US: Plummeting salmon population could trigger closure of fishing season in California waters

Published 2023년 3월 3일

Tridge summary

Californian scientists have reported a significant decline in the Chinook salmon population, with the number of 3-year-olds expected to return to the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers being the lowest in 15 and 19 years respectively. This decrease, part of a longer-term trend worsened by recent droughts, could lead to the shutdown of the commercial and recreational fishing season. The decline is attributed to factors such as dam construction, global warming, and a thiamine deficiency from an unbalanced diet. The Pacific Fishery Management Council is now considering potential restrictions for the ocean fishing season. Critics, including the Golden State Salmon Assn., argue that the decline is exacerbated by water management policies favoring agriculture over fish, and call for more balanced approaches. Despite concerns, state agencies are developing plans to rebuild the salmon populations, though environmental advocates argue these efforts are insufficient and highlight the crisis as a warning sign for native salmon.

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Original content

California Chinook salmon populations have fallen to their lowest levels in years, according to new estimates released by state and federal scientists—a decline that could trigger a shutdown of the commercial and recreational fishing season along the coast. "The salmon are struggling," said Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. "And we have great concern about their future, knowing we are fully committed to rebuilding them and saving them." Bonham said the decline is part of a decades-long trend, and the past three years of record drought "only further stressed our salmon populations." The department said scientists estimated that the number of 3-year-old fall-run Chinook likely to return to the Sacramento River this year to spawn would be fewer than 170,000, one of the lowest forecasts in 15 years. They also estimated that fewer than 104,000 are likely to return to the ...

Source: Phys