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 Editorials | Environmental | April 2008 
2008 Ocean Salmon Season is Shut Down
 Mike Baxter - Press Banner
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After a series of public meetings and hearings, the Pacific Fishery Management Council has decided to close all commercial and sport salmon fishing from Cape Falcon in Oregon to the Mexican border.
This is the most restrictive salmon closure in the history for the West Coast. It is due to the decline in Chinook salmon returns in the Sacramento Watershed. National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to approve the decision by May 1.
This decision will be a tremendous blow to all people involved in this industry. The typical season for Chinook salmon in Oregon and California spans six months and allows a quota of as many as 800,000 salmon to be harvested.
“The reason for the sudden decline of Sacramento River fish is a mystery at this time,” said Don McIsaac, council executive director, in a prepared statement. “The only thing that can be done in the short term is to cut back the commercial and recreational fishing seasons to protect the remaining fish.
“The longer-term solution will involve a wide variety of people, agencies, and organizations. But, for now, unfortunately, those involved in the salmon fisheries are paying the price.”
This year, even with all the closures, the return of fall-run Chinook to the Sacramento is projected to be only 54,000.
Between 1979 and 2004, salmon fishing brought in about $103 million a year for commercial fisheries and hobbyists south of Cape Falcon in Oregon to Mexico. In the past four years, the average value to West Coast communities has been $61 million, with $21 million of that attributed to recreational fishing.
It’s not clear why we’ve seen such a sharp drop in the salmon population. It is important to note, though, that all groups involved in this process have agreed that it is not a result of overfishing. Some reasons could include human impact, hatchery-raised fish, loss of habitat and decline of freshwater. Ocean conditions are another possibility for their decline.
A task force led by the National Marine Fisheries Service’s West Coast Science Centers will look into about 50 potential causes and report at the PMFC’s September meeting in Boise, Idaho.
The regulations for the ocean have been adopted. Next in line, National Marine Fisheries, Pacific Fisheries Management Council and state Fish and Game officials from California and Oregon will decide on regulations for inland waters.
For info: www.pcouncil.org .
Mike Baxter has fished in the Monterey Bay Area since he was a boy and has been a licensed charter boat captain for more than 15 years. He can be reached at captmikebaxter(at)yahoo.com. |
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