Salmon Fishing Closed on West Coast of U.S.

by Jarrett Martineau | May 2, 2008 at 05:50 pm | 243 views | add comment

Although the Alaskan and B.C. salmon stocks are faring slightly better than those further south, consumers in the United States and Canada should expect to be paying a lot more for salmon.

So, if salmon is no longer a sustainable choice, what are your other options?

For Vancouver residents, the Ocean Wise program offers an excellent resource to help make consumers more environmentally friendly and sustainable seafood choices.

And for California residents of Monterey Bay, the city's Seafood WATCH program offers a similar consumer guide.

The U.S. government on Thursday closed almost all of the ocean off the West Coast to salmon fishing, clearing the way for governors of states hard hit by years of declining catches to seek federal relief aid for losses estimated at $290 million.
West Coast salmon populations have declined sharply in the last few years, with experts citing a variety of reasons including climate change and hungry sea lions.

"Today NOAA's Fisheries Service will close most of the West Coast salmon fisheries based on the recommendations of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council," James Balsiger, acting assistant administrator of fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, citing "low returns of fall Chinook salmon to the Sacramento River system."

Balsiger said NOAA has not pinpointed the cause of the "sudden" collapse of the Sacramento River run, but "NOAA scientists are suggesting changes in the ocean conditions."

NOAA estimates fewer than 60,000 salmon will make it back to the Sacramento River this year -- about one-third the number needed to sustain a healthy fish population.