Crabber Towboat Lane Agreements

Conflicts between ocean-going tugs and crab gear have historically caused severe problems along the Pacific coast. Crab pots were fouling tugs and barges as they moved between coastal ports, and the loss of crab gear was a severe economic problem for fishermen. Repair costs for tugs with a fouled wheel averaged over $20,000 and involved substantial out-of-service time.

Efforts are continuing with the West Coast Commercial Crab/Towboat Lane Negotiation Project to further reduce the conflict between ocean-going tugs and commercial crab gear from Cape Flattery to San Francisco. Savings to these industries are over a million dollars annually.

Steve Harbell, Marine Resources Agent, has authored "Towlane Charts, Cape Flattery to San Francisco: A Place to Tow/A Place to Fish, Year 2003 Edition," which includes significant changes for charts covering the Columbia River area, Garibaldi, and Newport, Oregon with new towlanes further seaward to reduce conflicts in deeper water fishing grounds.

The designation of fishing-gear-free towlanes continues to dramatically reduce the loss of crab gear, as well as the fouling of tugs and barges. The agreement between towboaters and commercial crabbers enables the towboaters to have a clear place to operate while crabbers fishing areas are free of barge and tug traffic. Expansion of the fishing areas in the Columbia River area, Garibaldi, and Newport has increased the harvest area for commercial fishermen by over 100 square miles.

For more information regarding this agreement, please email Steve Harbell or via phone at 360-482-2934 or 360-875-9331.