Media Contact Contact an Information Officer Related News Feeds California Outdoors Q&A OSPR News Marine Region News Subscribe Subscribe to CDFW News releases via email or text.* Sign Up *Accredited media representatives should contact an Information Officer to be placed on CDFW's media list. Follow Us Follow on Twitter @CaliforniaDFW(opens in new tab) Follow on Facebook(opens in new tab) Recent News Releases 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. California Primed for Spectacular Trout Season Opener April 26 April 22, 2025 Be it Burney, Bridgeport or Bishop, anglers headed to one of California’s famed trout fishing destinations for the traditional season opener Saturday, April 26 will encounter near-optimal conditions with many popular lakes, streams and creeks accessible and stocked with trout. Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Opportunity Continues in Northern Management Area, will Close in Central Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement April 21, 2025 California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Charlton H. Bonham has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced changes to both commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries in the Central Management Area. These changes, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 1, 2025, are intended to minimize entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California. Browse/Search Archive