Fishing News
Rockfish ban could sink local fishermen
By Stett Holbrook
Some local fishermen could be sunk if new regulations take effect later this year.
Proposed fishing restrictions aimed at reviving what scientists say are perilously low rockfish populations could have a devastating effect on Pillar Point Harbor's commercial and recreational fishing industry.
A new government report says bocaccio, canary and yelloweye rockfish reproduce much slower than previously thought and need a break from fishermen to return to healthy population levels. The National Marine Fisheries Service declared the three species overfished three years ago.
The new report suggests that fishing along the continental shelf from Washington to California must be restricted or banned to comply with federal law.
If approved by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council in September, the ban would prohibit or severely limit the take of deep-dwelling rockfish. Fishermen who fish for other species could be impacted as well, because they sometimes pull up rockfish while fishing for salmon, squid or other fish.
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