Balancing Conservation and Utilization: Perspectives from the Commercial Fishing Industry

The Oregon Trawl Commission is an Oregon state government agency that operates under the umbrella mandate of the Oregon Department of Agriculture Commodity Commissions Program.  A majority vote of the 67 trawl producers in 1963 resulted in the formation of the Otter Trawl Commission. The first meeting was held October 23, 1963 in Astoria, Oregon where Governor Mark Hatfield appointed 7 commissioners.  The Oregon Trawl Commission continues to be funded entirely by fishermen from a percentage of their catch.  The Commission is currently made up of eight commissioners,: five fishermen, one processor, one distributor and one public member. Commissioners are chosen from among the owners and captains of trawl vessels, processors, and distributors by the director of the Oregon’s Department of Agriculture.  This presentation will focus on perspectives of the commercial fishing industry on the topic of conservation and utilization to sustain fisheries.