Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week in person along the Oregon Coast Tuesday, March 28 through Sunday, April 2.
An estimated 18,000 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores from late March through June as part of their annual migration back toward Alaska.
Trained Oregon Parks and Recreation Department volunteers will be stationed at 17 sites to help visitors spot whales, share information and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.
The Whale Watching Center, at 119 Hwy. 101 in Depoe Bay, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Visitors can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in panoramic ocean views with provided binoculars. Oregon State Parks rangers will be on hand to answer questions about the whales.
A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage at https://bit.ly/2I0zEZi
All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines. For a list of safety tips, go to visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety.
For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit oregonstateparks.org.
Chinook, Coho Stocks a ‘Mixed Bag’
With severely low forecasted returns of California Chinook salmon (Sacramento and Klamath River), both California and Oregon ocean Chinook commercial and recreational fisheries are impacted. Coho are a bright spot again for Oregon, and the state is expecting another good run and fishing seasons like last year.
Earlier this month, the National Marine Fisheries Service cancelled the spring 2023 commercial ocean troll salmon fishery (Cape Falcon to the California border) and the spring recreational ocean salmon fishery (through May 15 from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain). This decision was made in co=nsultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the states of Oregon and California.
ODFW’s ocean salmon project leader Eric Schindler says with California salmon forecasts so low, impacts to those critical Chinook stocks need to be kept low.
“Chinook headed for California are caught along with local Chinook and coho in Oregon’s ocean fisheries south of Cape Falcon. So, any fishery where these Chinook are likely to be caught must be restricted – that’s why Oregon and California agreed with NMFS and cancelled all early ocean salmon seasons south of Cape Falcon at least through May 15,” he said.
According to the PFMC, forecasts for West Coast Chinook and coho stocks in 2023 are a mixed bag, with some low and high points when compared to last year.
Federal requirements to conserve Fraser River (Canada) coho, lower Columbia River natural tule fall Chinook, Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook will be the main constraints for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries.
“Meeting our conservation and management objectives continues to be the highest priority for the Council,” Council Chair Marc Gorelnik said. “Balancing those objectives while providing meaningful commercial and recreational seasons remains a challenge in 2023.”
“The 2023 salmon season discussions have been dominated by the severely low forecasts for both the Klamath and Sacramento River fall Chinook stocks,” Executive Director Merrick Burden said.
“The Council will need to deliberate on the best path forward in setting 2023 seasons with considerations for economic implications to the coastal communities and the low abundances of key salmon stocks and the need to ensure future generations of healthy salmon returns.”
According to the PFMC, for the ocean sport fishery north of Cape Falcon the alternatives with Chinook recreational quotas range from 32,500 to 42,500, compared to 27,000 in 2022. For coho, recreational quotas range from 142,800 to 168,000 marked coho, compared to 168,000 in 2022. Starting dates range from mid- to late-June with the season continuing through most or all of September. Chinook and coho retention is allowed generally throughout the proposed seasons.
The PFMC currently is developing summer salmon seasons to be decided by April 7. Those decisions will be sent to the U.S. Department of Commerce for final approval by May 15.
PFMC is considering several alternatives for summer and fall salmon seasons. Generally, these would allow coho fishing from mid-June through September but restrict chinook fishing south of Cape Falcon until at least Sept. 1. By then, the majority of chinook headed to California are no longer offshore of Oregon’s coast. In September, there is still potential to harvest Oregon chinook salmon.
A different mix of salmon stocks are offshore north of Cape Falcon, so season alternatives are different. Options being considered would allow recreational chinook and coho retention in the ocean beginning mid-June through September.
PFMC’s alternatives are available online at http://www.pcouncil.org.
The PFMC is looking for feedback from anglers and commercial fishermen which have their own season.
Going through the PFMC e-portal is the best way to comment; use the link for Salmon Agenda Item E.2 (tentative adoption of the 2023 management measures for analysis) scheduled for the Council floor on Sunday, April 2.
Hunter cited following ‘elk fever’ incident
A subject shooting into a herd of elk near Nehalem killed one and mortally wounded at least three others in January, while illegally shooting from a road, and in the direction of Hwy 101.
The 66-year-old subject blamed “elk fever” when he self-reported the incident, according to authorities. The subject, whose name has not been released pending the investigation, expressed remorse after the event and had turned himself in.
OSP Fish and Wildlife Troopers criminally cited the subject for: Hunting Prohibited Method: Shooting from Roadway; Unlawful Take/Possession of Antlerless Elk; and Unlawful Take/Possession of Bull Elk. Troopers seized a .308 rifle for evidence, along with the elk the subject had tagged and processed.
OSP F&W troopers responding to the call into the Turn in Poachers (TIP) Line found three wounded elk wandering with the herd of about 30 animals. The subject had already left with a cow elk he tagged. A trooper put down a mortally wounded cow elk.
The following day, troopers again assessed the herd, and put down a mortally wounded bull. A wounded cow elk ran into the Nehalem River.
It is unclear what happened to the cow elk, but troopers agree it likely drowned.
According to OSP Fish and Wildlife Division Sgt. Greg Plummer, the subject had both a late-season cow elk tag and permission from the landowner to hunt.
He field-dressed the carcass and left the area, according to the landowner, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“The guy came out and stopped at the road, and started shooting,” the landowner said, “I told another hunter, who said the guy shouldn’t have left. He should have called state police and turned himself in.”
The landowner called the subject and encouraged him to return to the field, to call OSP and to turn himself in for poaching. The subject turned himself in.
The bull elk and cow elk that troopers were forced to put down and the cow elk the subject had processed were donated. Two elk went to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and one elk went to the Tillamook County Jail.
Oregon’s Stop Poaching Campaign helps to protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitat for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Contact campaign coordinator Yvonne Shaw for more information at [email protected].
If you know of or suspect other crimes against fish wildlife or habitat, report to the Turn in Poachers (TIP) Line at 1 (800) 452-7888 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone. Or email: [email protected].