MSC pre-assement made available

FIP Participant list

Participants confirmed

Updated 2022 workplan

Workplan made public

The multi-stressor project addressing how climate change is impacting the species and fishery, is now in the phase of actively addressing objectives.

An update has been provided by the FIP detailing recent activity progress; the FIP continues to collect monitoring data and has produced a non-target species analysis. 

ODFW and OSU have completed and submitted a draft final progress report to NMFS that summarizes the work performed throughout the first phase of the project ‘Identifying Co-occurrence Between Whales and Fishing Effort in Oregon to Reduce Entanglement Risk’.

Advisory report produced on the likelihood of increased interactions with blue and humpback whales in southern Oregon waters, based on observations, and outlines best practices to reduce the risk of adverse impacts.

A document listing potential research topics for addressing pre-assessment and MRAG Americas 2022 gap analysis findings has been made available. 

ODFW continues to process and report data into the logbooks, providing information on bait use within the fishery. 

FIP partners at Oregon State University have received a NOAA grant to investigate how climate change impacts the Dungeness crab fishery. A project work plan aimed at identifying stressors was produced and provided to the larger FIP team. 

Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division reported that there were 572.75 hours of enforcement effort in the fishery, with 483 'contacts'' resulting in a total of 31 citations and 51 warnings issued.

ODFW conducted a fishery-independent survey to assess habitat condition and fish and invertebrate communities in a significant commercial fishing area. This survey employed stereo video sleds, Didson imaging sonar, and ROV technology.

Email correspondence from OSP on the Jan 2023 enforcement efforts; over 175 hours were dedicated to enforcement of regulations between Jan 13th- Jan 31st.

ODFW is in the process of producing an assessment of in-house crab fishery bycatch data collected during pre-season and in-season trips;  ODFW collected bycatch data on 12 preseason test trips in this reporting period

The 2021-2022 Dungeness crab fishery newsletter has been published; ODFW has included a summary of the continued efforts in 2022 to develop a Conservation Plan

OEAC have made recommendations public with feedback on best practices to reduce entanglements of whales, turtles and other marine life.

Enforcement and compliance data provided by OSP for the 2021-2022 season; 4 illegal fishing violations have been issued in addition to 10 warnings and 6 citations related to logbook compliance.

A stakeholder advisory group has been re-initiated by ODFW which is now called the Oregon Entanglement Advisory Committee (OEAC). 

Oregon Dungeness crab fishery commercial landings made available for 1978- 2021

OSU has finalized the development of species distribution models for humpback, blue and fin whales. 

Article published highlighting the implementation of the dungeness crab FMP

FIP continues to process and assess data acquired from ROV video transects of various seafloor habitats; report of progress has been made available

Oregon state police provided an update on illegal activities taking place in marine reserves; since November 2021, there have been several warnings and citations issued

FIP has organized recent implementation into an outlined progress update; FIP is working towards a project which will build and test an integrated vessel tracking e-logbook system 

ODFW monthly newsletter for December 2021 made available; fishing citations are reported in the newsletter each month

FIP finalized a draft version of the FMP and presented the plan to the OFWC; OFWC continues to process public comments until the FMP is finalized

ODCC is working with ODFW to explore options for having an external review of the Oregon Dungeness Crab Fishery Management Plan completed before August 2025

Public comment draft of the Conservation plan for reducing the impact of the Oregon ocean commercial Dungeness crab fishery on ESA-listed species off Oregon.

FIP created document to highlight recent overall action progress

Table published showing enforcement effort directed on the commercial crab fishery by year and area from 2016-2021

Letter of support sent June 2021 by the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission asking for industry identify and support a MSC pre-assessment for the Washington State coastal Dungeness crab fishery

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department (OFWD) has provided progress update; FIP continues to actively process and enter crab logbook data

FIP has agreed to continue to work with Professor Shanks from the University of Oregon to develop an index of Dungeness crab stock status

OFWD has put forth strategies to obtain and assess data acquired from ROVs 

The Oregon Dungeness Crab Comission has been working with the Oregon Whale Entanglement Working Group on the co-occurrence between whales and crab fishing effort in Oregon

Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission meeting publlished on May of 2020. 

Increase to PI 2.2.2; An analysis of non-target species (discarded and landed) in the fishery was conducted; the analysis identified that no main secondary species were found and no bait species comprised more than 5% of the catch. With no main secondary species identified, no management strategy for secondary species is necessary.

Increase to PI 2.1.2; An analysis of non-target species (discarded and landed) in the fishery was conducted; the analysis identified that no primary species were found and no bait species comprised more than 5% of the catch. With no main primary species identified, no management strategy for primary species is necessary.

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (OFWC) held a meeting in August 2023 wherein the following regulations were adopted: a 20% reduction in pot limits across the fishery, a prohibition on crabbing outside of 40 fathoms starting May 1st each year, and a restriction on the amount of surface gear allowed. 

The Fishery Managment Plan for the US Dungeness crab has been finalized and published

Increase to PI 3.1.3. & 3.2.1.; The FMP has fishery-specific and long-term objectives in place 

Increase to PI 3.2.4; regular internal reviews conducted on management performance are in place

Increase to PI 2.1.1;  An analysis of non-target species (discarded and landed) in the fishery was conducted; the analysis identified that no primary species were found and no bait species comprised more than 5% of the catch. 

Increase to PI 2.2.1; An analysis of non-target species (discarded and landed) in the fishery was conducted; the analysis identified that no main secondary species were found and no bait species comprised more than 5% of the catch.