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California Closes Commercial Salmon Fishing for Third Year as Chinook Populations Plummet

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s decision highlights the dire state of salmon stocks, with only a limited recreational fishing window allowed and urgent calls for ecological and economic interventions.

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A chinook salmon caught on the Wacky Jacky fishing boat in 2018. Commercial salmon fishing will be banned for the third year in a row in California

Overview

  • California’s commercial salmon fishing season will remain closed for the third consecutive year due to critically low Chinook salmon populations.
  • A brief recreational fishing window has been approved for June 7-8, capped at 7,000 fish statewide, marking the first recreational season since 2022.
  • The closures have severely impacted local fishing communities, with commercial fishers and related industries facing significant economic hardships.
  • Experts attribute the salmon population decline to decades of environmental degradation, including habitat destruction, water diversions, and reduced river flows.
  • Calls for urgent action include habitat restoration, reduced agricultural water diversions, and enhanced river flow management to prevent long-term ecological collapse.