California’s salmon fishery will be closed to commercial fishermen for an unprecedented third year in a row, under a vote Tuesday by fishery managers.
What happened: After an abysmal forecast for this season’s salmon numbers, the Pacific Fishery Management Council approved a proposal Tuesday that would bar commercial fishermen from harvesting salmon due to even lower populations than in 2023 and 2024.
Though the past two seasons have also seen a closure for recreational fishing, this year’s proposal allows a few dayslong windows for sport and recreational anglers under a statewide harvest quota based on a recommendation from NOAA Fisheries.
“Ultimately, a commercial season didn’t work out for 2025, but there is hope that sitting on the sidelines for one more year will improve the chances for more meaningful opportunity in 2026,” said Marci Yaremko, a representative on the council from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
