About the Commissioners

The Oregon Albacore Commission (OAC) was formed at the request of the fishing industry and created by the Oregon Legislature in October 1999 and is a part of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) Commodity Commission Program. The Commission is funded by an assessment of the cash value on all Albacore landed in the state. This assessment is split equally between the harvester and the first receiver,The OAC serves the commercial albacore troll fishing industry by supporting and engaging in activities and research programs that benefit the production, harvesting, handling, processing, marketing and use of Oregon Albacore.The nine members of the Commission – five producers (fishermen), three handlers, and one public member – are appointed by the ODA director and serve three-year terms.

Rick Goché – Producer, Coquille (Chair)

I have been involved in the seafood business from research to retail for over 40 years. I fish the F/V Peso II for Albacore and market a large portion of my catch under our family brand “Sacred Sea”www.sacredseatuna.com As Chairman of the Oregon Albacore Commission I take pride in helping to promote Oregon Albacore for my friends in the fleet and the processors who support us. My dream is to one day see most of the Albacore Tuna we land in Oregon be consumed in Oregon.

Clay Archambault – Producer, Newport

Clay Archambault is the owner and operator of F/V Island Girl and has been involved in the fishing industry for over 20 years. Through Island Girl Seafoods, Inc., he gained experience in producing and running a small business, as well as handling and processing tuna and other pelagics. Clay believes that becoming an OAC commissioner will allow him to help in the efforts to sustain our industry locally and globally. “With an increasing demand for quality and local commodities to consumers, we should ramp up our efforts to an many consumers as possible.”

Cari Brandberg – Handler, Newport

Jennifer Burns Bright – Public Member, Astoria

Jennifer Burns Bright is an editor and writer based in Astoria. She oversees MEDIAmerica’s editorial content for Oregon visitor guides and enewsletters for clients including Travel Oregon, Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Oregon Wine Board, and multiple regions and towns. She joined the team in 2021 after many years as a freelance travel writer and food educator specializing in sustainable seafood. Her clients included AAA’s outlets in the Northwest, Oregon Humanities, OSU Seafood Lab, American Cruise Lines and many regional and national publications. Before the pandemic, she produced and hosted a radio talk show on local seafood on Astoria’s KMUN and served on the Board of the North Coast Food Web. Bright has a Ph.D in English literature from University of California at Irvine and taught at University of Oregon for many years before relocating to Port Orford and Astoria.

Jon Gonzalez – Handler, Clackamas

Jonathan Gonzalez was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California where he developed a connection to the ocean through surfing, scuba diving and a passion for advocating to promote and protect US fisheries and working waterfronts. Before relocating to Portland, Oregon in 2017 to work at Pacific Seafood as their Fisheries Policy Specialist, Jonathan served as the Assistant Director of the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center from 2007-2012 and was also the co-founder of Santa Barbara’s first Community Supported Fishery. Jonathan is currently a Board Member of the California Coast Crab Association and the Shoreside Whiting Cooperative, and he serves as a member of the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group.

Robert Hampton – Producer, North Bend

I am a full-time fisherman and own the F/V Charlotte B and the F/V Halo.  I’m relatively new to the industry but have worked my way up from a 23’ boat to our new boat which is 58’.  I’m a small boat guy at heart and want to keep tuna fishing available to anyone willing to head offshore to make a living chasing them.  My hope is to be a part of the process in order to make sure fishermen have a voice in the regulations and information presented to the public which will shape the future of the fishery I love.

Patrick Roelle – Producer, Reedsport

Shawn Ryan – Producer, Charleston (Vice Chair)

Shawn Ryan is a native Oregonian and started fishing in 1976 in California, Oregon, and Washington as a deckhand fishing salmon and albacore in the summers, and herring, crab, rock cod, and blackcod in the winters. He bought his first boat in 1982 and fishes primarily salmon and albacore for a living. He is one of the board of directors for Western Fishboat Owners Association, a director for American Fishermans Research Foundation, and an Oregon Albacore Commissioner.

Handler #1 Position Vacant

Ericka Carlson – Administrator

Ericka Carlson is a native Oregonian who has great pride in our region’s bounty. In 2003, after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, NY, she returned to Portland and taught cooking classes featuring the best from local farmers, fishers, and ranchers. She enjoyed promoting our region’s products and teaching people to cook using the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. As publisher of Edible Portland magazine, she continued this work telling stories of Oregon’s agriculture and fisheries. The goal of the magazine was not simply to tell these stories, but to get people to engage with the bounty of our region by getting out and experiencing our farms, ranches, and fishing communities, and most importantly to encourage people to buy Oregon products and support the livelihoods of all our producers and more broadly, our state’s economy.

Ericka is the administrator for both the Oregon Albacore Commission and the Oregon Salmon Commission representing these commercial fisheries through promotion, education, communications, and research.