NEWPORT, Ore – ODFW hosts a public meeting Feb. 6, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. to discuss Oregon’s recreational Pacific halibut quota and season and get angler input. The meeting is held at the ODFW Marine Resources Program conference room, 2040 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport with a virtual option available. ODFW fishery managers will review the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s annual meeting and resulting recreational Pacific halibut quotas. Attendees are asked to give input on the number and timing of “fixed” and “backup” dates for the Central Oregon Coast Subarea spring all-depth halibut season. All other area and season dates were finalized last fall. Meeting materials will be posted by Feb. 2 on the sport halibut webpage along with an online survey for those who can’t attend the meeting.
Public Meeting for the Central Coast Spring All-Depth Halibut Season
ODFW will host an online public meeting on Tuesday, February 6 at 6:00 p.m. to get input on the number and timing of the central Oregon coast spring all-depth halibut season fixed and back-up dates. Information on how to connect to the online meeting is below. Staff will present an overview of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) Annual Meeting and the resulting quotas for Oregon sport halibut seasons. This will lead into discussion and public input on the timing of fixed and back-up dates for the Oregon coast subarea (Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain) spring all-depth halibut season. Background materials for the meeting will be posted by Friday, Feb 2 on the ODFW Sport Halibut Management Webpage. An online survey will also be available on the webpage for those who may not be able to attend the meeting but wish to provide input for the 2024 halibut season. The survey will remain available through Friday, Feb 9. ODFW staff recommendations resulting from this meeting and the online survey will be available late February and will be posted on the ODFW Sport Halibut Webpage. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will finalize the 2024 recreational halibut season in late April, with the openings starting in May. If you cannot join the meeting, you may also provide input by contacting Christian Heath (christian.t.heath@odfw.oregon.gov) or Melanie Bukovec (melanie.a.bukovec@odfw.oregon.gov) at ODFW’s Marine Resources Program, 541-867-4741.