect fishery data from anglers on shore and in inland boats. Black rockfish, lingcod and blue rockfish continue to dominate the ocean landings, surfperch make up the majority of shore based catch, while salmon and sturgeon dominate the inland landings.

Oregon continues to expand the summer intensive ocean boat sampling program. Year round sampling was initiated during 1999 for the ports of Depoe Bay, Newport, and Brookings. In addition, we expanded our summer sampling into the ports of Bandon and Port Orford during 1999. Oregon expanded its species composition and biological sampling of bottom fish species during 1999. Black, blue, canary and yellowtail rockfish otoliths were gathered. We also began collecting lingcod fin rays. In addition, we began collecting length and weight data from groundfish species.

Other management activities include data analysis, and the sponsoring of several public hearing relative to management of Pacific halibut fisheries. See the related section for more details.

Contact Don Bodenmiller for more information (541) 867-4741

Over the next several years Oregon plans to investigate nearshore fish populations. Using funding from several sources, including Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act and Sport Fish Restoration funds, we hope to survey the entire Oregon coast. Species composition, genetic stock work, and age structure information will be gathered in addition to habitat mapping.

We continued nearshore work in 1999 with investigations Cannon Beach to Newport area. Approximately 2,300 fish of several species were sampled for biological, genetic, and location information. A previous study conducted in 1984-86 indicated a stock break for black rockfish at Cape Falcon. We continued this work along the northern Oregon coast in 1999 to confirm the stock break and more closely identify its location. Lab work indicated no stock break for black rockfish along the northern Oregon coast in 1999. In 2000, we intend to continue this work off the Coos Bay to Port Orford area of the Oregon south coast.

Contact Don Bodenmiller for more information (541) 867-4741

Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS) samplers collected demographic and creel data in 1999. Species composition sampling, length, and weight sampling was continued on recreational landings. The top three groundfish species landed by weight were black rockfish, lingcod and blue rockfish.

Contact Don Bodenmiller for more information (541) 867-4741

Species composition sampling of rockfish, thornyheads and other bottomfish continues on commercial trawl landings, commercial fixed gear landings and recreational landings.

Contact Mark Saelens (commercial) or Don Bodenmiller (recreational) for more information (541) 867-4741

Two field projects were completed in 1999 that relate to groundfish bycatch in the shrimp fishery. First, in May 1999, square mesh panels were tested as escapement devices in the codends of shrimp trawls. The panels were placed in a number of locations in the top panel of the codend. The catch data indicated that square mesh panels functioned approximately like holes in the net, with no detectable sorting of shrimp from fish. In some locations catch loss was large, in others small, but in each case the loss of small fish and shrimp was roughly proportional. The second project evaluated how footrope style influenced bycatch. This experiment compared a "ladder/roller" style groundline, that has recently come into fairly wide use, with a traditional "tickler chain". These two groundlines differ in a number of respects, but a critical difference is that the tickler chain groundline runs in front of the fishing line, while the ladder/roller style groundline runs slightly behind the fishing line. The net with a ladder/roller style line caught 84% fewer slender sole, 49% fewer greenstriped rockfish and 47% fewer juvenile rockfish (<8cm TL, mostly dark blotched). Of these species, only slender sole is a significant component of the shrimp trawl bycatch, and then only by number, not by weight. Shrimp catch and catch of marketable fish was not affected, probably due to a size sorting effect taking place at the footrope. A future project will test the complete elimination of the groundline, using only drop chains to help the trawl tend bottom.

For more information contact Bob Hannah at (541) 867-4741.

Work contiued on the 2-year Sea Grant research project examining the economics of bycatch in the shrimp fishery. The work on how bycatch influences shrimp product quality is completed. The data indicate that bycatch does contribute to shrimp breakage, but the effect is lost as product breakage increases throughout processing. The analysis of the 1998 experimental logbook is also nearly complete. The logbook data indicate bycatch is a very minor consideration for shrimp fishermen in choosing trip start locations or changes in tow location. Generally, anticipated shrimp catch dominates how fishers pursue this fishery. Unwanted bycatch was, however, the main reason cited for dumping of tows, with Pacific whiting leading the list of unwanted bycatch, followed by small flatfish.

For more information contact Bob Hannah at (541) 867-4741.

ODFW continued to coordinate a cooperative observation program to monitor bycatch and collect biological samples of unsorted Pacific whiting landings made at shoreside processors. Cooperators are the fishing industry, CDFG, WDFW, PSMFC, NMFS, and PFMC. Observers and staff obtained age samples from 1,440 yellowtail rockfish, 1,530 widow rockfish, 105 sablefish, 1,470 jack mackerel, 1,140 Pacific mackerel, 60 canary rockfish, 30 walleye pollock and 1,600 Pacific whiting. Additional length frequency samples were taken on 3,700 Pacific whiting.

For more information contact Lara Hutton (541) 867-4741

The field data collection period for the Enhanced groundfish Data Collection Program (EDCP) ended December 31, 1998. During 1999 we continued to make a limited number of at-sea observations aboard coastal groundfish trawlers; however our main focus was to process and distributed the data collected during the programs three years of operation (1996-98). To date data has been distributed to analysts conducting projects for the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). A public version of the data is nearly complete.

In cooperation with ODFW’s Enhanced Data Collection project, some fish samples were provided by cooperating commercial fishers from retained and discarded trawl catches. The number of ageing structures collected by species from these catches is as follows:

• Rockfish – Pacific Ocean perch (39), rosethorn (38), redstripe (170), sharpchin (98), and splitnose rockfish (93), and shortspine thornyhead (93).
• Sole – Dover (157), rex (199), and slender sole (50).
• Other – giant grenadier (28), and sablefish (18).

Contact Mark Saelens (541) 867-4741.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Marine Program will be conducting a 3-month study attempting to develop a juvenile rockfish recruitment index for selected nearshore species. It will be based on sampling in two estuaries and adjacent nearshore rocky intertidal areas using beach seines and trap nets. The hope is that juvenile rockfish numbers using the nearshore and estuaries will reflect the relative abundance of adults in the open ocean. Several seasons will be required to show a correlation. The hope is that estuary seining will provide an easy and reliable method of determining general population trends for nearshore adult rockfish.

For information contact John Johnson at (541) 867-4741 ext. 237

We provided catch, effort, catch-at-age and other data as need to support the stock assessments.

The Cooperative Reef Ecosystem (CORE) study continued work on subtidal rocky bottom habitats off the Oregon coast. ODFW biologists completed two tasks during 1999. In the first task, we completed a high-resolution multibeam bathymetry survey of Orford Reef and developed methods to quantitatively characterize reef bottom habitat. To characterize fish habitat, we classified bottom surface topography and examined the relationships of rockfish abundance to different bottom types. The second task was completion of a fourth year of kelp canopy biomass surveys at Orford, Blanco, Redfish Rocks, Humbug, and Rogue Reefs. This task involved aerial photography, kelp bed mapping, and kelp plant density and weight analysis. Kelp biomass showed a 5 to 10-fold increase from the previous three years of study. The dramatic increase appeared to be correlated to changes in ocean conditions. Upwelling conditions were excellent in 1999, and both fishers and scientists observed increases in ocean productivity. The cold water and high nutrients during upwelling provided excellent conditions for kelp growth. The results of the 1999 work are summarized in Fox, et al. (1999). The report can be downloaded from www.hmsc.orst.edu/odfw/habitat.

For information contact Dave Fox at (541) 867-0300 ext. 228 or dave.fox@hmsc. orst.edu.<

GIS Description
The Marine Resources Program GIS was summarized in the 1997 TSC report. Additions to the GIS in 1999 are listed below.

For information contact Dave Fox at (541) 867-0300 ext. 228 or dave.fox@hmsc. orst.edu.

Base Maps and Baseline Data

Base Maps
No additions for 1998.

Baseline Data
1) Kelp bed maps, color infrared aerial photos, and biomass estimates for 1998 at Orford, Blanco, Redfish Rocks, Humbug, and Rogue Reefs, Oregon.

Software
No additions for 1999.

Bathymetric Data Sources
No additions for 1999

Refer to section on Pacific sardine

Contact Jean McCrae for more information (541) 867-4741

The Developmental Fisheries Program was created to allow for controlled development of new fisheries. Each year, the Developmental Fisheries Board recommends to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission a list of food fish species that are considered to be developmental and a harvest program which includes a limited entry system. The Developmental Fishery Board is made up of members from a broad range of fishing interests (harvesters, processors, and state agencies).

In 1999, a total of 127 permits were issued for all species, and 39 permits were for finfish species. The main finfish of interest was sardines, which had all 15 permits issued. Other species for which we issued permits were hagfish (13), swordfish (10), and anchovy/herring (1).

The majority of the landings of developmental species was as by-catch in other established fisheries. However, 1999 saw the first directed landings of sardines into Oregon in 50 years. Three vessels landed just over 1.7 million pounds (775.7 mt). Market samples were collected and we conducted one ride-along to observe by-catch. On the ride-along, the observed a by-catch consisted on one blue shark and one salmon (released alive). Logs (accounting for 99% of the landings) indicate one additional salmon and approximately 300 lb of skipjack tuna were also caught as by-catch. Logs also show 64% of the harvbest was off Oregon and 36% off southern Washington.

Market samples were collected for length, weight, maturity and age data. The average length and weight for all samples was 201.9 mm (standard length) and 132.9 gm. Size of sardines showed a decrease over the sample period. Average length in late June and mid August ws 221.4 mm and 177.7 mm, respectively. The June sample also had the highest percent of more maturing fish (condition 3) and the mid August sample had the highest percent of less mature fish (condition 1). Age structures were sent to California Fish and Game to be analyzed

Contact Jean McCrae for more information (541) 867-4741.

Twelve months of in-kind supervision and "lead worker" oversight were provided for the Cooperative Ageing Project (CAP). The Ageing Unit production aged canary rockfish and petrale sole for stock assessment purposes, and started production on bank rockfish and darkblotched rockfish for the year 2000 stock assessments. In addition the following species were aged in varying numbers for either special projects, CARE workshop exchanges, or routine production on backlogs: sablefish, Dover sole, black rockfish, english sole, yellowtail rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, quillback rockfish, dusky rockfish, rougheye rockfish, and shortspined thornyhead. This work resulted in 24,136 specimens aged for the year.

A fourth ageing technician was hired in a temporary capacity in November, to help with the bank rockfish production ageing, with intention to fill the position full time in 2000.

Contact Bob Mikus for more information on ageing (541) 867-4741.

In an effort to reduce bycatch of small flatfish and rockfish in groundfish trawls using minor trawl modifications, we conducted two cruises during 1999. We used underwater video to record the behavior of fish throughout the capture process at depths from 10-300 fathoms. More than 40 tows were made and almost all of the local commercially fished species were observed. These observations led to testing the use of square and rectangular mesh panels in the extension and codend to promote the escape of undersized fish from the trawl. While these designs allowed small fish to escape, they were not efficient in removing a large percentage of these non-target individuals because all the fish were not exposed to the escape panel. Based on our observations of diving behavior of flatfish just after they enter the trawl, future experiments will test escape panels placed in the belly of the net to improve flatfish size sorting.

For more information contact Steve Parker (541) 867-4741.

Fixed Gear Logbook – We distributed a new logbook for Oregon fishers using fixed gear. Oregon commercial fishers with limited entry permits for pots and longline are required to keep logs of their fishing activity on logbooks provided by ODFW, and this logbook is designed to meet that requirement. A new voluntary Open Access Hook & Line Logbook was printed and distribution started in March 2000 (see example attached to the end of this report).

Status of Oregon logbooks is as follows:

	Type	Years	Entered	Verified
1)	Trawl Log	’76 – ’99	’99 (most*)	Thru ’98
2)	LE Sable Logs	’79 – ’99	None	None
3)	H&L Volunteer Logs	’88, ’92 & ’94 – ‘99	Thru ’99	None

*a few late logs not entered

a. Black rockfish

b. Widow rockfish - coastwide sampling continues for age, length and sex. Age determination is done by NMFS, Tiburon. Oregon landings in 1999 were 6,640,291 pounds (3,012 mt) which is a slight increase from the 6,470,312 pounds (2,934 mt) in 1998. This is about a 2.6% increase from 1998.

c. Canary rockfish - coastwide sampling continues for age, length and sex. . In ODFW’s Enhanced Data Collection project, ageing structures were also collected from retained or discarded catch. Age determination is done by ODFW. Oregon landings in 1999 were 924,327 pounds (419 mt) which was about a 48% decrease from the 1,786,477 pounds (810 mt) in 1998.

d. Yellowtail rockfish - coastwide sampling continues for age, length and sex. . In ODFW’s Enhanced Data Collection project, ageing structures were also collected from retained or discarded catch. We also continued sampling yellowtail rockfish landed by shrimp trawlers. Age determination is done by WDFW. Oregon landings in 1999 were about 3,547,421 pounds (1,609 mt) which was a 6.5% decrease from 1998.

Most sampling is limited to species composition sampling. Length frequency samples were taken on selected species. In ODFW’s Enhanced Data Collection project, ageing structures were collected from retained or discarded catch of rosethorn, redstripe, sharpchin and splitnose rockfish.

Sampling included species composition sampling, and length frequency sampling. Oregon landings of longspine thornyhead dropped to 1,631,954 pounds (740 mt) in 1999, which was about a 23% decrease from 1998. Oregon landings of shortspine thornyhead were 705,211 pounds (320 mt) in 1999, which was about a 35% decrease from 1998.

a. Routine age samples were obtained on sablefish. Otoliths were sent to the NMFS / ODFW Cooperative Ageing Project in Newport, Oregon for age determination. Oregon landings were 6,588,835 pounds (2,989 mt) in 1999 which was up 69% from the 1998.

b. Sablefish Fixed Gear Project:

Research on fixed gear for use in sablefish survey work continued in 1999.

Two experiments were conducted. In May 1999, we chartered two commercial vessels, and compared the catch rates and composition of pot and longline gear in a systematic study between 200 and 600 fathoms. We found the pot gear to have a higher catch rate, lower variability, broader size selectivity and lower bycatch rate. In September 1999, we tested the catch rates of five different groundline spacings of sablefish pots. The goal was to determine the area fished by a given pot. Our findings were inconclusive, as no clear pattern emerged from the data.

Contact Bob Hannah for additional information (541) 867-4741.

a. Age sampling continued and ages were determined on Dover sole, English sole, and petrale.

b. Pacific halibut

ODFW continued to coordinate a cooperative observation program to monitor bycatch and collect biological samples of unsorted Pacific whiting landings made at shoreside processors. Cooperators are the fishing industry, CDFG, WDFW, PSMFC, NMFS, and PFMC.

Oregon landings and observations were made at Newport, Astoria and Charleston. Landings and observations were also made at Ilwaco and Westport, WA through WDFW and at Crescent City and Eureka, CA through CDFG. Overall, 21% of whiting landings were observed over the course of the season. Sampling and observations were conducted from April through the season end in mid-September. Two Washington, three California and six Oregon processors, and thirty-six vessels participated in the program. Experimental Fishing Permits (EFPs) were issued by NMFS through CDFG and ODFW to participating vessels to permit the landing of unsorted whiting; participating vessels with EFPs were exempted from prohibitions on landing prohibited species (Pacific halibut and salmon) and groundfish trip limit overages. Prohibited species and the monitory value of trip limit overages were turned over to the state of landing.

Approximately 83,400mt of Pacific whiting were landed at shoreside processors, compared to approximately 87, 600 mt in 1998. Oregon processors received approximately 88% of total landings, Washington processors received approximately 11%, and the balance was landed in California. The overall salmon bycatch rate was 0.014 salmon per mt whiting; this is higher than in 1996 (0.008 salmon/mt), and sharply lower from the 0.032 salmon/mt whiting in 1995. A one month season delay (to 15 June) for the fishery off Oregon and Washington (N of 42° N), appears to have contributed to the decreased salmon bycatch rate early in the season. A total of 1,712 salmon (1,696 Chinook, 5 coho, and 11 pink salmon); were taken as bycatch in this fishery and turned over to state agencies in 1999 - this compares to 1,713 Chinook in 1998 and 1,482 Chinook salmon in 1997. In Oregon, all salmon in acceptable condition are turned over to hunger relief agencies. Other species with notable bycatch volumes are yellowtail rockfish (481mt), widow rockfish (192mt) and mackerel (chub and jack mackerel combined – 385mt). Bycatch rates for mackerel were much lower relative to 1997 and 1998. Bycatch of yellowtail and widow rockfish remained very high compared to 1997, but were down from 1998’s high levels.

For more information contact Lara Hutton (541) 867-4741 (a report regarding 1997 whiting is available at the ODFW MRP web site: www.hmsc. orst. edu/odfw/)

We provided catch, effort, catch-at-age and other data as need to support the Pacific whiting stock assessments.

For more information contact Mark Saelens (541) 867-4741

No work was conducted on dogfish. Landings decreased to 195,932 pounds (89 mt), down from 344,773 pounds (156 mt) in 1998.

Age samples were collected and sent to NMFS, Tiburon for age determination. Oregon landings were 381,425 pounds (173 mt) which is up from 1998 landings of 354,244 pounds (161 mt).

ODFW collected age samples from the recreational fishery in 1999. In 2000 there will be a new lingcod slot limit length for recreational fisheries with a 24-inch minimum length and a 36-inch maximum.

a. Surfperch

b. Pacific herring

c. Hagfish

d. Skates

e. Mackerel

Oregon’s first major, directed, commercial sardine fishery since 1948, occurred in 1999. There were 22 directed trips, and vessels landed 1,709,686 pounds (776 mt) compared to only 2,220 pounds landed in the Pacific whiting fishery in 1998. Most of the sardine catch was by sein gear (99%), and fish were landed into Astoria and processed as bait for a Japanese longline fishery. Landed incidental catch included mackerel (3,100 pounds), and logged by-catch included 2-salmon, 300 pounds of skipjack tuna.

We conducted one ride-along to observe bycatch, and observed bycatch consisted of one blue shark and one salmon. Market samples were collected for length, weight, maturity and age data. Average length and weight for all samples was 201.9 mm (standard length) and 132.9 gm. Age structures were sent to California Fish and Game to be analyzed.

Contact Jean McCrae for additional information at (541) 867-4741 ext. 245.