The Winchester Bay waterfront has become full of activity as an Oregon company directs the fishing of sardines, an unknown fishery off the coast there.

Dana Ferguson is with several companies, including Oceanic Logistics out of Astoria.

He is also with California-based United Coast Seafoods and Oregon-based West Bay Marketing.

He's directing the current fishery, which came a surprise.

"We've been buying sardines in Astoria for about 10 to 12 years now," Ferguson said.

Some local fishermen discovered the fish off the Winchester Bay coast and Ferguson says they want to catch the quota of sardines set for them by regulators.

"In our minds," he said, "fish buyers, fishermen in the sardine industry ... we get a quota and it keeps getting reduced. We don't think NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) does a very good job doing their science. In fact, we use airplanes to see our fish.

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