California Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested a federal disaster declaration after federal fishery managers decided to cancel the 2024 salmon fishing season off the California coast for the second year in a row. The closure is expected to result in a loss exceeding $47 million for the state.
The request, made on behalf of the governor by Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, aims to provide financial aid to affected communities and protect salmon populations while supporting the local fishing industry. The Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously voted to ban all commercial and recreational fishing of chinook salmon due to steep population declines, marking the fourth such closure in state history.
The closure is expected to have severe and long-lasting impacts on tribal and coastal communities, as well as businesses that rely on salmon fishing. The factors contributing to the decline in fish populations include severe wildfires affecting habitats, harmful algal blooms, and shifts in ocean forage. The closure will also affect industries such as fishermen, boat operators, and restaurant owners, who are already facing economic challenges.
Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature have invested over $800 million in state funds to protect and restore salmon populations over the past three years. The state has launched habitat restoration projects to revive salmon populations and plans to remove dams from the Klamath River to restore river habitat for native fish species. The recent loss of young Chinook salmon in the Klamath River due to sudden pressure changes highlights the ongoing challenges facing salmon populations in California.
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