Briefs for Jan. 27, 2026

Published 12:16 pm Monday, January 26, 2026

A young humpback whale became stranded on the Oregon Coast north of Yachats on Nov. 15, prompting a response of trained teams from across the West Coast through the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The whale was entangled when it first came ashore, but many of the lines were later cut away, leaving a short length jutting from the animal's mouth. The whale had to be euthanized. (Photo courtesy of West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network)

ODFW takes action to reduce risk of whale entanglements

NEWPORT, Ore. – To reduce the risk of humpback whale entanglements in commercial Dungeness crab gear, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is moving the May 1 “late-season” regulations to April 1 this year.

These regulations require commercial crab fishermen to fish in waters less than 40 fathoms, use 20 percent fewer pots, and affix a “late-season” buoy tag to each pot.

“While our current pot limit reduction and depth restriction has reduced the number of vertical lines in the water after May 1, newer research shows that starting these measures in April will do even more to reduce entanglement risk,” said Justin Ainsworth, ODFW Marine Resources Program Manager. “Whale distribution in Oregon waters varies each year but limiting commercial Dungeness crab fishing to shallower waters in April will help reduce overlap with crab gear.”

The West Coast humpback whale population is growing and interactions with Dungeness crab gear are increasing.

The National Marine Fisheries Service attributes the entanglement of three humpback whales in 2024 and four in 2025 to Oregon Dungeness crab fishing gear, including an entangled juvenile humpback whale that stranded alive near Yachats last November.

Report entangled whales or sea turtles immediately to the NMFS entanglement response hotline at 1-877-SOS-WHALe (1-877-767-9425).

Oregon nonprofits receive BottleDrop money

Thirteen nonprofits across the state, including the Northcoast Watershed Association in Astoria and Spruce Up Warrenton, are reaping the benefits from the BottleDrop Fund. The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative and Oregon Community Foundation have distributed $250,000.

The BottleDrop Fund, created in partnership with Oregon Community Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations in Oregon that are operating in the spirit of the Bottle Bill through annual grantmaking. Priorities include litter and waste reduction, environmental conservation, environmental education, recycling, public-private partnerships that work to solve a community problem in Oregon, and skill-building and job training for low-income residents.

— The Astorian