PFMC adopts West Coast Ocean Salmon Seasons for 2023
2020 photo courtesy of Northwest Sportsman Magazine
PFMC Press Release, April 6, 2023
Foster City, California—The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted recommendations for ocean salmon fishing along the Pacific west coast in 2023. The seasons provide recreational and commercial opportunities in northern areas of the coast but include significant closures in southern portions of the coast to achieve conservation goals for the numerous salmon stocks.
The recommendations will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for approval by May 16, 2023.
Forecasts for West Coast Chinook and coho stocks in 2023 are a mixed bag, with some low and high points when compared to last year. Federal requirements to conserve Fraser River (Canada) coho, lower Columbia River natural tule1 fall Chinook, Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook will be the main constraints for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries.
“The forecasts for Chinook returning to California rivers this year are near record lows,” said Council Chair Marc Gorelnik. “The poor conditions in the freshwater environment that contributed to these low forecasted returns are unfortunately not something that the Council can, or has authority to, control.”
