Salmon fishing on the North Coast is part of our cultural and economic identity, and each time we lose a commercial or sport season, it pinches an already emaciated economy and continues the degradation of our quality of life.
For these reasons, and others, we implore the Pacific Fisheries Management Council to allow the shortened 10-day recreational fishing season currently under consideration for the Eureka and Crescent City areas.
On the table are three options for how to proceed with this year's salmon season. Only one of those options has any kind of sport season at all, and the suggested season would last all of 10 days. It would allow fishing off the far north of the state, under the assumption that fishing in such a locale would limit the season's impact on the troubled Sacramento River salmon fishery.
Instead, fish caught in that region, at that time, would most likely come from the Klamath River, whose fall run is expected this year to be robust. Given that our stocks are strong this year, we encourage regulators to allow us a short but sweet recreational season, and avoid the complete annihilation of the industry for the second year in a row. Last year's closure was by all accounts a disaster for the economy, and for the men and women who ply the trade.
As members of the industry pointed out to regulators at the recent public hearing, season cancellation has broader impacts than one simple season being closed.
When the season is canceled, clients cancel too, and often don't come back. Many agree that even a short season would help keep the region alive in the minds of its longtime customers.
It will also help keep salmon alive in the minds of our residents, many of whom live and work here precisely because they love to fish.