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THE COLUMBIA BASIN BULLETIN: Weekly Fish and Wildlife News<br>
<a href="http://www.cbbulletin.com/" eudora="autourl">
www.cbbulletin.com<br>
</a>April 15, 2011 - Issue No. 571<br><br>
<font size=5><b>* Improved Sacramento River Chinook Allow First Major
California, Oregon Ocean Fishery Since 2007 <br><br>
</b></font>The Pacific Fishery Management Council on Wednesday adopted a
set of ocean salmon seasons that it says provides recreational and
commercial opportunities up and down the West Coast while still achieving
conservation goals for a multitude of individual salmon stocks and
providing for escapement for freshwater fisheries.<br><br>
The recommendation will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries
Service for approval by May 1.<br><br>
“We are pleased to see that Sacramento River fall chinook salmon have
rebounded nicely for California and Oregon fisheries, and we will
continue to enjoy good salmon opportunities off the Washington coast this
summer,” said Council Chairman Mark Cedergreen.<br><br>
--North of Cape Falcon<br><br>
Washington and northern Oregon fisheries north of Cape Falcon (near
Manzanita in northern Oregon) depend largely on Columbia River stocks.
Columbia River fall chinook returns in 2010 were above average, and 2011
forecasts are similar. Columbia River hatchery coho returns are below
average and less than 2010 returns, but Washington coastal and Puget
Sound stocks are above average.<br><br>
North of Cape Falcon, there is an overall non-Indian total allowable
catch of 64,600 chinook and 80,000 marked hatchery coho.<br><br>
A mark-selective recreational chinook season north of Cape Falcon begins
June 18 and ends June 25 or when 4,800 marked chinook have been caught.
The chinook season will be open seven days per week, two fish per day,
with a 24-inch total length minimum size limit.<br><br>
All salmon seasons north of Falcon are divided into four sub-areas.
Seasons begin June 26 and end in mid- to late-September.<br><br>
For details, please see the season descriptions on the Council<br>
website at
<a href="http://www.pcouncil.org/" eudora="autourl">www.pcouncil.org<br>
<br>
</a>Non-Indian ocean commercial fisheries north of Cape Falcon include
traditional chinook seasons in the May-June timeframe and all-salmon
seasons in the July-to-September timeframe. The chinook quota of 30,900
is lower than the 2010 quota of 56,000. The coho quota of 12,800 is
similar to 2010’s quota of 11,800.<br><br>
Tribal ocean fisheries north of Cape Falcon are similar to recent years,
although chinook quotas are lower than in 2010.<br><br>
<b>-- California and Oregon South of Cape Falcon <br><br>
</b>Greatly improved abundance of Sacramento River fall chinook will fuel
the first substantial ocean salmon fisheries off California and Oregon
since 2007. Fisheries south of Cape Falcon are supported by Sacramento
River fall chinook. <br><br>
In 2008 and 2009, poor Sacramento returns led to the largest ocean salmon
fishery closure on record. <br><br>
The abundance forecast of Sacramento River fall chinook in 2011 is
730,000, far above the number needed for optimum spawning this fall
(122,000-180,000 fish).<br><br>
<b>The Klamath River fall chinook forecast for 2011 is near normal. The
Oregon Coast natural coho forecast in 2011 is about 250,000, well above
the 15 year average.<br><br>
</b>Recreational fisheries in southern Oregon and California are for
chinook only and run from May 14 through Labor Day weekend in the
Brookings/Eureka/Crescent City area, and from April 2 to Oct. 30 or Sept.
18 in areas further south. The minimum size limit will be 24 inches for
chinook coastwide.<br><br>
Recreational fisheries in central Oregon will allow chinook retention and
run from March 15 through Sept. 30. Coho fisheries consist of a
mark-selective coho quota fishery that will open in early July and a
non‐mark selective coho quota fishery in early
September.<br><br>
Commercial fisheries from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain., Ore., will be
open from April 15 through July 9, July 17 through Aug. 31, and during
the month of October. Humbug Mountain is located about six miles south of
Port Orford. <br><br>
Fisheries in the Humbug Mountain to California border area will be open
in May, June, July, and August, with chinook quotas in June (1,500), July
(1,200), and August (1,000). Fisheries from the California border to
Humboldt South Jetty will be open July 2‐20 with a 1,400
chinook quota and August 1-15 with a 1,000 chinook quota.<br><br>
Between Horse Mountain and Point Arena (in the Fort Bragg area),
commercial chinook salmon fisheries will be open July 23-27, July
29-August 29, and Sept. 1-30,<br>
seven days per week.<br><br>
In the area from Point Arena to Point Sur (Monterey), the season will be
open May 1-31; June 25-July 5; July 9-27 (Saturday to Wednesday); July
29-Aug. 29; and during the entire month of September. From Point Sur to
the Mexico border, the chinook season will be open as above, plus June
1-24 but closed in September. There will also be a season from Point
Reyes to Point San Pedro, open Monday to Friday October 3-14. <br><br>
The Council developed the management measures after several weeks spent
reviewing three season alternatives. The review process included input by
federal and state fishery scientists and fishing industry members; public
testimony, and three public hearings in coastal communities. <br><br>
The Council received additional scientific information and took public
testimony before taking final action. <br><br>
In addition, the coastal states will decide on compatible freshwater
fishery regulations at their respective commission hearings.<br><br>
PFMC is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by
the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the
purpose of managing fisheries miles offshore of the U.S. coastline. The
Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the
coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.<br><br>
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