CDFW to Host Virtual Public Meeting on California Salmon Fisheries

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites the public to attend its annual Salmon Information Meeting (SIM) via webinar on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. Meeting details, informational materials, and instructions for attendance will be published in advance of the event on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon webpage.

The 2025 SIM will provide informational presentations on topics including last year’s spawning escapement, estimates of forecasted ocean abundance, and management objectives for 2025 ocean salmon seasons. The SIM also marks the beginning of a two month long public process used to develop annual sport and commercial ocean salmon fishing regulations, and also informs the development of inland salmon fishing regulations later in the spring. The annual pre-season process involves collaborative negotiations between west coast states, federal agencies, tribal co-managers, sport and commercial salmon industry representatives, and other stakeholders interested in salmon fishery management and conservation.

California representatives will work together to develop a range of recommended ocean fishing season alternatives at the March 5-11, Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Vancouver, Washington. Final season recommendations will be adopted at the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s April 9-15, meeting in San Jose, California. The range of inland salmon fishing regulation options will be discussed at the Fish and Game Commission meetings on Feb. 12-13, and April 16-17, in Sacramento, California with final inland season recommendations and adoption scheduled for the May 14, Teleconference meeting.

Please see the Ocean Salmon webpage and the Fish and Game Commission meetings webpage for a complete calendar of events and contact information regarding the salmon preseason process, including other opportunities for public engagement.

SOURCE: CDFW NEWS