PFMC posts 2024 ocean salmon numbers review report and the numbers are not good
The next Meeting in the Salmon Season setting process will be in April in San Jose, CA. Click image below.
For more information on the Salmon Numbers, go to the PFMC’s website and find the March 2025 meeting links to get to the Briefing Book materials where you can find several reports published on Agenda Item E: Salmon Management.
For the March Meeting, in particular the E.3.b Supplemental NMFS Report 1: ESA Guidance has some charts with important escapement numbers.
March Briefing Book Materials and SALMON reports, CLICK HERE.
Summaries
by Kenny Priest / Fishing The North Coast
• CA Salmon Closures a Possibility Again in 2025
• Low Salmon Forecast will Constrain 2025 Season
The Pacific Fishery Management Council released its “Review of 2024 Ocean Salmon Fisheries” report and the news was not good for anglers or the stocks.
SACRAMENTO RIVER: In 2024, recreational angling for salmon in the Sacramento River and its tributaries was closed as well. A total of 99,274 hatchery and natural area adult spawners were estimated to have returned to the Sacramento River Basin in 2024, substantially lower than the 180,061 predicted. Fall Chinook returns to Sacramento River hatcheries in 2024 totaled 26,834 adults and 8,301 jacks, and escapement to natural areas was 72,440 adults and 10,864 jacks.
With the Klamath Dam removal project now completed, what our ocean and river salmon seasons will look like in the coming year is still a work in progress and will be flushed out in the coming weeks.
CDFW Salmon Information Meeting
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Annual Salmon Information Meeting, which was held via webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The webinar covered the 2024 spawner abundances returning to the Central Valley and Klamath Basins, 2025 abundance forecasts, and management context guiding the development and implementation of 2025 ocean salmon fisheries.
Salmon information meeting details can be found on the CDFW’s Ocean Salmon web page. Click here for the AGENDA. Contact the CDFW, click here.
Pacific Fishery Management Council Meetings
California representatives will work together to develop a range of recommended ocean fishing season alternatives at the March 5-11 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Vancouver, WA. Click here for PFMC website. ABOUT THE PFMC, click here
Final season recommendations will be adopted at the Council’s April 9-15 meeting in San Jose, CA at the Doubletree hotel.
To make comments directly to the Pacific Fishery Management Council regarding the upcoming salmon season, visit the Council’s website at www.pcouncil.org/contact(opens in new tab), or contact the PFMC staff officer for salmon, Angela Forristall, angela.forristall@noaa.gov.
Make Public Comment at the PFMC meetings
PFMC Council Members
- Mr. Marc Gorelnik
Coastside Fishing Club
Telephone: (415) 409-9529
marc@gorelniklaw.com - Ms. Corey Ridings
Telephone: (206) 816-5083
coastalcoreyridings@gmail.com - Ms. Angela Forristall
Pacific Fishery Management Council Staff Officer
Main Number: (503) 820-2419 or
Toll Free: (866) 806-7204 ext. 419
angela.forristall@noaa.gov - Dr. Rebecca Lent
Telephone: (619) 261-5720
rebecca.lent@gmail.com
CDFW Salmon Advisors to the PFMC
- Ms. Marci Yaremko
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
3883 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 92123
Telephone: (858) 442-3004
marci.yaremko@wildlife.ca.gov - Ms. Kandice Morgenstern
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
3637 Westwind Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Telephone: (707) 494-4621
kandice.morgenstern@wildlife.ca.gov
Final Steps to Set the Salmon Season or CLOSE the season for 3rd straight year
Fish and Game Commission Meeting
The range of inland salmon fishing regulation options will be discussed at the Fish and Game Commission meeting on April 16-17, in Sacramento, California with final inland season recommendations and adoption scheduled for the May 14, Teleconference meeting. CLICK HERE for the 2025 FGC meeting schedule.
To make comments directly to the Fish and Game Commission, visit the Commission’s website at fgc.ca.gov/Contact.
Who are your appointed FGC Members? CLICK HERE
