Salmon Management Discussed

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) met March 4-11 to develop three alternatives for summer and fall salmon seasons along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. PFMC is hosting a virtual public meeting March 25 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. to get input on the proposed salmon management alternatives. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will attend and be available to answer questions. PFMC’s alternatives are available online. Final salmon season recommendations will be determined at the next PFMC meeting April 10-15 in San Jose, CA. The final PFMC adopted fishing season recommendations will be sent to the U.S. Department of Commerce for approval by May 15.

PFMC’s Salmon Advisory Subpanel with support from the Salmon Technical Team considered and analyzed numerous fishing scenarios for summer and fall 2025 ocean salmon seasons, including off the Oregon Coast. The spring recreational fishing season (prior to May 16) was developed last year and begins on March 15 from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. Faced with low forecasts for depressed Sacramento and Klamath River fall Chinook salmon, commercial and recreational fisheries in both Oregon and California will be negatively impacted again.

ODFW’s Deputy Fish Division Administrator for Marine and Columbia River programs, John North, said that minimizing impacts on those California salmon stocks is key to marine fisheries planning. “Seasons will need to be shaped to minimize harvest of depressed stocks while trying to access healthier coho and Chinook stocks destined to Oregon rivers,” North said. The PFMC’s three alternatives for Oregon summer and fall salmon seasons vary by number of open fishing days and area and would allow moderate coho opportunity beginning in June and extending into September. Chinook fishing opportunities south of Cape Falcon to the Oregon/California border will be constrained in the spring and summer due to the low forecasts for Klamath and Sacramento Chinook stocks. 

By September, most of these Chinook salmon have migrated closer to their native streams and may allow for modest Chinook opportunities along the Oregon coast. A different mix of salmon stocks are present north of Cape Falcon, so season alternatives are different there. Current options include recreational Chinook and coho fishing opportunities beginning late June and extending into September. Anglers are also encouraged to comment during the April PFMC meeting.  Going through the PFMC e-portal is the best way to comment.