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Salmon Fishery Changes - News & FAQ

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News

  • April 18, 2008

    The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to prohibit commercial and recreational salmon fishing in state ocean waters, which extend three miles off the coast.

    The federal ban approved last week by the Pacific Fishery Management Council applies to U.S. waters extending from three to 200 miles off the coasts of California and Oregon.

    The Commission took the unprecedented action because runs of fall-run Sacramento chinook salmon are experiencing a sharp decline.

  • April 10, 2008
    PFMC News Release:
    Record low salmon fisheries adopted
    (PDF)
  • April 10, 2008
    DFG News Release:
    Director McCamman Makes
    Statement on Salmon Closure

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all California salmon seasons closed?

Recreational and commercial ocean salmon season are closed for 2008. Limited river salmon season was considered by the California Fish and Game Commission at the May meeting, and it was decided to leave open only the Sacramento River from Knight's Landing to the Red Bluff diversion dam from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. The Klamath River is expected to have a sports fishing salmon season for fall Chinook salmon. There may be other limited exceptions. Please check the regulations booklet.

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Why are salmon seasons closed?

The closures are aimed at conserving Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon. These salmon make up the bulk of the salmon caught in the Sacramento River system and off California’s coast. A minimum of 122,000 to 180,000 salmon returning to spawn in the rivers are needed to provide eggs for hatcheries, spawning in rivers, and allow for ocean and river salmon seasons. This year 54,000 adults are projected to return this fall.

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Why is it so complicated to set a simple salmon season?

The life cycle of salmon is complex which makes setting a fishing season complex. Salmon are affected by a wide variety of factors in the ocean, rivers and streams, including ocean and climatic conditions, dams, habitat loss, urbanization, agricultural and logging practices, water diversion, and predators (including humans). Since salmon migrate long distances in the ocean, managing the ocean salmon fisheries is an extremely complicated task. Different stocks of salmon mix at different times and locations further complicating management issues. Federal legislation enables federal regional management councils to address fisheries management issues and recommend seasons to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

This year ocean salmon seasons are eliminated or drastically reduced off the California coast to protect the Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon. These fish make up the bulk of salmon caught off the California and Southern Oregon coast and need protection based on historic low returns of adult salmon last year and predicted returns this year.

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Who sets the ocean salmon season off the California coast?

The California Fish and Game Commission sets salmon season in all California waters including coastal waters extending three miles offshore. The National Marine Fisheries Service sets all seasons beyond the three-mile limit out to 200 miles. California is a member of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) and presents data and information for review during its season setting process. The PFMC makes recommendations to the National Marine Fishery Service for ocean salmon seasons. Once the federal season setting process is completed the California Fish and Game Commission normally adopts a similar set of regulations for state waters.

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Who sets river salmon season in California?

The California Fish and Game Commission sets salmon seasons in all California waters. DFG recommends seasons to Commission. California’s river salmon seasons follow conservation goals and harvest guidelines established by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and any restrictions under the Endangered Species Act.

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Is the salmon season going to open on the Sacramento River system this year?

Only from Knight's Landing to the Red Bluff Diversion Dam from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. There is a one bag limit during this time

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Is a salmon season going to be open on the Klamath River this year?

Yes. The forecast of returning Klamath River fall Chinook is more than are needed to meet conservation and reproduction goals. Since the ocean season is closed to all salmon fishing the Klamath River fall Chinook return will provide fishing opportunity.

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Will everybody go to the Klamath River to fish for fall salmon season, create a crowded situation and subsequently over-harvest those fish?

The Klamath River fishing is closely regulated with a quota and fish checkers working the river daily. It will not be over-harvested by sports anglers. It may get crowded. Boat launches and spots on the river with good fishing access are expected to fill up. Access along highways and side roads is limited. Boat launching facilities are packed during peak steelhead season and will be full during this year’s salmon season.

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Why are we having to pay full price for a license when there is no salmon fishery?

At this critical time, funding from the sale of sport fishing licenses is vital to the management and protection of California's salmon resources. Funding from license fees is used to employ wardens and biologists, and to operate hatcheries; thus any reduction in license revenue could hinder the DFG's ability to manage and protect our salmon resources, potentially causing further damage to the salmon population.

While salmon season has been closed in the ocean and reduced in the Central Valley, the Smith, Klamath and Trinity Rivers are still open to salmon fishing. While the Department of Fish and Game understands our salmon anglers' frustration, these temporary closures will help to ensure the future of salmon fishing for present and future generations.

Many other fishing opportunities still exist for California anglers with a fishing license. California's steelhead and trout fishing remains to be some of the best on the Pacific Coast and there are numerous lakes and streams that have great black bass fishing. There are other unique opportunities such as sturgeon and striped bass fishing in the Delta in addition to halibut, rockfish and lingcod fishing in marine waters. When you also add in the Dungeness crab, abalone, clam, scallop, and spiny lobster sport fisheries, a California fishing license is one of the better values in Pacific Coast fishing.

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What are the possible factors in the decline of the salmon?

A scientific panel is being formed to investigate possible factors in salmon decline. The PFMC is forming a special scientific working group to review what factors contributed to the decline of the Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon run in 2008. At the March meeting of the PFMC, scientists created a list of possible factors effecting salmon populations. The working group or panel will carefully review each of the factors.

More information on possible causes of the Sacramento River Fall-Chinook population decline can be found at:

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Ocean Salmon for 2008

Is the California ocean salmon fishery now closed?

All California ocean sport and commercial salmon fisheries are currently closed.

Emergency action was taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) to close the ocean sport fishery between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (Fort Bragg area) beginning April 1, 2008. Emergency action was also taken to close the April 5, 2008 sport fishing openers in San Francisco and Monterey port areas (south of Point Arena to the U.S.-Mexico Border).

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Why are these emergency actions needed?

In 2007, less than 88,000 Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon adults returned to spawn in the Sacramento River Basin. This is the lowest escapement of Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon observed since 1991 and the second lowest return on record. It is well below the annual conservation objective of 122,000-180,000 adult spawners required by the PFMC’s Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

With less than 1,900 Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon jacks (age 2 fish) returning in 2007 (lowest on record), fishery scientists forecast approximately 54,000 Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon adults (ages 3, 4, and 5) alive in the ocean in 2008. Thus, even without any additional ocean and in-river fishing in 2008, Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon will not meet their FMP spawner goal. It is also forecast that the number of adult spawners returning to state and federal hatcheries will be well below the 16,000 Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon adults needed to meet annual egg-take goals for the stock.

Since Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook salmon contribute significantly (generally 80 to 90 percent) to California’s ocean sport and commercial fisheries, as well as to Oregon’s fisheries south of Cape Falcon (60 to 80 percent), the PFMC, National Marine Fishery Service and Fish and Game Commisson have closed April fisheries in California and March fisheries off of Oregon to protect SRFC.

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Are the ocean salmon sport seasons closing for the entire year?

At the PFMC meeting April 6-12, 2008 in Seattle. final salmon management regulations were selected to go into effect from May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009. The total no fishing option was selected. The process went like this:

  • In March, the PFMC adopted three options for California’s ocean salmon fisheries:
    • Option 1 provides 9 to 10 days of sport fishing in each major port area.
    • Option 2 provides no 2008 sport or commercial season; however, a catch-and release commercial fishery would be conducted to collect genetic tissue (fin clips).
    • Option 3 does not allow any ocean fishing between Cape Falcon, Oregon and the U.S.-Mexico border between May 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009.
  • On April 11, the PFMC selected option 3.
  • On April 15, The California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to prohibit commercial and recreational salmon fishing in ocean state waters, which extend three miles off the coast. The Commission took the unprecedented action because runs of Sacramento Fall-run Chinook salmon are experiencing a sharp decline.

The National Marine Fishery Service adopts the proposed regulations. More specific information can be found on the PFMC process at: www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salpreII08/Preseason_Report_II_2008.pdf

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Why was the Fort Bragg ocean salmon sport fishery open in February and March?

Each April, the PFMC and the Fish and Game Commission adopt ocean salmon regulations that are in effect from May to the following April. The 2008 season opener for Fort Bragg was determined at the April 2007 PFMC and FGC meetings.

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How many fall-run Chinook returned to the Klamath River system?

The Fishery Management Plan requires that at least 35,000 Klamath fall Chinook adults return to spawn in natural areas. In 2007, approximately 59,700 adults returned to the Klamath Basin to naturally spawn; however the total jack return was a record low of only 1,600 fish. Since the Fishery Management Plan conservation objective for Klamath Fishery Plan was not met the previous three years (2004 through 2006), an over fishing concern was triggered in 2007. This concern remains in effect during 2008.

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Which salmon stocks are caught off the coast of California?

The majority of salmon caught off the coast of California are Central Valley Chinook (fall and late fall runs). There are also small numbers of Sacramento River winter Chinook, Central Valley spring Chinook, California coastal Chinook, Klamath Basin Chinook (fall and spring run), and northern stocks from Oregon and Washington caught in California’s fisheries. Generally, the closer the fishery is to the mouth of the Klamath River and the later in the year, the higher the contact rate (the fraction of the population brought to the boat) with Klamath Basin stocks. Contact with Oregon and Washington salmon stocks generally increases as you move north.

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Ocean salmon 2008 preseason process: Calendar of events and contact information

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Laws and Enforcement

What law enforcement efforts are needed to protect salmon?

Law enforcement efforts related to salmon in California’s anadromous rivers (inland waters accessible to salmon migrating from the ocean) peak in the spring and in the fall. In the late summer and fall, adult salmon are migrating into California’s anadromous waters to reproduce and continue their life cycle. These migrating fish represent the breeding stock and future of the salmon fishery. California’s game wardens must focus much patrol time to prevent poachers from reducing their numbers. In the spring, juvenile salmon have hatched from the eggs laid by their parents in the prior fall, and are attempting to swim back out to the ocean. They are targeted by poachers to use as bait to catch other fish such as striped bass and sturgeon. Use of salmon for bait is illegal.

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Tribal Fisheries

Will Tribal fisheries be allowed on the Klamath River?

Yes. The Federally recognized tribal harvest of Klamath River is 50 percent in any given year. During 2008, fishing will be allowed on the Klamath River stock. Klamath River Fall Chinook harvest allocation is based on equal sharing of harvestable Chinook among tribal and non tribal groups. The Federally recognized tribal harvest of Klamath River Fall Chinook is 50 percent in any given year. The non-tribal 50 percent is divided between ocean (troll and sport) fisheries and in-river sport fisheries. If KRFC ocean impacts (troll and sport) are reduced to minimize ocean impacts to Sacramento fall Chinook the number of Klamath River Fall Chinook allocated to the Klamath River in-river sport fishery will increase.

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Fishery Management Practices and Conservation Measures

What is the DFG doing to help restore salmon populations?

  • DFG has participated in several of the following programs to help restore Chinook salmon populations in the Central Valley:
    • CALFED Ecosystem Restoration Program - Over $500 million has been spent to date on ecosystem restoration projects in the Central Valley. Fish screening and passage projects received the highest level of funding.
    • Central Valley Project Improvement Act programs have provided over $2.8 million/year for Chinook salmon restoration projects since 1993.
  • Habitat restoration project types in the Sacramento River Basin include:
    • Fish screens
    • Fish passage
    • Riparian restoration
    • Floodplain acquisition
    • Flow modification
    • Gravel restoration
  • Fisheries Restoration Grants, www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Administration/Grants/FRGP/
    • Multi million dollar annual grants to restore habitat
    • Total grant monies nearing the $200 million mark
  • Tracking salmon produced in central valley hatcheries
    • Multi million dollar state-of-the-art computerized trailers purchased to mark fish
    • New technology allows massive marking to provide more info on salmon
  • The “Constant Fractional Marking” program was instituted in 2006. The goal of this program is to place coded wire tags in 25 percent of the production of Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook at four DFG hatcheries and the Coleman National Fish Hatchery. Further, all spring-run Chinook are 100 percent coded wire tagged at Feather River hatchery, their mitigation goal is 2 million fish. Tagging data is submitted to the Regional Mark Processing Center operated by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Tags are recovered in the commercial and sport fisheries and from fish returning to spawn at the hatcheries.
  • See also, Acoustic Tagging in San Joaquin River Seeks to Solve Salmon Mystery. Photos provided.

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What are the primary mortality factors for young fish going out to the ocean?

A comprehensive report is in the works on this issue. A team of scientist will look at a wide range of factors to determine what is happening to California’s young salmon going out to the ocean. Fisheries text books list standard mortality factors for migrating young salmon in rivers up and down the west coast as follows.

Primary mortality factors include:

  • Unsuitable water temperatures,
  • Poor water quality conditions,
  • Entrainment in water diversions,
  • Predation,
  • Lack of food supply.

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What are the primary mortality factors in the ocean? What is the main mortality factor affecting their return?

Ocean temperatures affect the overall habitat for Chinook salmon growing and maturing in the ocean environment. Food supply for salmon in the ocean is a major factor influencing their survival. Predation on young salmon in the marine environment is also a major factor affecting survival. Harvest in the ocean, of course, is a major mortality factor.

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Is some of the decline related to smolts not making it out of their juvenile river habitat?

Predation on out-migrating smolts occurs throughout the Sacramento River system, but we have no evidence that predation has increased significantly in recent years. Increased predation impacts cannot explain the magnitude of the recent decline.

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Why are the Central Valley stocks disproportionately more affected than the other stocks? Delta smelt and some other species that primarily inhabit the Delta area also live in the waters the salmon pass through, and they are also declining. Thus, is there a Delta correlation component here?

Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook utilize Delta habitat much differently than species like the Delta smelt, and are less vulnerable to the effects of changes within the Delta.

At the time Sacramento River salmon are out-migrating through the lower Sacramento River, flows and gate closures are conducive to continued movement through the mainstem river, bypassing the interior Delta. The bulk of the salmon population would therefore not be utilizing the same interior Delta habitat as other species.

Delta smelt and the other species that spawn and rear in the Central Delta and are highly dependent on habitat conditions in the Central and South Delta.

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Who is the best source for overall Delta health issues related to salmon smolt outmigration?

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Stockton Fish and Wildlife office.

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Hatchery/Production Practices and Goals

What are the DFG’s hatchery fish production goals?

  • Feather River Hatchery: 2 million Spring-Run Chinook , 6 million Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook for mitigation, 2 million Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook for enhancement.
  • Nimbus Hatchery: 4 million Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook for mitigation.
  • Mokelumne River Hatchery: 3.4 million Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook fall run for mitigation and 2 million for enhancement.
  • Merced River Hatchery: 1.4 million Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook fall run.

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Is DFG meeting production goals for both mitigation and enhancement for Chinook salmon?

DFG Central Valley Hatcheries have achieved overall mitigation goals in eight of the last ten years and mitigation plus enhancement goals in six of the last 10 years.

The Central Valley Hatcheries have released over 30 million young salmon the last ten years. Each hatchery has specific goals. State and the Federal (Coleman Hatchery) hatcheries work to make to meet the overall goal. State hatcheries are expected to release 18.6 million smolts this year and Coleman is shooting for 12 million plus.

Here is a breakdown by hatchery:

  • Feather River and Nimbus Hatcheries are on line to meet both mitigation and enhancement goals for 2008.
  • Due to reduced run size Mokelumne River Hatchery will only reach 75 – 80 percent of its goal and Merced River only approximately 15 percent of its goal.

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What are enhancement fish and what are mitigation fish?

  • Mitigation fish are produced to replace fish formerly produced in spawning and nursery areas which have been lost due to human constructed dams or other barriers.
  • Enhancement fish are raised to provide additional fish intended for commercial and sport fisheries.

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What are acclimation net pens and why are we using them?

The acclimation net pens are temporary holding areas which allow trucked salmon smolts to make their final adjustment to the ambient temperature and salinity in the bay without being subjected to predation by fish or birds. Fish are moved into deep water and released after they have adjusted or “acclimated” to bay conditions.

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Why can’t young salmon be held in the hatcheries until there is net pen space available?

Once young salmon are ready to leave the hatchery they must be moved in a relatively short time. Growing bigger by the day they simply out grow space available. Coming in behind each group of fish is another new crop of fish to take over the raceway space they live in. Labor, food, materials and transport trucks have to be scheduled in advance to move millions of these young fish. This involves millions of fish from several installations so it requires considerable planning and coordination.

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Possible Factors in the Decline of the Salmon

Scientific panel being formed to investigate possible factors in salmon decline

The Pacific Fishery Management Council is forming a special scientific working group to review what factors contributed to the decline of the Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook salmon in 2008. At the March PFMC meeting of the scientists created a list of possible factors effecting salmon populations. The working group or panel will carefully review each of the factors.

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More information on possible causes of the Sacramento River Fall-Run Chinook population decline can be found at:

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How did this situation get so dire?

Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook salmon spawning returns to the Sacramento River system have been declining since 2002, but the returns dipped below the escapement goal in the PFMC Management Plan only in 2007. A review of the information on salmon returns is located in the ocean section of this Webpage.

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Did poaching cause this decline?

Poaching is always a contributing factor. In this case the system wide failure indicates large factors were acting on a wide range of salmon stocks in California and portions of southern Oregon.

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Are stripers eating all of the young salmon before they can make it out of the river system?

Predation on out-migrating smolts does occurs but we have no evidence that predation has increased significantly in recent years. Again, the failure of salmon stocks on the west coast is across a broad spectrum. Increased predation impacts cannot explain the magnitude of the recent decline.

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Could the sea lions be to blame for the decline? If so, are there any means to control them?

Sea lions are not though to be a key contributor in the decline. While sea lions do feed on salmon, it is highly unlikely that the magnitude of the recent decline is due to sea lion predation. Sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Act and control measures are a federal issue.

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Are their any hatchery practices that could have affected year class fish that are now not abundant?

There have been no significant changes in hatchery practices over the years which would have adversely affected the current year class of fish. To help better understand what is happening to young salmon making the journey out to sea, a new program marking 25 percent of the 32 million Sacramento Fall-Run Chinook smolts should provide excellent data on hatchery fish contribution to the fisheries in the near future. The new information will help salmon managers consistently track returns of salmon.

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