The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted three alternatives for 2024 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California, which are available for public review. The Council will make a final decision on salmon seasons at its next meeting on April 6-11, 2024. Detailed information about season starting dates, areas open, and catch limits for the three alternatives are available on the Council’s website at www.pcouncil.org.
Forecasts for West Coast Chinook and coho stocks in 2024 are a mixed bag, with some low and high points when compared to last year. Federal requirements to conserve Fraser River (Canada) coho, Washington coast natural coho, lower Columbia River natural coho, Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook will be the main constraints for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries.
“Meeting our conservation and management objectives continues to be the highest priority for the Council,” said Council Chair, Brad Pettinger. “Balancing those objectives while providing meaningful commercial and recreational seasons remains a challenge in 2024.”
California fisheries offer very limited opportunity in 2024 due to the low forecasts for Klamath River and Sacramento River fall Chinook, and constraints surrounding California Coastal Chinook. Two alternatives for both commercial and sport fisheries offer limited opportunity coastwide, with the third alternative proposed being closed in all areas.
Commercial season alternatives
California ocean commercial alternatives include limited opportunity in all subareas in two of the three alternatives. The third alternative is proposed closed. All proposed seasons include harvest limits, along with weekly vessel-based landing and possession limits, and seasons are limited to June. Additional requirements include landing fish in the subarea caught and a 24-hour quick reporting requirement necessary for monitoring catch as the season progresses.
Sport season alternatives
California ocean recreational alternatives include limited opportunity in all subareas in two of the three alternatives. The third alternative is proposed closed. Under Alternative I, all areas would have minimal opportunity in June, July, August, September and October. Alternative II provides minimal opportunity in just July and August. Harvest guidelines will be in place and in season action may be taken to enact closures to ensure the fishery remains within preseason projections of harvest.
The public will also be able to comment on the alternatives during the April Council meeting. Materials and instructions for joining online Council meetings and hearings will be posted to the Council website. The Council will consult with scientists, hear public comment, revise preliminary decisions, and choose a final alternative at its meeting April 6-11. The Council will forward its final season recommendations to NMFS for its approval and implementation no later than May 16, 2024. All Council meetings are open to the public.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the U.S. coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.
