Fishing for Chinook salmon, also known as “king salmon”, has been halted for the California and Oregon coasts due to the rapid decline in population for this native fish. The Pacific Fishery Management Council made this announcement to stop fishing for this particular species May 1st in an attempt to bring back the salmon numbers.
The Decline
The Chinook salmon spawning process has always involved a return of hundreds of thousands of fish to the Sacramento River every year. This year, scientists are estimating that only 60,000 will be returning.
Despite the fact that this type of salmon has over 1,000 spawning populations, it is one of the smallest populations of salmon in North America. This initial fact does not help its case in continuing to survive as a salmon species.
Did You Know?
Did you know that the salmon actually stays in the ocean for 1 to 8 years before returning to fresh water to spawn? Typically, the average ocean stay is 3 or 4 years. Then they make their way back to fresh water. Their young fish then stays in these safer, fresh water channels, for 12 to 18 months, until they are ready to begin adapting to salt water.
Reasons
The king salmon needs particular environmental standards in order to sustain their population. Clean ocean water and clean fresh water are imperative for the salmon and their young to thrive. They also must have a good food supply and obviously other salmon to procreate. When any of these factors have shortages, the king salmon experiences repercussions through a decline in their numbers.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is still unsure what the exact cause is that made the salmon population so low this year, but they suspect it to be contributed to the above reasons and possibly temperature changes in the water as well. While the fishing will be prohibited, scientists will be studying this problem to find more answers.
Other Fish
The Coho Salmon off the cost of Oregon and Washington has also dipped in numbers. While their numbers are still better than the Chinook salmon, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is pulling back on how this particular species is fished for as well. The provisions will not be as strict as the king salmon, but protection is in place and will be ready for stronger measures if a decline increases.
