Latest news with #GoldenStateSalmonAssociation
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
CDFW adjusts salmon releases in Sacramento River
In a significant shift of California's salmon strategy, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has begun releasing juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon from CDFW-operated hatcheries into the main stem of the Sacramento River for the first time. The release of approximately 3.5 million fall-run Chinook salmon smolts into the main stem of the Sacramento River occurred in mid-April near Redding and Butte City. The fish originated from increased production at CDFW's hatchery operations at the Feather River Fish Hatchery and the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery. CDFW-operated salmon hatcheries historically have supported populations on their home rivers elsewhere in the Central Valley. 'We strongly support the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's bold decision to release salmon smolts directly into the main stem of the Sacramento River – a historic first that gives juvenile fish a fighting chance at survival,' said Scott Artis, executive director at Golden State Salmon Association. 'With Sacramento fall-run Chinook returns at crisis levels, and fishing families and businesses having been impacted since 2023, this innovative move is exactly the kind of action we need. We applaud the tireless hatchery staff who made this possible and stand with them in the effort to rebuild our salmon runs and revive California's commercial and recreational fisheries.' 'The naturally spawning Sacramento River salmon populations have been the primary driver of California's commercial and recreational salmon fisheries for decades,' said Jay Rowan, CDFW Fisheries branch chief. 'Poor spawning and migration conditions for fall-run Chinook during the past two droughts have resulted in low returning adult numbers the last three years. These low adult returns not only affected fishing seasons but also reduced the number of spawning adults and, consequently, the number of juvenile salmon available to take advantage of the good river conditions to rebound this part of the run. The extra effort by our hatchery staff to maximize production has allowed us to take measures this year to speed up the rebuilding of these critical Sacramento River natural spawning areas. This significant shift in strategy speaks to CDFW's long-term commitment to boosting these important salmon populations.' The 3.5 million fish being released into the main stem of the Sacramento River are part of an additional 9.7 million salmon produced in 2025 above normal production goals, funded in partnership with ocean and inland fishing groups. CDFW's hatchery operations, in coordination with the state Department of Water Resources, East Bay Municipal Utility District, and the federal Bureau of Reclamation, will raise and release more than 28 million fall-run Chinook salmon in total in 2025. CDFW's Sacramento River salmon releases are being timed with increases in water flows that have been shown to improve survival in their journey to the Pacific Ocean and also with salmon releases from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coleman National Fish Hatchery in Shasta County to overwhelm predators with a massive volume of released fish. Additionally, CDFW has provided the Coleman National Fish Hatchery with 10 million salmon eggs to help meet its production goals and offset low adult salmon returns to the federal fish hatchery located on Battle Creek about 3 miles east of the Sacramento River in Anderson. The juvenile salmon released into the Sacramento River are expected to imprint on the main stem during their migration to the ocean, which in three years upon their return to freshwater is expected to increase the number of adults utilizing important natural spawning areas within the main stem.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Californian salmon industry suffers despite Trump promise to put ‘people over fish'
Salmon fishing in California will be off-limits for a third consecutive year in what anglers across the state are calling a 'human tragedy.' Fishing regulators voted on Tuesday to restrict this year's season to only a few days due to a dwindling number of salmon. The decision will hit commercial and recreational fishers alike. A warning came earlier in the year from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages West Coast fisheries, that salmon fishing would be limited this year, if possible at all. This was because of the predicted low number of fall-run Chinook salmon, or king salmon, in the Sacramento River. Scott Artis, executive director of Golden State Salmon Association said: 'This closed commercial and token recreational fishing season is a human tragedy, as well as an economic and environmental disaster.' Salmon fishing, which is very popular in California, has been off limits for the past two years for all kinds of fishers due to shrinking stocks. Commercial fishers have blamed the issue on a drought a few years ago, as well as government water management polices which they say have made it harder for salmon to thrive in the waterways. Sacramento River fall-run Chinook, historically the largest contributor to the ocean salmon harvest off California and Oregon, have experienced dramatic declines over the last five years, according to the association. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has also voted to highly curtail the commercial salmon fishing season in Oregon this year, the association said. Salmon must swim upstream to lay their eggs, and young fish then make their way out to the ocean through waterways that wind through the state. That's done more easily when cool water flows are abundant. Agricultural water diversions described as excessive by anglers led to warm river temperatures and low flows when baby salmon were trying to make it from their spawning beds to the ocean. The closure comes a few months after president Donald Trump ordered officials to find ways to put 'people over fish' and route more water to farmers in California's fertile Central Valley and residents of its densely populated cities. The ongoing battle over where to route the water and how much tends to pit California environmental groups and anglers against the state's farm industry, which produces much of the country's fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables. Trump contends too much water is being used to protect the tiny delta smelt, a federally threatened species seen as an indicator of the health of the Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta, but salmon rely on the same water for their survival. California's salmon fishing industry includes commercial fleets and charters that take anglers out for recreation. Commercial fleets have been especially hard hit by the closures. Earlier this year, there were fewer than 900 permits for commercial salmon fishing in the state compared to 1,200 in 2010, according to Dock Street Brokers. Recreational fishing charters have also been hit by the closures and have been devoting their boats to activities ranging from party tours to ash scatterings to stay afloat. Both have also been fishing for other species but say anglers and markets aren't as interested in halibut or cod as they would be in salmon.
The Independent
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Californian salmon industry suffers despite Trump promise to put ‘people over fish'
Salmon fishing in California will be off-limits for a third consecutive year in what anglers across the state are calling a 'human tragedy.' Fishing regulators voted on Tuesday to restrict this year's season to only a few days due to a dwindling number of salmon. The decision will hit commercial and recreational fishers alike. A warning came earlier in the year from the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages West Coast fisheries, that salmon fishing would be limited this year, if possible at all. This was because of the predicted low number of fall-run Chinook salmon, or king salmon, in the Sacramento River. Scott Artis, executive director of Golden State Salmon Association said: 'This closed commercial and token recreational fishing season is a human tragedy, as well as an economic and environmental disaster.' Salmon fishing, which is very popular in California, has been off limits for the past two years for all kinds of fishers due to shrinking stocks. Commercial fishers have blamed the issue on a drought a few years ago, as well as government water management polices which they say have made it harder for salmon to thrive in the waterways. Sacramento River fall-run Chinook, historically the largest contributor to the ocean salmon harvest off California and Oregon, have experienced dramatic declines over the last five years, according to the association. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has also voted to highly curtail the commercial salmon fishing season in Oregon this year, the association said. Salmon must swim upstream to lay their eggs, and young fish then make their way out to the ocean through waterways that wind through the state. That's done more easily when cool water flows are abundant. Agricultural water diversions described as excessive by anglers led to warm river temperatures and low flows when baby salmon were trying to make it from their spawning beds to the ocean. The closure comes a few months after president Donald Trump ordered officials to find ways to put 'people over fish' and route more water to farmers in California's fertile Central Valley and residents of its densely populated cities. The ongoing battle over where to route the water and how much tends to pit California environmental groups and anglers against the state's farm industry, which produces much of the country's fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables. Trump contends too much water is being used to protect the tiny delta smelt, a federally threatened species seen as an indicator of the health of the Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta, but salmon rely on the same water for their survival. California's salmon fishing industry includes commercial fleets and charters that take anglers out for recreation. Commercial fleets have been especially hard hit by the closures. Earlier this year, there were fewer than 900 permits for commercial salmon fishing in the state compared to 1,200 in 2010, according to Dock Street Brokers. Recreational fishing charters have also been hit by the closures and have been devoting their boats to activities ranging from party tours to ash scatterings to stay afloat. Both have also been fishing for other species but say anglers and markets aren't as interested in halibut or cod as they would be in salmon.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Commercial salmon fishing in California will be closed for a third year in a row
The 2025 commercial salmon fishing season in California will be closed for an unprecedented third year running, and sportfishing will be restricted to only a few days due to dwindling numbers of fish, fishing regulators voted Tuesday. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages West Coast fisheries, warned earlier this year there would be limited salmon fishing this year in California, if at all, because of a predicted low number of fall-run Chinook salmon, often known as king salmon, in the Sacramento River. 'This closed commercial and token recreational fishing season is a human tragedy, as well as an economic and environmental disaster,' Scott Artis, executive director of Golden State Salmon Association, said in a statement. Salmon fishing is wildly popular in California but has been off limits for the past two years to commercial and recreational fishing due to dwindling stocks. People who commercially fish blame the issue on a years-earlier drought that walloped waterways, as well as state and federal water management policies they say have made it tough for the species to thrive. Sacramento River fall-run Chinook, historically the largest contributor to the ocean salmon harvest off California and Oregon, have experienced dramatic declines over the last five years, according to the association. The Pacific Fishery Management Council has also voted to highly curtail the commercial salmon fishing season in Oregon this year, the association said. Salmon must swim upstream to lay their eggs, and young fish then make their way out to the ocean through waterways that wind through the state. That's done more easily when cool water flows are abundant. Agricultural water diversions described as excessive by anglers led to warm river temperatures and low flows when baby salmon were trying to make it from their spawning beds to the ocean. The closure comes a few months after President Donald Trump ordered officials to find ways to put 'people over fish' and route more water to farmers in California's fertile Central Valley and residents of its densely populated cities. The ongoing battle over where to route the water and how much tends to pit California environmental groups and anglers against the state's farm industry, which produces much of the country's fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables. Trump contends too much water is being used to protect the tiny delta smelt, a federally threatened species seen as an indicator of the health of the Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta, but salmon rely on the same water for their survival. California's salmon fishing industry includes commercial fleets and charters that take anglers out for recreation. Commercial fleets have been especially hard hit by the closures. Earlier this year, there were fewer than 900 permits for commercial salmon fishing in the state compared to 1,200 in 2010, according to Dock Street Brokers. Recreational fishing charters have also been hit by the closures and have been devoting their boats to activities ranging from party tours to ash scatterings to stay afloat. Both have also been fishing for other species but say anglers and markets aren't as interested in halibut or cod as they would be in salmon.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Commercial salmon fishing in California will be closed for a third year in a row
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The 2025 commercial salmon fishing season in California will be closed for an unprecedented third year running, and sportfishing will be restricted to only a few days due to dwindling numbers of fish, fishing regulators voted Tuesday. The Pacific Fishery Management Council, which manages West Coast fisheries, warned earlier this year there would be limited salmon fishing this year in California, if at all, because of a predicted low number of fall-run Chinook salmon, often known as king salmon, in the Sacramento River. 'This closed commercial and token recreational fishing season is a human tragedy, as well as an economic and environmental disaster,' Scott Artis, executive director of Golden State Salmon Association, said in a statement. Salmon fishing is wildly popular in California but has been off limits for the past two years to commercial and recreational fishing due to dwindling stocks. People who commercially fish blame the issue on a years-earlier drought that walloped waterways, as well as state and federal water management policies they say have made it tough for the species to thrive. Sacramento River fall-run Chinook, historically the largest contributor to the ocean salmon harvest off California and Oregon, have experienced dramatic declines over the last five years, according to the association. Salmon must swim upstream to lay their eggs, and young fish then make their way out to the ocean through waterways that wind through the state. That's done more easily when cool water flows are abundant. Agricultural water diversions described as excessive by anglers led to warm river temperatures and low flows when baby salmon were trying to make it from their spawning beds to the ocean. The closure comes a few months after President Donald Trump ordered officials to find ways to put 'people over fish' and route more water to farmers in California's fertile Central Valley and residents of its densely populated cities. The ongoing battle over where to route the water and how much tends to pit California environmental groups and anglers against the state's farm industry, which produces much of the country's fresh fruit, nuts and vegetables. Trump contends too much water is being used to protect the tiny delta smelt, a federally threatened species seen as an indicator of the health of the Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta, but salmon rely on the same water for their survival. California's salmon fishing industry includes commercial fleets and charters that take anglers out for recreation. Commercial fleets have been especially hard hit by the closures. Earlier this year, there were fewer than 900 permits for commercial salmon fishing in the state compared to 1,200 in 2010, according to Dock Street Brokers. Recreational fishing charters have also been hit by the closures and have been devoting their boats to activities ranging from party tours to ash scatterings to stay afloat. Both have also been fishing for other species but say anglers and markets aren't as interested in halibut or cod as they would be in salmon.
