(March 24, 2016) — The Pacific Fishery Management Council yesterday adopted three public review alternatives for the 2016 salmon season off the West Coast of the U.S.
The council will select a final alternative at their next meeting in Vancouver, Washington, on April 9 through 14.
“The mix of salmon runs this year is unusual,” said outgoing executive director Donald McIsaac. “In the north, the return of fall Chinook to the Columbia River is forecast to be exceptionally high again, but expectations for wild Coho runs to the Washington Coast and Puget Sound areas can only be described as disastrous. In the south, the Sacramento River fall Chinook are healthy, but Klamath River fall Chinook are so poor that the council’s policy calls for a low ‘de minimis’ catch in ocean fisheries.”
Other officials agreed.
“This will be a challenging year for salmon fisheries,” said Council Vice-chair Herb Pollard. “Several key stocks are less abundant than usual, due to environmental conditions like the California drought and El Niño, which have affected ocean abundance for some stocks. However, there are alternatives that provide opportunities for both commercial and recreational salmon fishing coast wide.”