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Recent News Releases

Limited Chinook Sport Fishing to Reopen in 3 Central Valley Rivers
May 20, 2025
While low Chinook salmon counts have called for the continued closure of Chinook salmon fishing in the Klamath River Basin and mainstem Sacramento River, Chinook fishing opportunities will be allowed in three inland Central Valley rivers for the first time in two years.
CDFW Releases New Wolf Location Mapping System
May 15, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced today the release of a brand-new mapping tool designed to provide regular location information on GPS-collared gray wolves in California to help prevent wolf-livestock conflict.
Southern California Pacific Sardine Take Restrictions in Place Due to Public Health Hazard
May 9, 2025
State health agencies determined that Pacific sardine sampled off Southern California contained elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a fishery restriction for Southern California for the commercial and recreational take of sardine for human consumption in the area.
CDFW Adjusts Salmon Releases to Support Sacramento River Populations
May 5, 2025
In a significant shift of California’s salmon strategy, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has begun releasing juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon from CDFW-operated hatcheries into the main stem of the Sacramento River for the first time.
CDFW to End Hatchery Operations at Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County
May 2, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has made the difficult decision to cease hatchery operations at the Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County. A combination of increased regulatory burden and a lack of flexibility, aging infrastructure, significant and necessary costly repairs and maintenance, modernization needs, and low fish production and returns forced the decision to close the steelhead trout hatchery just east of Arcata.
May 2025 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar
April 29, 2025
CDFW May Calendar of Events
CDFW’s 2025-26 CalNASP Equipment Grant Application Period Now Open
April 28, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) National Archery in the Schools Program (CalNASP) is excited to announce the 2025-26 grant cycle is now open.
CDFW Announces Release of Bighorn Sheep Conservation and Management Plan for California
April 25, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to present The Conservation and Management Plan for Bighorn Sheep in California.
Commercial Rock Crab Fishery Opens from California/Oregon Border to Humboldt Bay
April 24, 2025
Following a recommendation from state health agencies, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced the reopening of the commercial rock crab fishery in northern California from the California/Oregon border (42° 00.00’ N. Lat.) to the Humboldt Bay entrance at the north jetty (40° 46.15’ N. Lat.). This area has remained closed for nearly a decade following a domoic acid outbreak and lack of sampling effort in subsequent years.
California Fish and Game Commission: Pintail Limit Raised, Barred Sand Bass Limit Reduced
April 23, 2025
Last week, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) increased the northern pintail bag limit to three for the first time in almost 30 years. While population estimates are sufficient to support more pintail hunting opportunities, depleted population estimates for the recreational barred sand bass fishery called for the Commission to reduce a five-fish bag limit to four. The Commission took these and other actions affecting California’s natural resources at its April 16-17 meeting in Sacramento.