Fishery council closes commercial, most sport salmon fishing

For the second year in a row, the Pacific Fishery Management Council today closed commercial and most recreational salmon fisheries off the coast of California in response to the collapse of Sacramento River fall Chinook.

The Mercury News carried the story yesterday from Julia Scott on Tuesday’s tentative vote to close the fishery.

Half Moon Bay fisherman and salmon advisory council member Duncan MacLean said the closure was necessary given the numbers, but he is worried about the survival of the industry and his livelihood.

"I fear for my future in fishing," MacLean said. "I just hope I get to do it again in my lifetime."

MacLean is leading an effort to get another round of federal subsidies for small fishermen hard-hit by the closure. About $48 million may be left over in last year’s fund.

Full press release after the jump.

This is an edited version of the press release from the PFMC. 

 
For the second year in a row, the Pacific Fishery Management Council today closed commercial and most recreational salmon fisheries off the coast of California in response to the collapse of Sacramento River fall Chinook. The recommendation will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval by May 1.
 
A very limited 10 day recreational season will be permitted in California north of Cape Mendocino. 
 
The closures south of Cape Falcon, Oregon, are due to a continued decline in the number of Sacramento River fall Chinook returning to the river this year.  The stock is the driver of commercial and recreational salmon fisheries off California and most of Oregon.

The minimum conservation goal for Sacramento fall Chinook is 122,000 – 180,000 spawning adult salmon (this is the number of salmon needed to return to the river to maintain the health of the run). As recently as 2002, 775,000 adults returned to spawn.

Last year, 66,200 fall run Chinook returned to the Sacramento. This year, about 122,100 fish are forecast to return—twice last year’s returns but still not enough to support commercial and recreational Chinook fisheries.
 
A second year of fishery closures in California and southern Oregon will be devastating to many small fishing communities. Fisheries off California and southern Oregon have been poor since 2005.

Economic impact

In California and Oregon south of Cape Falcon, where Sacramento fish stocks have the biggest impact, the commercial and recreational salmon fishery had an average economic value of $103 million per year between 1979 and 2004. From 2001 to 2005, average economic impact to communities was $61 million ($40 million in the commercial fishery and $21 million in the recreational fishery).

Causes

 
In March, the National Marine Fisheries Service released a draft report, developed by over 20 scientists, on the collapse of Sacramento River fall Chinook in 2007-2008.   The report identified several factors leading to the recent collapse, including poor ocean conditions, habitat degradation and water withdrawals, and changes in hatchery operations.  The report concluded that while unfavorable ocean conditions likely led to poor survival of juvenile salmon as they entered the ocean environment in 2005 and 2006, the stock was more susceptible to those conditions because decades of freshwater habitat degradation and hatchery production have reduced the stock’s fitness and resiliency.  The report also noted that the hatchery net-pen acclimation program was suspended in 2006, which contributed to poor survival of fish returning in 2008.  In addition, while ocean conditions off Central California improved somewhat in 2007 the drought that year resulted in low numbers of juvenile salmon leaving the freshwater environment, and expectations for 2009 returns were not optimistic.
 

Seasons North of Cape Falcon

 
North of Cape Falcon, seasons are generally similar in structure to recent years, although coho quotas are substantially higher than in 2008, reflecting the increased abundance of both hatchery and natural coho stocks.  Chinook quotas are similar to 2008.
 

Process

 
The Council reached this decision after several weeks spent reviewing three season options. The review process included input by federal and state fishery scientists, fishing industry members, public testimony, and three public hearings in coastal communities.  The Council received additional scientific information and took public testimony before taking final action.  The decision will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval and implementation into federal regulations.
 
In addition, the coastal states will decide on compatible freshwater fishery regulations at their respective Commission hearings.
 
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the United States of America coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.

On the Web

 
Pacific Fishery Management Council: http://www.pcouncil.org
 
Council-adopted 2009 ocean salmon management measures: http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salcurr.html#saloptions09
 
Geographical points used in salmon management: http://www.pcouncil.org/facts/geosalmon.pdf
 
Definition of terms used in salmon management: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/salmon_packet/Common_Terms.pdf
 
Online press packet: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsreleases/sal_presspacket2009.html