News Room

Media Contact

Contact an Information Officer

Related News Feeds

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.

Recent News Releases

2025 Ocean Salmon Fishing Regulations Now in Effect, State Conforms to Federal Regulations
May 27, 2025
On Friday, May 16, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service published the annual West Coast salmon fishing regulations for federal waters, including those for California’s limited ocean recreational salmon season.
Power Outage Causes Failure at Eastern Sierra Hatchery
May 27, 2025
BIG PINE – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that a sustained power outage has led to the widespread loss of fish at the Fish Springs Trout Hatchery. The power outage, which was outside CDFW’s control, occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Owens Valley, and lasted more than two hours. Fish Springs Trout Hatchery, powered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, has backup diesel motors which can supply continued water pumping during power outage events. During the power outage on Tuesday, the backup diesel motors were non-operational due to a software issue. A contractor had been previously scheduled to come to the hatchery on Thursday, May 22 to diagnose the software issue, assess the motors, and help CDFW resolve the problem.
CDFW Seeks Public Comment Related to CESA Candidate Morro Manzanita
May 23, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is seeking data and public comments on a petition to list Morro manzanita under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
Wildlife Conservation Board Awards $59.5 Million in Grants to 25 Habitat Conservation and Restoration Projects
May 23, 2025
The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved $59.5 million in grants to support 25 habitat protection and restoration projects in 21 counties across California. Awarded at WCB’s May 22 meeting, the projects will safeguard nearly 23,000 acres of the state’s most ecologically important landscapes.
CDFW Taking Applications for Opening Weekend Deer and Pig Hunting Access Permits for Cottonwood Creek, San Luis Reservoir Wildlife Areas
May 21, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting applications for a limited number of deer and wild pig hunting access permits for opening weekend, Aug. 9 and 10, 2025, in Merced County (Zone A) for the general season. This is not a special hunt; the drawing is to control the number of hunters in these areas on opening weekend only.
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.