April 19, 2016 — The Pacific Fishery Management Council finalized their recommendation for ocean salmon seasons on Thursday, April 14. Draft copies of the adopted seasons can be viewed here. Seasons are not official until being signed by the Secretary of Commerce and adopted by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for waters from 0-3 nautical miles.
The adopted regulations reflect the very challenging issues with poor forecasts for numerous ocean salmon populations. These salmon have variously been affected by several years of extreme drought conditions in California, and followed last year by poor ocean conditions resulting from the recent El Nino event along the Pacific Coast.
The commercial troll salmon seasons North of Cape Falcon will have no coho salmon quota this year, and Chinook quotas, season length, and open periods and open period limits. From Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. the Chinook seasons will have a number of closures throughout the season, reduced weekly landing limits during the fall period, and limited to fishing only in nearshore waters during October. While the area from Humbug Mt. to the OR/CA border will have reduced June and July quotas from recent years, no fishing allowed in August and September, reduced landing limits, and several additional closed periods in June and July.