Pacific Ocean regulators resolve to shut California salmon fishing season for 2023

The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Thursday finalized its suggestion to shut business and leisure salmon fishing off the California coast till 2024.

The council’s plan shall be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for ultimate approval, which is anticipated by the center of May. 

This will mark solely the second time that ocean salmon fishing off California is shut down. The earlier season was 2008-09.

Commercial fishing of salmon is not going to be allowed south of Humbug Mountain in Oregon till subsequent spring. Recreational salmon fishing is about to return in California coastal waters additionally within the spring of 2024.

“The forecasts for Chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows. The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecast returns are unfortunately not something that the council can, or has authority to, control,” mentioned PFMC Chairman Marc Gorelnik in an announcement.

Drought-imposed difficulties for the Klamath River and Sacramento River populations of Chinook salmon throughout their trek to the Pacific three years in the past have led to low numbers returning to the ocean in 2023.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration, hoping subsidies will assist the state’s fishermen.