Judge Rejects Challenges On Ruling Halting Southeast Alaska Salmon Troll Fishing; Parties’ Appeals Now Move To Ninth Circuit
June 8th, 2023
All parties, both plaintiffs and defendants, along with the State of Alaska, have unsuccessfully challenged the results of a recent lower federal court decision that vacated a part of NOAA Fisheries’ 2019 biological opinion governing Southeast Alaska’s summer and winter commercial troll fishing for Chinook salmon. The litigation now moves to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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With ESA Impact Exceeded, Harvest Managers Forced To Shut Down Columbia River Salmon, Steelhead Fishing
June 1st, 2023
After catch data analysis showed allowable harvest impacts to wild spring chinook have been exceeded, Oregon and Washington fisheries managers on extremely short notice shut down salmon and steelhead fishing on the Columbia River.
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Columbia River Harvest Managers Approve Spring Chinook Fishing Days Though Run Abundance Remains Uncertain
May 19th, 2023
With a flurry of spring Chinook passing Bonneville Dam daily the past two weeks, Oregon and Washington decided to reopen spring Chinook angling from Buoy 10 in the lower Columbia River to the Oregon/Washington border.
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First-Ever A.I. Algorithm Correctly Estimates Coastal Fish Stocks; Could Save Millions, Bridge Global Data, Sustainability Divide
May 18th, 2023
For the first time, a newly published artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is allowing researchers to quickly and accurately estimate coastal fish stocks without ever entering the water. This breakthrough could save millions of dollars in annual research and monitoring costs while bringing data access to least-developed countries about the sustainability of their fish stocks.
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Federal Judge’s Rejection Of NOAA BiOp May Shut Down SE Alaska Commercial Troll Fishery For Chinook Salmon; Alaska Seeks Stay, Appeal
May 5th, 2023
A federal court this week rejected a NOAA Fisheries’ biological opinion allowing the Southeast Alaska commercial troll fishery to harvest Chinook salmon, effectively shutting down that summer and winter fishery. The ruling will be challenged by the State of Alaska, including a request for a stay so the fishery can go ahead this summer.
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Columbia River Basin Upriver Summer Steelhead Return Forecasted To Be Far Below Past Years; Angling Restrictions, Closures Likely
April 27th, 2023
The number of upriver summer steelhead forecasted to return to the Columbia River basin has been declining, year after year. This year’s return of the fish is anticipated to be the lowest count of both hatchery and wild steelhead since the construction of Bonneville Dam -- at only 42 percent of the 10-year average.
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Study Documents Wide-Ranging Declines Of North American Wild Chinook; Reforms Should Include Fisheries Management Of Mixed-Stock Ocean Fisheries
April 20th, 2023
A new study offers a comprehensive look at the state of North American wild Chinook salmon. Researchers say findings hold new insights for fisheries managers looking to address wide-ranging declines among Chinook stocks.
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Alaska Predicts A Larger Commercial Salmon Harvest Over Last Year; 52.7 Million More Pink Salmon, 27.3 Million Fewer Sockeye
April 14th, 2023
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is expecting a 2023 commercial salmon harvest of 189 million fish. That’s 26 million more harvested salmon than last year.
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With Few Spring Chinook And Low Catch Rates In Lower Columbia, States Extend Fishing Days
April 7th, 2023
Oregon and Washington this week extended spring Chinook salmon fishing in the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam by four days, two days more than was recommended by the two-state Columbia River Compact staff.