So Few Salmon?
By John Driscoll, Eureka Times-Standard
February 17, 2006

This year's salmon fishing season seems certain to be somber, as estimates of Klamath River fish runs paint a picture that may be darker than any in 15 years.

What that may mean for tribal, commercial and recreational fishermen on the North Coast will begin to be hashed out next week, but very limited or no fishing is a possibility. Only 111,000 Klamath fish are projected to be swimming in the Pacific Ocean -- 74,000 fewer than last year and only 16,000 more than were estimated for 1992, the lowest on record.

”This year's abundance looks very low,” said California Department of Fish and Game biologist Neil Manji.

The report by the Pacific Fishery Management Council released Thursday reads that even with no fishing, the number of wild chinook salmon anticipated to spawn in the river would be 29,200. That's far fewer than the 35,000 benchmark fishery managers must meet through regulation.

If last year's regulations were applied, the report reads, only 18,700 wild fish would make it to spawn a new generation.

In 2004, commercial fishermen caught four times as many Klamath fish as expected. Last year ocean anglers got to keep two fish per day, but had a much-shortened season. River fishermen had low quotas and the Yurok and Hoopa Valley tribes -- which are allotted half the available fish -- brought in less than their subsistence needs.

”It's going to be real devastating to tribal members,” said Dave Hillemeier, biologist for the Yurok Tribe.

Hillemeier said the report highlights the urgency of dealing with habitat problems that are leading to depleted populations on the river.

The Klamath stocks are the most guarded on the West Coast, influencing fishing to the north and south. Regulations are crafted to avoid taking too many Klamath fish, even if there are abundant fish in the ocean from other rivers like the Sacramento and Rogue.

In both 2004 and 2005, the 35,000 wild chinook threshold was not met.

That might prompt an overfishing review by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. More immediately, it could cut into the number of days anglers can fish and the number of fish they can catch per day and per week this summer and fall.

Eureka commercial salmon fisherman Dave Bitts said he is extremely concerned.

”I think it's almost certain that we're not going to have a good salmon season as far as opportunity goes,” Bitts said.

The Klamath River has its share of problems. Dams block salmon from reaching spawning grounds in the upper river, water diversions can draw down the river, crowding fish into warm, shallow water in dry years, and fish diseases appear to have become more rampant. Last year, ocean conditions for young fish that made it to sea were poor, without the strong ocean upwelling generated by spring winds jump-starting the food chain.

But the runs are also cyclical. After the exceptionally poor runs of 1990-1992, the number of Klamath salmon began to grow, and 1995 was a boom year -- at least in terms of recent history.

The Klamath Fishery Management Council will meet at the Red Lion Inn in Eureka on Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Wednesday's meeting will deal with the 2005 and 2006 fishing seasons. The council will advise the Pacific Fishery Management Council on ocean fishing and Fish and Game on river fishing regulations.

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