Oregon is wrestling with whether to establish marine reserves, where fishing and other extractive industries would be prohibited. Fishing management has been especially contentious since 2000, when the state’s once-lucrative groundfish industry collapsed and was declared a "national disaster." Conservationists believe that protected ocean waters will allow fish stocks to rebound. Fishermen, especially sport fishermen, aren’t so keen on the idea.
As one old-timer in a Salem Statesman-Journalarticle puts the issue: "Years and years ago, we could go out and fish all of the bottom fish we wanted to."
It seems like that was exactly the problem.
