California to close statewide commercial salmon fishing in May

California commercial salmon season is shut down again

Facing the continued collapse of Chinook salmon, officials this week shut down California’s commercial salmon fishing season for an unprecedented third year in a row.

Salmon fishing shutdown marks a grim milestone. Why California shouldn't give up hope

Guest Commentary written by Charlton H. Bonham Charlton H. Bonham is the director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This week, a public federal process determined there will be no commercial salmon fishing off California’s coast for the third year in a row. It’s a grim milestone for our state.  While we will see some recreational ocean fishing, we’re at the low-water mark. With so few fish available, we know this won’t be enoug…

California to close statewide commercial salmon fishing in May

Adult fall-run Chinook salmon congregate near the Nimbus Hatchery Fish Ladder on the American River in Sacramento County in this October 2012 file photo. (Photo by Carl Costas/California Department of Water Resources) All California commercial salmon fishing will be shut down until 2026 — the third year in a row — due to low salmon populations. The announcement by the Pacific Fishery Management Council also announced that recreational ocean salm…

CA Commercial Salmon Fishing Closed for Third Year, Very Limited Sport Season Allowed

For the third year in a row, the commercial salmon fishing season on the ocean will be shut down in California, due to the collapse of the once robust Sacramento and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon populations.The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the body that oversees ocean fishery management on the West Coast, made the decision at its meeting in San Jose today.  The PFMC did approve a very restricted salmon season for recreatio…