Based on a unanimous vote of the federal Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), California faces a complete closure of the recreational and commercial ocean salmon season for the second year in a row.
“The forecasts for chinook (aka king) salmon returning to California rivers this year are again very low,” said PFMC Chair Brad Pettinger. “Despite improved drought conditions, the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns may still be impacting the overall returns of chinook.” The recommendations will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval by May 16, 2024.
The PFMC recommendation comes on the heels of a recommendation of full closure by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. That recommendation was prompted by a forecast of low abundance of the state’s target stocks and the historically low numbers of spawning king salmon returning to Sacramento River this past fall and winter. Had fisheries been allowed in California, the season would have been heavily constrained by the conservation objectives for king salmon, as well as coho (silver) salmon in California and Southern Oregon, according to the PFMC. The state of California will adopt fishery regulations for state-managed waters that are compatible with the PFMC’s actions.
“The economic impact of closing a good portion of the west coast ocean salmon fishery will negatively impact the people that participate in the fishery, and the small businesses in coastal communities that rely on the salmon fishery.”
PFMC Executive Director Merrick Burden
“This has been another challenging year for the council, its advisors, fishery stakeholders, and the public, to say the least,” said PFMC Executive Director Merrick Burden. “The economic impact of closing a good portion of the west coast ocean salmon fishery will negatively impact the people that participate in the fishery, and the small businesses in coastal communities that rely on the salmon fishery.”
