Chip Terhune, chief of staff for Gov. Ted Kulongoski, described commercial fishermen on the North Coast are under pressure as the governor has rolled out a plan to establish marine reserves off the Oregon Coast to encourage fair fishing and spawns. The step has been taken to tackle the growing problems of the fishing industry which includes existing restrictions and increasing fuel and insurance prices. These would be aggravated by additional closures on the ocean.
The governor has asked the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council to suggest at least 10 areas in Oregon’s territorial sea that should be ideal for research and habitat protection. These areas would be closed to fishing and other activities. According to Terhune this is a tough issue which has so many unanswered questions. The decision of the governor makes it clear that the local fishermen has been squeezed and are under tremendous pressure because the authority wants to find a way to make the coast vibrant. In other word the authority is ready to help the local fishermen.
By giving such huge task to the scientists the governor wants to help them learn more about the ocean, expressed Terhune. But the fishermen are thinking that they are being taken for granted. Commercial trawler Tom Morrison of Warrenton said that there is no problem right now. According to Bill Hunsinger, a Port of Astoria Commissioner, such studies have not produced any tangible results for fishermen.
Mike Brown, plant manager for Pacific Seafoods in Warrenton, said only fishermen are not affected even the plant processors are also in the same league. But the authority never gave a second thought on this.
