State panel to vote on drastic California salmon fishing cutback

By Matt Weiser
April 12, 2008

Central Valley residents next week may lose the opportunity, for the first time in history, to catch a mighty king salmon in their local rivers.

The state Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday on drastic cutbacks in recreational fishing for fall-run king salmon, also known as chinook, in response to a steep decline in the species last year. It is also likely to close recreational fishing on the ocean.

A record-low spawning run of 58,200 fish is expected this year in the Sacramento River and its tributaries, down from more than 775,000 fish in 2002.

The closures could send hundreds of fishing guides and charter boat captains scrambling to find other work. It may also mean many of California 's 1.2 million licensed anglers won't bring home any fresh-caught salmon this year.

"If they close the rivers, I can't tell you how bad it will hurt," said Dave Jacobs, a Redding guide who offers salmon fishing trips on the Sacramento River . "I just hope I can survive. I would really hate to throw away my whole dream and my livelihood for my family."

On Thursday, the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to close all commercial and recreational salmon fishing in federal waters off California . The state commission is likely to follow with closures in near-shore waters and Central Valley rivers, including the Sacramento , the American and the Feather. Catch-and-release fishing may still be allowed in the rivers.

"It's going to affect us dearly," said Terry Horst of Sacramento , a recreational angler who catches about 15 salmon a year in area rivers. "I just bought a boat a couple years ago and one of the main reasons I bought it is to go salmon fishing. I enjoy eating them as well as catching them."

Much of the attention has focused on commercial fishing. But recreational salmon fishing is actually a bigger economic engine.

The Department of Fish and Game estimated this week the closures may cost California $255 million this year and 2,263 jobs. Nearly two-thirds of that impact, or about $187 million, will be felt in the recreational fishery.

"We won't sell any salmon lures, so we're giving up that part of the store to make room for other stuff," said Alan Fong, manager of Fisherman's Warehouse in Sacramento . The store, billed as Northern California 's largest tackle shop, gets at least 25 percent of its business from salmon fishermen.

"People don't realize it, but it screws up the whole fishing industry when you cut the salmon off," Fong said. "It's a chain reaction."

That's because guides must still make their boat and mortgage payments, and they still have to put food on the table. Many will offer customers other fish to catch, such as tuna and rock cod in the ocean, and striped bass and sturgeon in the rivers.

Many coastal fishermen have also begun to offer whale-watching excursions, which will probably increase as well.

"I got everything I own in this business, so I gotta do whatever I can to survive," said Pete Bruno, owner of Randy's Fishing Trips in Monterey . He has canceled at least a dozen salmon charters this month and will soon call regular customers to cancel trips planned this summer.

Because many guides will adopt a similar strategy, the competition for customers could increase as well as the pressure on other fish species.

"I don't think they'll come as often as they did for salmon fishing, because that's the glory fish," said Roger Thomas, a charter boat captain based in Sausalito and president of the Golden Gate Fisherman's Association. "It's going to hurt the tackle businesses, the bait sales businesses. It'll hurt the fuel docks, the restaurants and motels. The ripple effects are huge."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday declared a state of emergency because of the salmon closures and wrote to President Bush in hopes of expediting federal assistance.

The governor also directed the state Department of Finance to make $2.7 million available to refund 2008 commercial salmon fishing permits, and called on state agencies to tap into all forms of assistance for the industry, whether state or federal.

Many in the fishing business reluctantly admit they'll probably need this kind of aid to survive.

"We're going to the government crying," said Bruno. "The whole thing is just sour."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

Source:  http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/856334.html