FISH COMMISSION OF ORECON LIBRARY, NEWPORT ],,

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1 SUELLFISH INVESTIGATION INFORf 1ATION REPORT 74-2 FISH COMMISSION OF ORECON LIBRARY, NEWPORT ],, HARVEST OF INTERTIDAL, NONFOOD INVERTEBRATES 1971 by Laimons Osis Fish Commission of Oregon Management and Research Division [ 1ay 1974

2 ,, HARVEST OF INTERTIDAL, NONFOOD INVERTEBRATES, 1971 INTRODUCTION Since 1962 people holding intertidal nonfood invertebrate collecting pennits have been required to report the number of animals harvested. This report summarizes collecting activities for RESULTS The Fish Commission issued 285 intertidal collecting permits in 1971, an increase of 20% over Collecting reports were returned by 84% of the pennittees. Collecting reports from the six commercial collectors were accidentally destroyed before they were summarized. The commercial catch was therefore estimated by talking to the collectors or comparing their 1970 and 1972 collecting reports. The reported overall harvest of intertidal invertebrates decreased 12% from 150,413 animals in 1970 to 131,715 animals in 1971 (tables 1 and 2). Table 1. SU11111ary of Interti da 1 Nonfood Invertebrate Catch Data from the Oregon Coast, ~lumber Percentage Educational pennits Commercial permits Total 285 Number of collecting reports returned 240 Number used 172 Number unused 68 Educational harvest 39,465 Commercial harvest 92,250 Total 131, The polychaete tubeworm EudistyUa again formed the largest single _group taken. It is collected commercially and sold as fresh fish bait in the Yachats area. Since miscellaneous species such as barnacles and amphipods made up almost half of the educational catch, a separate analysis was made, using index species that can be counted individually. This analysis showed that educational collecting decreased 8%, the comnercial harvest \'/as do\'m 16% for an overall 13% decrease in the take of index species (Table 5). Although Table 3 suggests that Sunset Bay-Cape Arago experiences the heaviest collecting pressure among the permit areas, 81% of the animals taken from this area were miscellaneous species such as amphipods. By considering only index species, Yaquina Head experienced the heaviest collecting pressure among pennit areas. The central coast ~'las the most heavily utilized open area (Table 3).

3 ~~~ -Table 2. Intertidal Nonfood Invertebrates. Taken by Pe~t Holders Along the ;; Oregon Coast from January 1 to December 31, Educational Catch Commercial Catch Total Catch Animal Group Number Percentage NUiiiher Percentage NUiltl)er Percentage Coelenterata Sea anemones Annelida Marine wonns 1, , , Arthropoda Hermit & porcelain crabs 1, , , Ghost and mud shrimp 3, , Shore, spider & kelp crabs 2, ' , f 1o11usca Chi tons , , Snails, limpets 4~ ' Sea slugs Echinodermata Sea stars 1, , , Sea urchins 4, , , Sand dollars Brittle stars Sea cucumbers Other groups 19, , Total 39, , ,

4 1/ Columbia River to Tillamook Bay. 2/ Tillamook Bay to Coos Bay. 3/ Coos Bay to California Border.

5 ..;..... Table 4. Intertidal Nonfood Invertebrates Estimated Taken by Commercial Collectors from the Oregon Coast by Area and Taxonomic Group, Area Taxonomic Group North Coast Central Coast South Coast Total Percentage Coe 1 enter a ta Sea anemones Annelida f4arine worms 0 57, , Arthropoda Hermit and porcelain crabs 1,000 5, , Ghost and mud shrimp Shore, spider and kelp crabs 0 7 ' , Mollusca Chi tons 1, ,000 3, Snails, 1 impets Sea slugs Echinodermata Sea stars 5,500 7, , Sea urchins 0 2,450 1,500 3, Sand dollars Brittle stars Sea cucumbers Other groups Total 8,000 80,750 3,500 92, Percentage

6 " Table 5. Selected Groups of Intertidal Nonfood Invertebrates Taken by Permit Holders Along the Oregon Coast, 1971.: Eauca tf ona 1 ea tcfi Commercla1 Catch Tota1 Catch % Change t Change % Change from from from Animal Group Number Percentage 1970 Number Percentage 1970 Number Percentage 1970 Coelenterata Sea anemones Arthropoda Hermit and porcelain crabs 1, , , Shore, spider and kelp crabs 2, ' , Ho11usca Chi tons , , Snails, 1 impets 4, , Sea slugs o.o Echinodermata Sea stars 1, , , Sea urchins 4, , , Brittle stars Sea cucumbers Total 15, , , "", ' j: