Pacific sardine fishery off Oregon started in 1935, but there are recorded landings of sardine in Oregon dating back to 1928. The catch dropped off in the 1940’s with 1948 being the last year of directed fishery landings until 1999 when the fishery was revived. Pacific sardine was managed as a developmental fishery from 1999 to 2005. In 2004, the sardine industry asked the Department of Fish and Wildlife to remove Pacific sardines from the developmental species list and create a limited entry system for the fishery. The Department began work with the Developmental Fisheries Board and the industry to develop alternatives for the fishery. In December.
