After several years of closures due to low populations, California will reopen limited commercial and recreational salmon fishing this spring as stocks rebound. Local fishers welcome the return but say the short, highly restricted season might not be enough to revive the struggling fleet.
fishing industry
Posted inLatest News
Salmon survival: Betting on the right fish
By studying salmon bones, scientists have uncovered that for thousands of years, Chinook salmon returned to California rivers at a range of ages. Today, habitat loss, overharvesting and conventional hatcheries have narrowed the age diversity of returning fish, a critical factor in efforts to save the species in Santa Cruz County and beyond. They are working with tribal partners to restore that diversity, protecting wild stocks and the rhythms that keep rivers alive.
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Whale entanglements in fishing gear surge off West Coast during marine heat waves
New research finds that rising ocean temperatures are shrinking cool-water feeding grounds, pushing humpbacks into gear-heavy waters near shore. Scientists say an ocean forecasting tool could help fisheries reduce the risk.
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Holding the line: What’s happening with salmon in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County’s salmon population faces a variety of threats, but scientists and habitat restoration groups point to the fish’s resilience, bolstered by decades of monitoring and an expanding web of restoration efforts.
Posted inFood & Drink
State OKs pop-up gear for spring Dungeness crab season
California Fish and Wildlife has approved ropeless pop-up gear for spring Dungeness crab fishing, allowing licensed fishers statewide to apply to use the whale-safe technology from April 1 through July 15.
Posted inFood & Drink
Drop in whale entanglements fuels optimism that Dungeness crab season can open Jan. 1
State wildlife officials are flying the California coast this week, counting humpback and blue whales to determine whether the commercial Dungeness crab season can safely open on Jan. 1 or should be delayed to protect whales.
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Commercial Dungeness crab season faces another year of delays across Santa Cruz County
The familiar sight of fresh local crab at holiday feasts could be delayed once again this year, as state officials announced the seventh year of restrictions on the upcoming commercial and recreational Dungeness crab seasons.
Posted inFood & Drink
Pop-up crab traps aim to save Central Coast’s struggling fisheries and its threatened whale population
After years of trials, whale-safe “pop-up” crab traps will be available to all commercial crabbers for the first time in spring 2026. The traps are a breakthrough for an issue that has plagued fishing communities and conservationists for a decade: how to protect whales from harm from crab fishing gear and crabbers’ livelihoods.
Posted inFood & Drink
California’s long-awaited salmon season closes early after anglers exceed quota
After a successful opening weekend exceeded the season limit, California’s salmon spot-fishing days in July and August have been canceled.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
California salmon season canceled for third year in a row, but will open for limited recreational dates
For the third year in a row, California’s commercial salmon fishing season has been canceled due to critically low fish stocks, dealing another major blow to the state’s struggling fishing industry. While commercial boats remain docked, limited recreational salmon fishing will be allowed statewide on select dates this summer and fall.