VOL . 41 • ISS . 4 March 18 , 2022

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SACRAMENTO – The Pacific Fishery Management Council ( PFMC ) will choose three alternatives for recreational and commercial salmon fishing seasons during its March 8-14 meeting , based on ocean abundance forecasts , stakeholder input and other factors . discussed at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife ’ s annual salmon Information meeting held virtually on March 2 . The 2022 ocean abundance projection for Sacramento River fall Chinook , the driver of West Coast salmon fisheries , is estimated at 396,500 adult salmon , compared to the revised 2022 forecast of 322,137 fish , reported Jeromy Jording of the National Marine Fisheries Service . The abundance estimate for Sacramento fall Chinook swimming in the ocean now is based largely on the return of two-year-old “ jacks ” to hatcheries and natural spawning areas last fall . Over 17,000 jacks returned to the river last year , compared to 14,000 the previous year .

However , only an estimated 104,483 hatchery and natural area adult spawners actually returned to the Sacramento River Basin in 2021 , well below the conservation goal of 122,000 to 180,000 fish , according to CDFW scientists . The Klamath River fall Chinook ocean abundance forecast is slightly above the 2021 forecast , with 200,100 adult Klamath River fall Chinook salmon estimated to be in the ocean this year . Unfortunately , this abundance estimate is well below the stock ’ s historical levels . Harry Morse of the CDFW said the PFMC may “ decide to take a conservative approach when crafting 2022 ocean salmon seasons to provide additional protective measures to this stock .” After the presentations by biologists , recreational anglers , fishing guides , charter boat captains , commercial salmon trollers and CDFW staff commented and voiced their concerns to a panel of fishery managers , scientists , Tribal and industry representatives . Commercial salmon fishermen , who harvested 200,419 Chinooks last year off the California coast , said salmon were abundant in the areas where they fished . In contrast , river recreational anglers and fishing guides said relatively few salmon returned to the Sacramento River and its tributaries and fishing was abysmal . The total estimated harvest for recreational anglers was 14,560 salmon , amounting to only 2.7 salmon per 100 angler hours . Robert Dunn , a Sacramento River fishing guide for 37 years , said he believes “ there is an overharvest of fall fish in the ocean .” “ I couldn ’ t find one spawning redd ( nest ) from Deschutes Bridge to Red Bluff during 80 trips from

October 2021 to February 2022 ,” he testified . “ We need to increase the run to 360,000 fall-run fish . 2021 was the worst salmon season ever for us .” John McManus , President of the Golden Gate Salmon Association , said the low number of Klamath River salmon “ will likely lead to constraints on both commercial and sport ocean fishing this year , especially in north state coastal waters .” “ We are hoping for a decent salmon fishing season this year , and there ’ s some reason for optimism , but there are several variables yet to be dealt with ,” said McManus . He said more fish actually returned , but died of heat related causes including disease prior to spawning due to low , warm , water conditions connected to drought and water management decisions by the Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources on Central Valley rivers .. In the coming weeks , PFMC officials will use ocean abundance forecasts and other data to set times and areas open to both sport and commercial ocean salmon fishing for 2022 . The California Fish and Game Commission will then approve the recreational ocean season , along with approving a sport season for the Sacramento , American , Feather and Mokelumne rivers and the Klamath and Trinity rivers . Information : www . wildlife . ca . gov / Fishing / Ocean / Regulations / Salmon / preseason

SAN JOSE - On March 14 , the Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted three alternatives for 2022 ocean salmon fisheries off California , Oregon and Washington for review . California ’ s recreational salmon fishery will open April 2 in ocean waters from Point Arena ( 38 ° 57 ’ 30 ” N . lat ) south to the U . S ./ Mexico border , with a minimum size limit of 24 inches . Openings for north of Point Arena will be determined in mid-April . The Council will make a final decision on salmon seasons at its meeting on April 6-14 . Detailed information about season starting dates , areas open , and catch limits for the three alternatives are available on the Council ’ s website at www . pcouncil . org . or https :// bit . ly / 3CF5oAs . The California sportfishing regulations are on pages 20 , 21 and 22 . The PFMIC said forecasts for many Chinook and coho stocks have improved over last year ; but the Council is constrained by requirements to conserve Fraser River ( Canada ) coho , lower Columbia River natural tule fall Chinook , and Klamath River fall Chinook ,. “ Meeting our conservation and management objectives continues to be the highest priority for the Council ,” said Council Chair Marc Gorelnik in a statement . “ Balancing those objectives while providing meaningful commercial and recreational seasons remains a challenge in 2022 .” “ The prey needs of Southern Resident killer whales is an important piece of the Council ’ s salmon fishery deliberations ,” said Executive Director Merrick Burden , “ as is the need to rebuild salmon stocks that have become overfished .” Fisheries south of Cape Falcon are limited mainly by the low abundance forecast for Klamath River fall Chinook , and the need to protect ESA-list California Coastal Chinook . Klamath River and Sacramento River fall Chinook contribute significantly to ocean harvest . This year ’ s management alternatives are designed to provide fishing opportunity for the more abundant Sacramento River fall Chinook while reducing fishing impacts on Klamath River fall Chinook and California Coastal Chinook . Commercial seasons south of the California Klamath Management Zone vary considerably between the alternatives and management areas ( Fort Bragg , San Francisco , and Monterey ), but in general provide significantly reduced levels of opportunity compared to last year . The range of alternatives include proposed fisheries for the Klamath Management Zone in both California and Oregon with the majority of the fishing opportunity occurring June through August in Oregon and occurring over varying dates between May and September in California . California ocean recreational alternatives for the Fort Bragg and San Francisco areas have reduced opportunity compared to 2021 , whereas alternatives for the Monterey area have similar or increased opportunity . Seasons vary between management areas .

The Council worked collaboratively with National Marine Fisheries Service ( NMFS ) to understand the effects of Council-area fisheries on Southern Resident killer whales , which are listed as endangered . Based in part on information provided by the Council ’ s ad-hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup , the Council amended the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan to address the needs of the whales while providing salmon harvest opportunities . Salmon abundance is well above the threshold of 966,000 Chinook that would require additional fishery restrictions . The Council has scheduled one public hearing for each coastal state to hear comments on the alternatives . The hearings will occur online and are scheduled for Tuesday , March

22 ( Washington and California ) and Wednesday March 23 ( Oregon ). The public will also be able to comment on the alternatives during the April Council meeting . Materials and instructions for joining online Council meetings and hearings will be posted to the Council website . The Council will consult with scientists , hear public comment , revise preliminary decisions , and choose a final alternative at its meeting April 6-13 . The Council will forward its final season recommendations to NMFS for its approval and implementation no later than May 16 . All Council meetings are open to the public . More Information : Pacific Fishery Management Council ( www . pcouncil . org ).

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