The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) resolved on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, to once again recommend the closure of California’s commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries for the remainder of the year. This decision, aimed at conserving dwindling salmon populations, is a repeat of the similar action taken in 2023.
Salmon populations in California continue to face significant threats from prolonged drought conditions and climate change, affecting their numbers and health. These salmon, which are currently returning to the state’s coast and rivers, have suffered due to past environmental challenges including severe wildfires, habitat degradation from drought, harmful algal blooms, and shifts in their ocean food sources.
The PFMC’s recommendation for closure is based on forecasts of low ocean abundance and the scant returns seen in 2023, which underscore the precarious state of these fish populations. The National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to formalize this closure with regulatory measures by mid-May, following the PFMC’s counsel.
Moreover, the California Fish and Game Commission is slated to discuss the potential closure of inland salmon fisheries during a teleconference on May 15.
Charlton H. Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), expressed the difficulty of the decision, noting the recent wet winters which, while beneficial, will only positively impact salmon returning in 2026 or 2027. He highlighted that the current season’s salmon were influenced by harsh environmental conditions from three to five years ago.
The closure, while a hard blow to fishing families and communities, garners support from key stakeholders. George Bradshaw, president of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, emphasized the collective effort needed to facilitate the recovery of salmon, particularly the species from the Central Valley and Klamath River runs.
In response to the closure, the CDFW is seeking to accelerate a federal fishery resource disaster determination request for the 2024 salmon fisheries along the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers. This move follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s successful plea in 2023, which secured substantial federal aid. The CDFW is currently gathering public feedback on how to allocate the approximately $20.6 million provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration for last year’s fishery disaster.
Salmon are an integral part of California’s ecological, cultural, and economic fabric, contributing significantly to the livelihoods of many communities and Native American tribes. In efforts to bolster salmon populations amidst ongoing climate challenges, Governor Newsom earlier this year unveiled a strategic plan aimed at adapting state waterways to a warmer, drier future, setting out six priorities and 71 actions to aid salmon recovery across the state.
