CDFW Newshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/NewsDelayed Recreational and Commercial Spiny Lobster Fisheries to Open in Los Angeles and Orange Countieshttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/delayed-recreational-and-commercial-spiny-lobster-fisheries-to-open-in-los-angeles-and-orange-countiesFishingThu, 12 Oct 2023 16:50:35 GMTCDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham issued a declaration to rescind the delay and open the recreational and commercial spiny lobster fisheries off Los Angeles and Orange counties following a recommendation from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).<p>California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham issued a <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=216579&inline" target="_blank">declaration (PDF)</a> to rescind the delay and open the recreational and commercial spiny lobster fisheries off Los Angeles and Orange counties following a <a href="https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=216573&inline" target="_blank">recommendation (PDF)</a> from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Based on samples examined by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), OEHHA determined that the consumption of spiny lobster in these areas no longer poses a significant threat for domoic acid exposure. In addition, CDPH has lifted a health advisory for spiny lobster that was in place for neighboring areas.</p> <p>The recreational spiny lobster fishery will open at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13 in the previously delayed area between the Abalone Cove State Marine Conservation Area and the westernmost point of the Long Beach Breakwater. After this date, recreational lobster fishing will be open without advisories in all portions of the state regularly open to divers and hoop netters. The commercial spiny lobster fishery will open one hour prior to sunrise on Wednesday, Oct. 18 in the previously delayed area. Commercial traps are allowed to be deployed wired open in this area, but they may not be baited until one hour prior to sunrise on Tuesday, Oct. 17.</p> <p><a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/DomoicAcid.aspx" target="_blank">Samples of spiny lobster collected on Oct. 2 and 9</a> indicated that all domoic acid levels were below the federal action level of ≥20 parts per million.</p> <p>More information on recreational spiny lobster fishing regulations can be found on CDFW’s <a href="/Conservation/Marine/Invertebrates/Lobster">recreational lobster fishing</a> web page including FAQs.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contact:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Jordan.Traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> Recreational Ocean, In-River Salmon Fisheries in California to Close for Remainder of 2023https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/recreational-ocean-in-river-salmon-fisheries-in-california-to-close-for-remainder-of-2023SalmonFri, 19 May 2023 13:28:36 GMTThe California Fish and Game Commission acted unanimously to enact a full closure of California’s recreational salmon fishing season in the Klamath River Basin and Central Valley rivers through its annual process for adjusting seasons and bag limits on Tues., May 17, 2023.<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:22px;"><em><strong>Emergency California Halibut Regulations Adopted to Protect Ocean Fishery</strong></em></span></p> <p>The California Fish and Game Commission acted unanimously to enact a full closure of California’s recreational salmon fishing season in the Klamath River Basin and Central Valley rivers through its annual process for adjusting seasons and bag limits on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. </p> <p>In a separate emergency action, the Commission voted to close recreational salmon fisheries in the Smith River and Eel River, and the summer season in the Klamath and Trinity rivers. Additionally, in the same emergency action, the Commission voted to allow federally recognized tribes that currently or historically used the river segments affected by the recreational fishing closures, to continue fishing under existing inland sport fishing regulations. The regulations are expected to take effect no later than July 1, 2023, following approval by the Office of Administrative Law.</p> <p>The Commission’s actions on salmon follow the recommended closure of both commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries off the California coast by the Pacific Fishery Management Council due to projections showing Chinook salmon abundance at historic lows. Pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1.95, ocean salmon sport fishing regulations in state waters automatically conform to federal regulations unless the Commission deliberately takes a different action. Federal regulations for ocean salmon fisheries were published in 88 FR 30235 on May 11, 2023, and went into effect as of May 16, 2023.</p> <p>Recognizing the importance of salmon to California’s commercial, charter and inland guide businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom last month submitted a request to the U. S. Secretary of Commerce asking for a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration. If approved, the declaration would begin the process of providing needed relief to businesses and fishing communities financially impacted by the salmon fishing closure.</p> <p>“This decision, while difficult, is intended to allow salmon to recover in order to provide future fishing opportunities,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Salmon are an iconic species in California. We treasure them for their intrinsic, cultural, recreational and commercial values. The state is committed to ensuring long-term survival of our salmon runs and supporting our struggling fishing communities.”</p> <p>Prolonged drought, severe wildfires and associated impacts to spawning and rearing habitat, harmful algal blooms and ocean forage shifts have combined to result in some of the lowest stock abundance forecasts on record for California’s Chinook salmon. The low ocean abundance forecasts, coupled with low 2022 returns, led the Commission to recommend closure of California’s in-river recreational salmon fisheries, which include the Klamath and Trinity rivers within the Klamath Basin, the Sacramento, Feather, American and Mokelumne rivers in the Central Valley, the Smith River and the Eel River. Gov. Newsom’s request for a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration is the first step in the process that may lead to federal financial assistance to affected businesses and fishing communities.</p> <p>In another emergency action, the Commission voted unanimously to reduce the daily bag and possession limit for California halibut from three fish to two fish in California waters north of Point Sur, Monterey County. The regulations are expected to take effect June 1, 2023. The reduced California halibut limit is designed to protect the resource amid increased recreational fishing pressure due to limited fishing opportunities and changes in other ocean fisheries including salmon. The Pacific halibut fishery is unaffected by the Commission’s action; the daily bag and possession limit for Pacific halibut remains one fish with no size limit.</p> <p>For more information visit:</p> <!--<ul> <li>California Fish and Game Commission: <a href="https://fgc.ca.gov/" target="_blank">fgc.ca.gov</a></li> <li>Pacific Fishery Management Council: <a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/" target="_blank">pcouncil.org</a></li> <li>Federal fisheries disaster funding: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/funding-and-financial-services/fishery-disaster-assistance" target="_blank">fisheries.noaa.gov</a></li> </ul>--> <ul> <li><a href="https://fgc.ca.gov/" target="_blank">California Fish and Game Commission</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.pcouncil.org/" target="_blank">Pacific Fishery Management Council</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/funding-and-financial-services/fishery-disaster-assistance" target="_blank">Federal fisheries disaster funding</a></li> </ul> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contact:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:Jordan.Traverso@wildlife.ca.gov">Jordan Traverso</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352</em></p> Chinook Salmon Season to Open July 1 on Portions of Klamath, Trinity Rivershttps://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/chinook-salmon-season-to-open-july-1-on-portions-of-klamath-trinity-rivers1SalmonThu, 30 Jun 2022 15:08:13 GMTSport fishing for Chinook salmon in the Klamath River Basin is set to begin July 1 and will continue through the fall according to salmon quota and fishery regulations that were adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission during its May teleconference meeting.<p>Sport fishing for Chinook salmon in the Klamath River Basin is set to begin July 1 and will continue through the fall according to salmon quota and fishery regulations that were adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission during its May teleconference meeting.</p> <p>The season begins with a shortened spring-run Chinook salmon fishery enacted in response to the state listing of “Upper Klamath/Trinity River Spring Chinook Salmon” as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. The truncated spring-run Chinook salmon recreational fishery will open July 1 and run through Aug. 14 on the lower Klamath River (downstream of the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec) and through Aug. 31 on the Trinity River (upstream of the confluence of the South Fork Trinity River). The daily bag limit remains one Chinook salmon (no size restrictions), with a possession limit of two Chinook salmon. This shortened season structure eliminates the core months of April, May and June when the majority of spring-run move through the Klamath and Trinity rivers on their way to natal areas where the most at-risk spring-run populations spend the summer and spawn.</p> <p>The fall-run Chinook salmon recreational fishery in the Klamath River will continue Aug. 15 as Klamath River fall-run Chinook begin to enter the river in larger numbers. In the Trinity River, the recreational fall-run Chinook season begins Sept. 1. The fall-run Chinook basin in-river quota for this fall period is 2,119 adult Chinook salmon for the 2022 season. Klamath River fall-run Chinook numbers remain low, requiring limited opportunity for harvest while this stock of salmon rebounds from the effects of challenging environmental conditions.</p> <p>The bag limits will remain the same as in 2021, with a two-fish daily bag limit, with no more than one fish over 23 inches (such as one adult and one jack). The possession limit remains the same at six fish, with no more than three fish over 23 inches (effectively three daily bag limits).</p> <p>The in-river recreational adult fall-run Chinook salmon quota is divided among four sectors in the Klamath River basin:</p> <p><strong>Klamath River</strong></p> <ul> <li>3,500 feet downstream of Iron Gate Dam downstream to the Highway 96 bridge – 360 fish.</li> <li>Highway 96 bridge downstream to the mouth of the Klamath River – 1,060 fish.</li> </ul> <p>There is a sub-area closure at the mouth of the Klamath River when 15 percent of the basin allocation has been harvested – 318 fish harvested below the Highway 101 bridge triggers this closure.</p> <p><strong>Trinity River</strong></p> <ul> <li>Old Lewiston Bridge to Highway 299 West bridge at Cedar Flat – 350 fish.</li> <li>Denny Road bridge downstream to the confluence with Klamath River – 349 fish.</li> </ul> <p>Anglers may keep track of the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s information hotline at (800) 564-6479.</p> <p>For more information regarding Klamath River fishing regulations, please consult the 2022-2023 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, which will be available online in July at <a href="/Regulations">wildlife.ca.gov/regulations</a>.</p> <p>###</p> <p><em><strong>Media Contacts:</strong><br /> <a href="mailto:dan.troxel@wildlife.ca.gov">Dan Troxel</a>, CDFW Klamath River Project, (707) 822-0330<br /> <a href="mailto:peter.tira@wildlife.ca.gov">Peter Tira</a>, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858</em></p>