After last year’s numerous bans on commercial and recreation salmon fishing in California and Oregon, many are concerned by the latest news. California’s Chinook populations are the lowest ever recorded to date.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council stated that only 66,264 Chinook returned to the Sacramento River basin to spawn. The number includes natural and hatchery salmon.
The previous year, the number of Chinook was around 90,000. Since that year had restricted fishing, fishermen suspect more bans this year. The Pacific Fishery Management Council will announce their fishing limits in April.
Salmon numbers overall are down all over the West and many blame global warming for the decline due to ocean acidification and other changes. Others, however, blame pumps used to move water to farms. Some also blame hatchery operations for interfering with natural salmon. Regardless of the reason, Chinook salmon are gradually disappearing and a solution needs to be found.
