California Commercial Salmon Season Canceled for Third Year in a Row
April 16, 2025 | 1 min to read
California's commercial salmon fishing will remain closed for a third consecutive year as the Pacific Fishery Management Council decided to halt the season, allowing only limited recreational fishing opportunities. This closure results from multiple factors impacting salmon stocks, including drought, climate disruption, and poor spawning conditions. With low abundance forecasts and minimal expected returns for 2024, the PFMC emphasized the need to prioritize recreational fishing while maintaining strong restrictions on commercial activities.
California commercial salmon fishing will not happen for the third year in a row.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to close commercial salmon season for the remainder of the year. This decision will allow for the first recreational salmon fishing in California since 2022 the PFMC also recommended a repeat year of closure for California’s commercial salmon fisheries.
California’s salmon stocks face challenges from prolonged drought, climate disruption, poor spawning conditions, wildfires, algal blooms, habitat loss, ocean forage changes and thiamine deficiency. Low abundance forecasts and poor 2024 returns convinced the PFMC to recommend minimal recreational ocean salmon fishing and continued closure of commercial fishing.
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