Salmon Shortage Called "Disaster"; Ban on Fishing May Follow 

Written by Deborah Hoffman, Reporter  

March 4, 2008 

The Pacific Fishery Management Council has released a report indicating that the Sacramento Fall Chinook salmon population will fall to an all-time low in 2008 and that a full closure of commercial and recreational salmon fishing may be necessary.

"This is very bad news for West Coast salmon fisheries," said Pacific Council Chairman Don Hansen. "The word disaster comes immediately to mind."

The population dropped more than 88 percent from its all-time high five years ago. Regulators are still trying to understand the reasons for the sharp decline. Some scientists believe unusual changes in weather patters caused the bottom to fall out of the ocean food web in 2005.

The Council will meet in Sacramento March 9-14 to develop a range of fishery management options. "I won't be surprised to see the council look at the 'totally closed' option as one option," said Council Vice-Chairman Dave Ortmann. "That is, closed to both sport and commercial fisheries."

Along the American River near the Nimbus Dam anglers were concerned about a possible fishing ban. "I think it's ridiculous, completely ridiculous," said Simon Wharton of Citrus Heights . "My theory is basically there's not enough water coming down the river pushing the nutrients down the river which tell the fish in the ocean it's time to come."

Wharton would like to see more water released from area reservoirs. "I would like to see waterways managed a little better," he said.

Dean Beisel of Rocklin agrees. "It's a water issue. They need more water," said Beisel. "The fish out there can definitely tell when the rivers are right. If they don't have enough water and it's not the right temperature they're not going to come up."

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will come up with several proposals during their meeting next week in Sacramento and then set the final seasons when it meets in Seattle in April. 

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