CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsRecreational Salmon Seasons Finalized for the California Coasthttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/recreational-salmon-seasons-finalized-for-the-california-coastSalmonFri, 15 Apr 2022 14:54:16 GMTThe California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announces California recreational ocean salmon fishing season dates are now set for the remainder of 2022 and offer about the same number of open days as last year.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announces California recreational ocean salmon fishing season dates are now set for the remainder of 2022 and offer about the same number of open days as last year. Sport fisheries opened south of Point Arena on April 2 and the remainder of the coast will open May 1. Although anglers can enjoy an earlier start to the season than last year, there will be intermittent breaks in fishing opportunity in management areas north of Pigeon Point.</p> <p>This week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) met in Seattle, Washington to finalize and adopt recommended ocean salmon seasons occurring between mid-May and October. These seasons are the outcome of a months-long public process and reflect efforts to maximize recreational angling opportunity while also achieving the stock conservation objectives prescribed by the PFMC and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for 2022.</p> <p>Efforts to increase adult returns of California Coastal Chinook, Sacramento River Fall Chinook, and Klamath River Fall Chinook this fall and winter resulted in ocean salmon seasons that allow for more fishing opportunity in southern management areas and slightly less time on the water in northern management areas.</p> <p>The 2022 recreational ocean salmon season dates for the California coast are as follows:</p> <ul> <li>In the Klamath Management Zone, which is the area between the Oregon/California state line and 40°10’00” N. latitude (near Cape Mendocino), the season will be open May 1-31 and Aug. 1-Sept. 5.</li> <li>The Fort Bragg Management Area, which extends from 40°10’00” N. latitude to Point Arena (38°57’30” N. latitude), will be open May 1-July 4 and July 22-Sept. 5.</li> <li>In the San Francisco Management Area, which extends from Point Arena to Pigeon Point (37°11’00” N. latitude), the season is open April 2-May 31 and June 23-Oct. 31.</li> <li>In the Monterey Management Area, which extends from Pigeon Point to the U.S./Mexico border, the season is open April 2-Oct. 2.</li> </ul> <p>The minimum size limit in all management areas north of Point Arena is 20 inches total length. In the San Francisco and Monterey management areas, the minimum size limit is 24 inches total length through May 15 and will drop to 20 inches total length thereafter. The daily bag limit is two Chinook salmon per day. No more than two daily bag limits may be possessed when on land. On a vessel in ocean waters, no person shall possess or bring ashore more than one daily bag limit. Retention of coho, or silver salmon, is prohibited in all ocean fisheries off California.</p> <p>Anglers are advised to check for updated information when planning a salmon fishing trip. Season dates, bag/possession limit information and gear restrictions can be found on <a href="https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon">CDFW’s Ocean Salmon webpage</a> or by calling the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429. Public notification of any in-season change to conform state regulations to federal regulations is made through the NMFS ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Grace.Easterbrook@wildlife.ca.gov">Grace Easterbrook</a>, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 576-2375<br /> <a href="mailto:Peter.Tira@wildlife.ca.gov">Peter Tira</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858</em></p> CDFW Awards $13 Million for Coho Recovery Projects on the North Coasthttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/cdfw-awards-13-million-for-coho-recovery-projects-on-the-north-coastSalmonTue, 22 Feb 2022 12:14:22 GMTCDFW today announced the award of funding to an initial 15 multi-benefit restoration and protection projects for North Coast coho salmon recovery under its Proposition 1 grant program.<p>The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) today announced the award of funding to an initial 15 multi-benefit restoration and protection projects for North Coast coho salmon recovery under its Proposition 1 grant program.</p> <p>The awards, totaling approximately $13 million, were made under CDFW’s 2021 Proposition 1 North Coast Coho Recovery Proposal Solicitation Notice. This solicitation was part of CDFW’s Cutting the Green Tape initiative to increase the pace and scale of restoration by making the permitting and granting processes more efficient. CDFW’s Watershed Restoration Grants Branch partnered with the North Coast Salmon Project on this solicitation, focusing on coho salmon recovery in North Coast watersheds.</p> <p>“We have an opportunity to double down on coho recovery on the North Coast this year,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We’re focusing grant funding in watersheds aligned with our North Coast Salmon Project while moving forward in key areas to improve the overall process under Cutting the Green Tape.”</p> <p>The approved projects complement CDFW’s ongoing initiatives toward species recovery and provide resilience to climate change, representing priorities outlined in the solicitation, as well as the California Water Action Plan, State Wildlife Action Plan, California EcoRestore, Safeguarding California Plan, the California Biodiversity Initiative and the fulfillment of CDFW’s mission.</p> <p>Projects approved for funding through the Prop. 1 Watershed Grant Program include:</p> <h3>Implementation Projects:</h3> <ul> <li>Garcia River Estuary Enhancement Project ($2,838,211 to The Nature Conservancy)</li> <li>Bull Creek Hamilton Reach Instream and Floodplain Habitat Restoration Project ($2,425,232 to California Trout, Inc.)</li> <li>Mt. Gilead Water Conservation and Streamflow Improvement Project ($1,406,465 to the North Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council)</li> <li>The South Fork Eel River Seasonal Fish Weir: Targeting segregation and removal of an invasive predatory fish to benefit recovering salmonids ($542,545 to California Trout, Inc.)</li> <li>Large Wood Augmentation in High Priority Coho Salmon Habitat in Mendocino County ($884,048 to Trout Unlimited, Inc.)</li> <li>Yale Creek Watershed Protection and Enhancement Project ($474,942 to Sonoma State University)</li> </ul> <h3>Planning Projects:</h3> <ul> <li>Eel River Arundo Eradication Planning Project ($52,087 to the Eel River Watershed Improvement Group)</li> <li>Greene Off-Channel Habitat Enhancement Design Project ($452,869 to the North Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council)</li> <li>Lagunitas Creek Coho Habitat Enhancement Final Design Plan ($869,178 to the Marin Municipal Water District)</li> <li>Ten Mile River Habitat Enhancement Phase 2 Design ($694,651 to The Nature Conservancy)</li> <li>Atascadero Subwatershed Streamflow Enhancement Planning Project ($85,568 to the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District)</li> <li>Mill Creek Streamflow Enhancement Focused Outreach and Planning ($209,640 to the Coast Range Watershed Institute)</li> <li>Sproul Creek Road Erosion and Fish Passage Barrier Assessment and Implementation Planning Project ($589,455 to the Pacific Coast Fish, Wildlife and Wetlands Restoration Association)</li> <li>Navarro-Mill Creek Habitat Enhancement Project ($787,436 to The Nature Conservancy)</li> <li>Indian Creek Aquatic Habitat Improvement Design Project ($397,785 to the Eel River Watershed Improvement Group)</li> </ul> <p>General information about CDFW’s Prop. 1 Restoration Grant Programs, as well as a schedule for upcoming grant solicitations, once available, can be found at <a href="/grants">wildlife.ca.gov/grants</a>.</p> <p>Funding for these projects comes from Prop. 1 bond funds, a portion of which are allocated annually through the California State Budget Act. More information about Prop. 1 is on the <a href="http://bondaccountability.resources.ca.gov/p1.aspx" target="_blank">California Natural Resources Agency website</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:matt.wells@wildlife.ca.gov">Matt Wells</a>, CDFW Watershed Restoration Grant Branch, (916) 216-7848<br /> <a href="mailto:jordan.traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p>