OAR 635-004-0505: Roe-Herring Season and Harvest Limit

(1) The open season for the taking of herring for roe in Yaquina Bay is January 1 through April 15. (2) The yearly commercial harvest cap for the Yaquina Bay commercial roe herring fishery shall not exceed 20% of the available spawning biomass as established in the Yaquina River Basin Fish Management Operating Principles and Objectives 635-500-0665(2). The available spawning biomass shall be determined by the ODFW Fish Division’s Marine Resources Program. Only fishers with a limited entry permit issued pursuant to ORS 508.765 may participate in this fishery. (3) The factor used to convert an equivalent amount of “whole fish” resource in the Yaquina Bay commercial roe herring fishery during the period of January 1 through April 15 to the equivalent amount of herring eggs on kelp fishery is 0.2237. (4) During the period January 1 through April 15 it is unlawful to: (a) Fish commercially from midnight Friday through midnight Sunday with nets; and (b) Use any fishing gear or method of harvest for the taking of herring other than: a purse seine with a maximum length of 50 fathoms (300 feet), defined as the maximum distance from the first to last pursing rings on the purse line; lampara net; hook and line; or eggs-on-kelp method.