"Closed salmon runs mean closed tackle shops, and struggling motels, marinas and marine supply stores. Fishing communities, which should be bustling through a long fishing season, are becoming ghost towns. Our restaurants, markets and dinner tables are bare of delicious and healthful California salmon. When runs are healthy, California's salmon fishing industry supports 23,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in economic activity. Today, salmon fishing faces three grim threats."
"The Sacramento fall-run Chinook has historically been the backbone of California salmon fishing. Today, that backbone is broken. The count of spawning fall-run in the Sacramento River has fallen 95% in 20 years. Other runs are in danger of extinction. The cause is simple. During the last drought, irresponsible water management killed nearly all baby salmon in the Sacramento River."
California's ocean recreational salmon season closed after six days in 2025, following two fully closed seasons. The commercial fishing fleet has been unable to fish for three years. Salmon fishing from Morro Bay to the Oregon border faces unprecedented danger. Closed runs have shuttered tackle shops, motels, marinas, and marine suppliers, and emptied restaurants and markets. Healthy runs support 23,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in economic activity. The Sacramento fall-run Chinook spawning count has fallen 95% in 20 years. Drought-era water management delivered excess water to some agricultural interests, drained cold storage behind Shasta Dam, and hot reservoir releases killed eggs and juveniles. Federal proposals to weaken protections and raise Shasta Dam threaten recovery.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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