California’s commercial salmon fishermen face another disaster of a season amid proposed federal restrictions

Local salmon fishermen hoping for a reprieve after last year’s canceled season aren’t feeling optimistic following announced plans by federal managers to significantly restrict or even cancel the coming season. 

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) last week introduced three options for the 2024 ocean salmon commercial season for the fisheries off Washington, Oregon and California, and will make a final decision at its meeting next month. They’re also weighing restrictions for recreational (sport) fishing.

While two of the proposed options do offer limited commercial fishing opportunities, at least one local fisherman says the restrictions would significantly curb the viability of salmon fishing. 

“These really aren’t a viable option for anyone,” said Tim Obert, a Ben Lomond resident who’s been fishing salmon commercially for close to 20 years. 

Obert is president of the Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Association, sits on the state of California’s Dungeness Crab Task Force and is also a part of several working groups that advised the council in coming up with the alternative proposals. 

“We’ve been battling this for a while and we knew it was coming,” he said. 

At issue, federal managers are forecasting low salmon stocks for California’s two biggest sources, the Sacramento and Klamath rivers. While progress is being made, salmon stocks continue to struggle, according to the PFMC. That’s largely due to the previous drought conditions, coupled with diversion of large amounts of water for agriculture and cities. Those factors are affecting river flows and water temperatures, resulting in poor conditions for young salmon and their eggs.

Robin Ehlke, PFMC’s salmon staff officer, acknowledges the council’s proposals will significantly limit the California season, but notes that the primary goal is conservation. California’s salmon stocks are expected to be a bit more abundant than last year, but it’s still concerning, she said. 

“That means the troll fisheries will be limited to an overall harvest limit for each management area and weekly vessel landing limits,” said Ehlke.

One of the proposals calls for canceling the season entirely for a second year in a row. For the designated fishing area from Pigeon Point south, the first alternative places a limit of 40 chinook (king) salmon per vessel per landing week (a period that runs Thursday-Wednesday) and would reduce the season to just 10 designated days in June. The second limits it to 30 fish during seven designated days in June. A normal salmon season could open as early as mid-May and run as long as October.

Obert said it typically costs him around $8,000 to rig the larger of his two boats for salmon season. If he’s limited to just 30 salmon per boat per season, and can sell those for about $100 each (based on an average of $10 per pound), that adds up to $3,000 – significantly less than what he’d spend on equipment. 

For comparison, during his most recent salmon season, Obert’s larger boat was able to earn $355,000, though most years, it averages around $250,000. Even the smaller of the two vessels he operates was able to pull in $200,000 in salmon during its last season. Obert’s boats are at the higher end of the scale in terms of how much salmon they can typically pull in, which means his crew is at the top of the chart as far as potential losses go.

He says it feels like the rug is being pulled out from under him, as a longtime fisherman whose brother and father also fish. 

“I am a full-time salmon guy. I am proud of it. I love it more than anything,” said Obert. “It’s something I’ve done my whole life.”

Prior to the cancellation of the 2023 season, Santa Cruz Harbor officials estimated there were about 40 to 50 commercial salmon boats in the harbor, plus others that keep their boats elsewhere but fish locally. Not only do restrictions directly impact the fishermen, but it also can mean the loss of docking and fueling fees for the harbor. It also affects other businesses like gear providers, bait shops and fish sellers. 

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council will hold a public hearing in Santa Rosa on March 25 to hear public comment on the three proposed regulatory alternatives. The council will meet April 5-11 in Seattle to adopt the final regulations for the season. 

After the cancellation of last year’s season, the U.S. Department of Commerce allocated more than $20.6 million in federal disaster relief to be used to assist commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen and charter businesses affected by the canceled season. Obert said he and his colleagues have yet to see any of that money. Last year’s closure cost an estimated $45 million, according to state officials.

Meanwhile, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife continues to take steps aimed at building healthier salmon populations. Last week, the department said it awarded $50 million in grants for 15 projects to support habitat restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the McCloud River and other areas. The grants are part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s overall salmon strategy.

The state’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion and accounts for 20,000 jobs annually. It’s one of the biggest fisheries in the state, along with Dungeness crab. And that fishery has faced repeatedly delayed seasons, intensifying the strain on local fishermen. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife is expected to make a determination on March 28 whether to close this year’s season early or not. 

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