As the Central Valley Chinook is facing dire conditions the officials have decided to shut down the fishing of salmon in order to protect salmon that remain alive in the ocean. The action was taken after detail discussion between fisheries managers gathered in Sacramento for a series of meetings by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. According to them the early closures are needed because the council won’t make a final ruling on the 2008 salmon season until mid-April, and seasons that normally open before then could jeopardize the species.
It is found that the California Central Valley fall chinook salmon, a normally robust run that underpins the fishery in both states, is in steep decline. Peter Dygert, National Marine Fisheries Service biologist, said the action of shut down both commercial and recreational seasons early is rare and it is always been done to preserve some options for future fisheries.
The officials confirmed that the seven zones include two Oregon commercial areas that were set to open Saturday and a California zone near Fort Bragg that would have opened April 7. While the rest of the commercial season usually begins May 1. Joe Janisch of Fort Bragg, president of the nonprofit Salmon Restoration Association, opined that the closures will hurt his community because there is probably 200 boats in this harbor that go out on the weekend to chase salmon that won’t be going.
