California Salmon are disappearing. The number of King Salmon (aka the Chinook) returning to the Sacramento watershed was at a near record low low and an 88% drop from the population 5 years ago. Calif. salmon population declines.
Related PostsRegulators are still trying to understand the reasons for the shrinking number of spawners; some scientists believe it could be related to changes in the ocean linked to global warming.
Some fishermen and environmentalists believe the sharp decline is related to increased water exports from the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, which supplies drinking water to millions of people in dry Southern California, as well as irrigation for America's most fertile farming region.
"It's time to reduce pumping of delta waters before we destroy the fish and wildlife species we appreciate so much in California," said Mike Sherwood, an attorney for Earthjustice.
Only about 90,000 returning adult salmon were counted in the Central Valley in 2007, the second lowest number on record, the memo said. The population was at 277,000 in 2006 and 804,000 five years ago.
...
"The magnitude of the low abundance ... is such that the opening of all marine and freshwater fisheries impacting this important salmon stock will be questioned," he said.
It's only the second time in 35 years that the Central Valley has not met the agency's conservation goal of 122,000 to 180,000 returning fish, according to the council, which regulates Pacific Coast fisheries.
More worrisome is that only about 2,000 2-year-old juvenile chinooks — used to predict returns of adult spawners in the coming season — returned to the Central Valley last year, by far the lowest number ever counted. On average, about 40,000 juveniles, or "jacks," return each year.
Salmon that spawn in Central Valley rivers form the backbone of the West Coast's commercial and recreational salmon fishery and are caught by fishermen from Southern California to British Columbia.
"Sacramento fish are really what the fishery depends on," said Chuck Tracy, the council's salmon management officer.
Not long ago, salmon restoration efforts in the Sacramento watershed were being touted as a wildlife management success story. But recent years have seen populations dwindle in many Western rivers, and scientists are trying to understand why.
- Bass Lake Bass Lake is located in: Oakhurst, CA Phone: 559-642-3212 About the Lake: Bass Lake is located at the southern entrance to Yosemite Park. This incredibly beautiful lake is a great place for fishing and boating and offers numerous features for both. For most of the year, water levels are sufficient......
- Captain Perry's Halibut Catch, Berkeley Flats Captain Perry says, "I remember that the weather was perfect that morning. We were up at the Berkeley Flats and in addition to these two beauties, we caught several good size fish and a bunch of 'shakers.' We couldn't get our bait in the water fast enough. Can't beat......
- Indian Valley Reservoir Indian Valley Reservoir Indian Valley Reservoir is located in: Ukiah, CA Phone: (707) 468-4000 About the Lake: Indian Valley Reservoir is a popular destination for boaters, hunters and fishers. The area is incredibly scenic and there is enough to do here for the whole family. Although the campgrounds......
- Kona Kampachi -- Very Delicious Yellowtail From Kona Blue Water Farms The Kona Kampachi is a sustainable farmed yellowtail with zero detectable mercury or PCBs. Last week after finding Kona Blue Water Farms I order 4 fillets. The fish arrived 2 days ago fresh, not frozen, packed on ice straight from Hawaii. The fish had been swimming in the ocean about......
- King Salmon By Local Bay Area Angler [pic] This King Salmon was caught by a well know local angler Joesph Meiswinkle Captain Perry's favorite angler of anglers. This fish was caught by Sea Turtle Sport Fishing (story below) Last season we were following a school of year old fish, feeding in the large area between Point Reyes and the......
- Salmon Run Golf Course, Brookings, OR Salmon Run Golf Course is Located in Brookings, OR Phone: (541) 469-4888 Website: http://www.salmonrun.net/ Course History: This is a truly stunning course where the designers really kept the natural beauty and terrain, making it work for the course instead of plowing everything under. This is one of the most......
