2024 Ocean Salmon Specifications and Management Measures Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is behind the different returns on different sections of the West Coast?

Each salmon and steelhead run from each river makes its living slightly differently, which helps explain why California stocks are currently struggling more than northern stocks and are returning in numbers that can support only limited fishing. Each has its own life history that uses a certain combination of freshwater habitats over the course of its early life in rivers and streams and, later, takes a different route during its typical 3-5 years in the ocean. That way each run is exposed to different conditions over the course of its life, which is one of the ways salmon spread the risk among them so even if some fish falter, others have a better chance of withstanding difficult times. 

The adult California salmon now in the ocean have already been through hard years of drought, wildfires, and degraded habitat, as well as disease as young salmon. Then they entered the ocean for three to five years, where the ancestral feeding routes that they follow take them through parts of the ocean affected by shifting temperatures that can reduce productivity, including the food they eat. California Chinook species mostly remain off the West Coast along the continental shelf, while Chinook from rivers to the north make longer, looping migrations through northern waters that have recently been more productive. 

Coho salmon, in contrast, are thought to stay closer to the coast, and steelhead often migrate into distant waters far offshore that may expose them to very different conditions. All of this combines to benefit some stocks through improved growth and survival in productive waters, while diminishing others. These conditions can shift such that runs struggling now may improve with better conditions and vice versa. For example, California has had two back-to-back good water years, which may improve survival of young salmon and spawning success of adults. 

Since we must better protect fish when there are fewer of them, their abundance affects fishing opportunities in the form of the seasons that we are now adopting into regulation.

Will fish numbers improve next year?

Salmon and steelhead generally spend 3-5 years in the ocean, so there is a delay before the varying conditions they encounter are reflected in the numbers of fish returning to West Coast Rivers. The fish returning this year are still among those that went through the toughest years of the drought in California, before the last few winters that have brought improved precipitation. As the younger year classes of fish that have benefited from those recent increases mature in the ocean, we should begin to see improved returns to rivers in 2026 and 2027. The current returns reflecting the poorer conditions have been some of the lowest counts of all time for Klamath and Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon, which have long formed the backbone of the West Coast commercial salmon fishery.  These California stocks are mixed in with other salmon stocks travelling the same routes and fisheries are managed to protect the weakest run of salmon, foregoing harvest on stronger runs. 

The constraints on fisheries in recent years to protect these stocks have significantly impacted the fishermen and their communities in both Oregon and California. The ongoing removal of large dams on the Klamath River promises to free up more than 300 miles of the river to provide favorable habitat for the fish, including juvenile fish headed for the ocean. As the river reconnects with its habitat, the habitat will improve and will help the juvenile fish enter the ocean in better condition to survive and ultimately return to rivers to spawn the next generation. As the fish runs increase, so will the fishing opportunity.

Who decided to close the salmon fishery in California?

The Pacific Fishery Management Council takes the first steps to decide on salmon seasons each year. The Council is a diverse panel that includes representatives from states, federal agencies, the fishing industry, and others.

The Council gets input from scientists and managers on the state of salmon populations and takes input from fishermen and the public on its proposals for seasons. Then the Council recommends the final shape of the salmon seasons to NOAA Fisheries, which then evaluates the Council’s recommendation and adopts regulations, putting them into effect. While NOAA Fisheries issues the final decisions, those decisions are based on the Council’s recommendation.

Will there be federal fishery disaster funding for affected fishing crews?

Gov. Gavin Newsom requested federal relief for affected fishermen following closure of California seasons in 2023, receiving about $20.6 million in federal disaster aid through NOAA. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently developing plans for allocating that funding. The Department has also stated that it is developing an additional request for federal disaster relief for those affected by the closed fisheries this year. The state has also developed a conservation plan outlining strategies for rebuilding salmon and steelhead in an age of climate change, with conditions expected to grow hotter and drier for California stocks that are already near the southernmost edge of their range. We all benefit from investments in the kind of habitat improvements that improve the resilience of salmon and steelhead populations to climate change. 

While disaster relief provides important benefits during difficult times for the fishing fleet, it is only a stopgap option. Funding for improving habitat and other conservation measures can pay off for fish and all of us who care about and depend on them over a much longer period.

Has NOAA received a fishery disaster request for the 2024 season? If so, when does the Secretary anticipate making a declaration?

NOAA received a fishery disaster request letter from acting California Governor Kounalakis on April 11, 2024. An initial review of the letter concluded that additional information is needed from the state of California before NOAA can evaluate this request. Once this additional information is received, NOAA has 120 days to analyze the information and make a decision on whether the request qualifies as a fishery disaster.

What are you doing to help the salmon?

While we cannot do much to change the character of the ocean, we can take care of and manage rivers and streams in ways that benefit salmon survival while also providing for needs such as irrigation for agriculture. States, tribes, and many local organizations across the West Coast are working to restore crucial salmon habitat where juvenile salmon can gain strength before going to the ocean, improving their odds of survival when they get there. In that way we can help more fish survive the ocean by what we provide for them before we get there. NOAA Fisheries is completing its latest series of 5-year reviews of the status of each of the 28 species of listed salmon and steelhead on the West Coast, which show mixed success in restoring the species. 

While there are some bright spots where salmon are benefiting from new access to historic or restored habitat, the condition of many populations continues to deteriorate. Fortunately, the recent Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have provided millions of dollars of new funding for protecting and restoring salmon habitat, and opening more of that habitat to salmon through the removal of barriers including dams. This funding will provide new opportunities for NOAA Fisheries, states, tribes, and many partners to undertake larger and more ambitious projects that can benefit salmon and steelhead many times over.