T he C olumbia P ress
1
50 ¢
C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper
April 6, 2018
503-861-3331
Vol. 2, Issue 14
The cost of closing commercial fisheries
New rockfish
season provides
opportunity
Oregon
fishermen
have more opportuni-
ties to catch rockfish, or
groundfish, following
NOAA Fisheries’ ap-
proval of a new ocean
fishery that uses selec-
tive gear to target plen-
tiful species off Oregon
while avoiding over-
fished species.
NOAA Fisheries this
week announced a final
rule authorizing a new
Oregon
recreational
fishery for groundfish,
such as yellowtail and
widow rockfish, at mid-
water depths greater
than 40 fathoms.
Recreational fishing
for rockfish off Ore-
gon generates more
than $14 million for
the state’s economy
annually and has been
the largest recreation-
al ocean fishery in the
Fishermen
lost jobs and
as much as
$9 million
Closure of the com-
mercial ocean salmon
troll fishery last year
cost an estimated $5.8
million to $9 million
in lost income for fish-
ermen, with the loss of
200 to 330 jobs.
That’s according to
a new model that de-
termines the cost of
John Holloway/National Fishing Alliance
closures based on the
Above: A fisherman using a line with a long leader
choices fishermen make.
pulls in a yellowtail rockfish off the Oregon Coast.
Scientists hope the
model, described for
Below: Many commercial fishing boats remained at
the dock last year with the closure of the ocean salm- the first time this week
in the scientific journal
on troll fishery.
Marine Policy, will help
policy makers antici-
pate the economic toll
of fisheries closures.
Such foresight may
be especially useful as
conditions off the West
Coast grow increasing-
ly variable, leading to
See ‘Rockfish’ on Page 4
Stories courtesy Northwest Fisheries Science Center and NOAA
See ‘Closures’ on Page 4
Wendy’s flagship restaurant in Dublin, Ohio.
Warrenton could get
area’s first Wendy’s
The Columbia Press
A Wendy’s fast-food restaurant could be on
its way to Warrenton.
A representative of the company submitted
plans to the city this week for a 2,400-square-
foot restaurant in the Warrenton Highlands
shopping center across from Home Depot.
Plans submitted by Baysinger Partners Ar-
chitecture in Portland include a drive-through
window, 11 tables inside the restaurant and
several more on a patio.
At its busiest times, the restaurant could do
up to 170 transactions per hour.
The proposed Wendy’s location was in the
plans for Warrenton Highlands as a spot
for a drive-through restaurant when the
52,000-square-feet shopping center opened in
late 2011. It is just under half an acre and zoned
general commercial.
The Highway 101/Ensign Lane intersection is
the busiest in the city.
Baysinger has asked for a pre-application
See ‘Wendy’s’ on Page 6
Airport land a perfect fit for eco-business park
B y C indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
What better place to study the ef-
fects of tides and wetlands than in
the thick of them?
The Port of Astoria’s business
park -- a concept devised long ago
yet still an empty field – could be-
come home to a Center for Envi-
ronmental Studies.
“One of the biggest things we
face in our area is navigating the
balance of living in a sensitive eco-
logical area with our economic re-
straints,” said Jim Knight, execu-
tive director of the Port of Astoria.
The port’s land adjacent to the
airport could fit the bill.
It’s been vacant for years and
garnering no interest from devel-
opers, perhaps because it’s in a
sensitive area that could be affect-
ed by tsunamis, wind, tides and
wetlands.
Not to mention Federal Aviation
Administration restrictions.
Enter the USDA’s Rural Develop-
ment Business Grant program.
The program targets anything
that would promote small and
emerging companies employing 50
or fewer employees making $1 mil-
lion in gross revenue or less. Dead-
line to apply is April 30.
Grants range from $10,000 to
$500,000.
Cattle graze in the field behind the Airport Indus-
Kevin Cronin, who was hired by trial Park sign across from the U.S. Coast Guard
See ‘Eco park’ on Page 5 station.