NEWPORT, Ore.—ODFW staff will be holding a public meeting to seek input on several proposed changes for the 2020 recreational Pacific halibut fishery that were forwarded for public review by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. at the ODFW Marine Resources Program conference room, 2040 SE Marine Science Drive. This meeting will also be available via webcast for those who cannot attend in person (details below). Proposed changes include: starting the Central Coast nearshore halibut May 1 when quotas are high; adding a third day to the Central Coast summer all-depth fishery when quotas are high; capping the Southern Oregon Subarea quota at 8,000 pounds and shifting any quota over that to the Columbia River Subarea; and allowing the longleader gear fishery and all-depth halibut to occur on the same trip. Those who can’t attend the meeting or webcast can also provide input via an online survey. The survey and background materials (which will also be presented at the meeting) will be available by noon on Tuesday, Oct. 1 on the sport halibut webpage.
