Published Nov-23-2009
Crab harvests in 2008 were down to a more typical level from recent record highs and the sardine harvest declined to about half its high point of 2005. The closure of part of the salmon grounds resulted in a harvest of only 1.9 million pounds - about half its average level since 2000 - although higher prices kept the value of the salmon fishery greater than it was for most of the 1990s. The landed value of all fish in 2008 dollars increased from about $100 million in 2007 to $143 million in 2008 (Graph 1).
In addition to the $4.4 million that Oregon commercial salmon fishermen received for their catch in 2008, they also received about $12.7 million from August 2008 through June 2009 through the federal Salmon Disaster Relief Program. The combination of landed value and disaster relief made 2008 the best year for salmon-fishing related revenue since 1988. Processors, charter-fishing operators and other businesses also received money from the program. In total, Oregonians received about $25.4 million from the federal program through mid-June 2009 and will receive another $6.7 million in 2009.
Estimated employment in commercial fishing seems to have increased a bit in 2008, to 1,619 from 1,557 in 2007. Measuring employment in fishing is more difficult than measuring the harvests. Legislation in 1999 allowed most fishermen to be exempt from unemployment insurance coverage - the primary source of employment data. The Oregon Employment Department now estimates the total number of fishermen based on survey data and the number of fishing licenses sold.
The number of fishermen covered by unemployment insurance has dropped considerably since 1999. The apparent decrease could be from fewer fishermen working but in the main is probably from fewer fishermen electing to maintain unemployment insurance coverage.
Although the number of fishing vessels is declining, fishing is generating more revenue per boat and is probably becoming a higher-paying occupation (Graph 2).
In addition to direct employment, commercial fishing provides the resource for processors. There were 28 seafood processors in Oregon in 2008, about the same number as the previous year. Their average annual employment was 1,063. Some ports, such as Florence and Reedsport, have fish buyers who now transport the harvest to be processed elsewhere.
