Crane Replacement Project

The Port of Port Orford is one of only a few ports built directly on the ocean and not in an estuary, and so the Port occupies a distinctive geographic niche that demands specific facilities and fishing methods. The Port launches boats by crane from a high dock directly into the ocean. Because the crane cannot accommodate larger vessels, the fishing fleet is made up of smaller boats (under 42 feet) that fish by hook and line or traps such as crab pots, primarily during day trips. Selective fishing methods and shorter transport times contribute to added value products and shorter running times, fewer emissions and burn less fuel. A significant portion of the hook and line caught fish is captured and transported live to markets in the San Francisco Bay Area, Portland, and Seattle, where it fetches premium prices. The Port relies on the higher prices paid to its commercial fishermen as a source of revenue through a landing fee of 1% imposed on all fish and shellfish landed at the Port.