CDFW Develops 2023 Salmon Disaster Spend Plan
Apr 11, 2024 03:49PM ● By Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmens Association News ReleaseCALIFORNIA REGION (MPG) - On April 6, 2023, the
Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) acted unanimously to recommend a full closure of California’s
2023 commercial and recreational
ocean salmon seasons due to extremely low
population estimates for Sacramento and
Klamath river fall Chinook salmon. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce approved this request
on Oct. 30, 2023, which began the process
of providing federal assistance to communities and businesses impacted by the disaster. On Feb. 15, 2024, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) was notified that $20,625,729
had been allocated by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to respond to the disaster.
Following the announcement of fund
allocation, and with support and input from industry representatives, CDFW developed
the draft 2023 Salmon Disaster Spend Plan to distribute these disaster funds.
CDFW invites the public to submit comments on the
draft 2023 Salmon Disaster Spend Plan. CDFW is asking for
input on the proposed allocations of
relief funding to fishing sectors, qualifying criteria, individual payouts and other components of the plan.
Following the comment period, CDFW will finalize the plan for submission to the Department of Commerce. Comments may be provided via
email through 5 p.m., April 19, 2024, at [email protected].
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, the PFMC will consider the alternatives for the 2024 salmon seasons
at its meeting April 5-11 in Seattle.
This meeting is open to the public. Although returns of Sacramento River fall Chinook salmon are
higher than last year, they are still
well below historic averages.
More information about federal fishery disaster relief and ocean salmon fishing seasons is
available on the CDFW website. More information
about the PFMC and the public meeting on
April 5-11 in Seattle is available on the
PFMC website.