Commission Accepts Listing Petition; Requires Closure Of Some Recreational Fishing In Klamath Basin
Upper Klamath River [Photo from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife]
At its February 2019 meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) took action on a number of issues affecting California’s natural resources.
The Commission accepted a petition to list Upper Klamath-Trinity River Spring Chinook Salmon as endangered, setting into motion a status review to be completed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
The petitioners, the Karuk Tribe and Salmon River Restoration Council, submitted information suggesting declining population trends and a low abundance, making this stock of salmon vulnerable to extinction. The Commission action results in Spring Chinook Salmon being designated as a Candidate Species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), which provides Candidate Species the same protections as species listed as endangered and threatened under CESA.
CDFW also requested the Commission adopt emergency fishing regulations necessary to reconcile them with the CESA protections. CDFW will also be in consultation with federal regulatory bodies concerning ocean fishing regulations.
Acceptance of the petition triggers a one-year status review by CDFW to determine if a CESA listing by the Commission may be warranted. CDFW, after review of the best scientific information available, will make a recommendation to the Commission on whether to list Spring Chinook Salmon as either endangered or threatened, or that listing is not warranted at this time.
The following inland salmon fishing closures were approved by the Commission through the emergency regulations:
- Klamath River main stem from the mouth of the river to Iron Gate dam. Closed to salmon fishing from the anticipated effective date of February 22 (subject to approval from the Office of Administrative Law (OAL)) to August 14.
- Trinity River main stem from its confluence to the Highway 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat. Closed to salmon fishing from the anticipated effective date of February 22 (subject to OAL approval) to August 31.
- Trinity River main stem from upstream of the Highway 299 Bridge at Cedar Flat to Old Lewiston Bridge. Closed to salmon fishing from the anticipated effective date of February 22 (subject to OAL approval) to October 15.
Fishing for Upper Klamath-Trinity River Fall Chinook Salmon will be allowed in these areas after the closure dates listed above. Quotas and bag and possession limits for Fall Chinook Salmon will be adopted by the Commission in May of this year. Steelhead fishing will be allowed year-round with normal bag and possession limits.
Along with its adoption of the emergency regulations, the Commission also directed CDFW to work with stakeholders, including affected counties, fishing organizations, Tribes and conservation groups, to investigate options to allow some Spring Chinook Salmon fishing in 2019. Under Section of 2084 of Fish and Game Code, the Commission can consider hook-and-line recreational fishing on a Candidate Species. CDFW will present the results of that stakeholder collaboration and potential options using Section 2084 at the Commission’s next public meeting, which will be held April 17 in Santa Monica.
The public may keep track of the quota status of open and closed sections of the Klamath and Trinity rivers by calling the information hotline at (800) 564-6479.
Additional information can be found in the “2018-2019 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations” and the “2018-2019 California Supplement Sport Fishing Regulations.”
The Commission also voted to re-elect Commissioner Eric Sklar as president and Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin as vice president. In addition to Sklar and Hostler-Carmesin, Commissioners Russell Burns and Peter Silva were present. One seat is vacant.
The full Commission agenda, supporting information and a schedule of upcoming meetings are available at www.fgc.ca.gov. An archived video will also be available in coming days.
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Very few fish this year, stark contrast. 10-15 years ago you could just about cross the river on their backs, now you don’t see any at all
~true, true.
Sad, sad.
Yes, on the backs of all of the salmon caught in gill nets that spanned the width of the Klamath.
What river? The Klamath was stuffed this year
🕯The closer of the river,is that the salmon breeding time? Just asking? I’m not a fisherman.
The closing of the different areas appear to affect everyone except the Karuk, who would be allowed to fish upstream on the Klamath after August 14, where fish would be. This petition appears to penalise the Yurok, Hoopa, and sport fisherman, not to mention all the businesses that benefit from the fishermen. If we want to get serious about saving the fish, all fishing should be closed for four years; sport, commercial, ocean, river, native, non-native. But its political, and we stand divided.
🕯Thank you for that input John.
I agree John.
Apparently you’re not familiar with the life cycle of the springer. They enter the Klamath earlier than fall run fish by many months (April-June) and reach headwaters to hold in cold water (Salmon River for example) until spawning in early fall.
Any salmon in the mainstem Klamath after August 14 are fall run fish not subject to the listing.
I suggest reading some more, the petition and earlier petition efforts, for example.
Knocking the Karuk Tribe is counterproductive and calls you out as an occupier racist. The Karuk have done so much to restore the Klamath, and will continue to do so. Good for them.
Calling someone an “occupier racist” based on saying one tribe seems to be getting a pass while others are penalized is wrong. That is not “knocking the Karuk Tribe.” You are dumping your own baggage where it doesn’t belong. If you think someone is wrong, it is enough to point it out.
You missed the main point of his statement. The Karuk harvest fall run chinook long after the springers are in the system. The use of hand held dip nets are the only acceptable method by the way.
Wow, it seems serious. It’s almost like they should open up some hatcheries. (Insert eye rolling emoji)
Why doesn’t everybody take a 10 year break from fishing on the river. And instead of raiding herb growers Fish and Game could buy some boats and patrol the ocean to keep the foreign boats from landing all the fish.
I know theres a lot of factors in the salmon’s decline besides fishing but the fish could really use a break. And I know people depend on the salmon for food but they arnt really a reliable resource anymore or a big source of calories. Time to find a new food source and recreational activity in my opinion.
Are “herb growers” damage free? NIMBY.
Plenty of fish in mid Klamath according to local fishing guides.
What’s really going on?