VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Regulators imposed emergency limits on West Coast trawl fishing because groundfish stocks remain depleted despite drastic restrictions imposed last year.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted Thursday to impose emergency limits that could cut earnings from the already struggling fishery in half, industry groups said.

The cutbacks come just seven months after federal fishery managers sent Oregon and Washington fleets reeling by closing to fishing the largest area ever off a U.S. coast.

Thousands of square miles off the West Coast were put off limits to protect canary rockfish and eight other overfished species targeted by nets dragged across the ocean floor.

The value of the fishery has plummeted during the past decade. Sales from Oregon's groundfish fleet dropped to $14 million last year, down from $34.5 million in 1995. Its estimated economic contribution to the state fell to $26.4 million in 2002, down from $59.3 million in 1995.

The latest restrictions follow new evidence that the numbers of fish unintentionally caught in trawl nets could be as much as four times greater than previous estimates.

Amen to that.... I have seen firsthand what the trawlers can do to a resource, and I for one have no problem with not being able to buy bottomfish in the store. If I can't catch it, then I guess I can't eat it.
I have a buddy that is a manager at Fred Meyer and he says they throw away 200-300 lbs of seafood every week cause it spoils so fast. That is just ONE store! That is pathetic.
Time for Trawlers to learn another trade like I had to at one time.... I was a logger.... Doing just fine in the medical field now thank you.

Finally the feds are having to step in,Thanks to the likes of Gov Gridlock and his cronies the fishing here has really gone down hill at times. I am a firm believer that if you don't catch it, and can not buy it from a grocer that sells farm raised fish then you should not be able to get it. People don't buy commercially shot ducks anymore and they should not be able to buy wild fish either. If these guys don't see the truth headed their way, then let them starve.No pity here for these resource rapists!