The Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted recommendations for ocean salmon fishing along the Pacific west coast in 2025. The seasons provide recreational and commercial opportunities in northern areas of the coast but include significant reductions and commercial fishery closures in southern portions of the coast to achieve conservation goals for both Chinook and coho salmon stocks. The recommendations will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for approval by May 16, 2025. Forecasts for West Coast Chinook and coho stocks are mixed in 2025, with some low and high points when compared to last year. Federal requirements to conserve Fraser River (Canada) coho, Washington coastal coho, lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook, Puget Sound Chinook, Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook will be the main constraints for this year’s ocean salmon fisheries. #placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');“The Council remains firmly committed to meeting our conservation and management goals,” said Council Chair Brad Pettinger. “2025 presented numerous challenges and the Council put a lot of effort into exploring possible options and developing meaningful fishing opportunities this year.” Washington and Northern Oregon (north of Cape Falcon, Oregon) Fisheries north of Cape Falcon, Oregon are limited mainly by the need to constrain catch of Fraser River (Canada) coho, Washington coastal coho, lower Columbia River natural coho, lower Columbia River natural tule Chinook, and Puget Sound Chinook. In encouraging news, Queets River spring/summer Chinook, which was declared overfished in 2023, now meets the criteria of “not overfished-rebuilding” and no stocks are currently experiencing overfishing. Tribal ocean fisheries north of Cape Falcon, Oregon The Council addresses the federally recognized fishing rights of coastal tribes as part of its annual process to adopt ocean salmon recommendations for tribal ocean fisheries north of Cape Falcon, Oregon. The Council adopted the quotas as proposed by the tribes. The tribal ocean fishery structure has a spring season focused on Chinook and a summer fishery focused on both Chinook and coho. The quotas are 45,000 Commercial ocean season The non-tribal ocean commercial fishery north of Cape Falcon, Oregon includes seasons in the spring (May-June) for Chinook and in the summer (July-September) for Chinook and coho. The Chinook quota is 61,250 (compared to 41,000 last year) and the coho quota is 8,280 marked coho (compared to 15,200 last year). Sport ocean season The ocean sport fishery north of Cape Falcon, Oregon opens in mid-June and continues through September, unless salmon quotas are met earlier. The Chinook quota is 53,750 (compared to 41,000 last year) and the coho quota is 99,720 marked coho, (compared to 79,800 last year). Oregon (south of Cape Falcon, Oregon) and California Ocean salmon fisheries south of Cape Falcon, Oregon are again limited mainly by the low abundance forecasts for both Klamath River and Sacramento River fall Chinook. Forecasts for both stocks remain low, and this year’s ocean salmon seasons will have significantly reduced opportunity compared to historical seasons, including a third consecutive year with a closed commercial season off of California. Coho forecasts are mostly greater in 2025 than in 2024, as the Oregon Production Index hatchery stock and the Oregon Coast natural stock have a higher forecast than last year, but the Columbia River natural stock is slightly lower than 2024. Commercial ocean season Oregon ocean commercial salmon fisheries from Cape Falcon, Oregon to the Heceta Bank management line will be open in the latter parts of June and July for all salmon except coho. From Cape Falcon, Oregon to Humbug Mountain, the fishery will continue through May, and again from September through the end of October, with a coho fishery opener during the month of September lasting until the end of the month or the 7,500 coho quota is taken. Starting mid-May, the Oregon commercial salmon fisheries south of Humbug Mountain and all California ocean commercial salmon fisheries in areas from the Oregon/California border to the U.S./Mexico border are closed. Sport ocean season For the ocean salmon sport fishery from Cape Falcon, Oregon to the Oregon/California border, the mark-selective coho fishery runs from early June through late August or until a 44,000 marked coho quota is reached. A coho fishery follows in September in the area from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain with a quota of 30,000 coho. Chinook retention is allowed from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain through mid-July and during September and October; however, from June 7 onward, when Chinook retention is allowed, anglers may keep only one Chinook as part of the two salmon per day bag limit. For the month of October, the daily bag limit is reduced to one salmon and the open area will be limited to shoreward from the 40-fathom management line. From Humbug Mountain to the Oregon/California border, the Chinook retention period is open mid-May through early June and reopens the very end of June through mid-July. During both periods, the daily bag limit is two salmon, though only one may be a Chinook in the latter opener. There will be limited recreational ocean salmon fishing opportunities in all areas off California to the U.S./Mexico border. There will be a two-day opener in early June, another two-day opener in July, a four-day opener in late July through early August, and a seven-day opener in late August. All of these openings are dependent on the remaining availability of the statewide harvest guideline of 7,000 Chinook salmon. Additional limited fishing opportunities will be available in September from Pigeon Point to Point Sur and in September and October from Point Reyes to Pigeon Point, with a separate harvest guideline of 7,500 Chinook for those areas. This will be the first year recreational salmon fishing has been open off California since 2022. Management Objectives for Southern Resident Killer Whales The Council worked collaboratively with NMFS to understand the effects of Council-area fisheries on Southern Resident killer whales, which are listed as endangered. Based in part on information provided by the Council’s ad-hoc Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup, the Council amended the Pacific Salmon Fishery Management Plan to address the needs of the whales while providing salmon harvest opportunities. As part of the amendment, the Council adopted a Chinook abundance threshold for the north of Falcon area, below which additional action (management measures) would be required when considering ocean salmon seasons. The threshold value is 623,000 Chinook. The Chinook abundance is projected to be well above this threshold in 2025. Management Process “This year’s West Coast Ocean salmon fisheries were developed through close collaboration among the Council, its advisors, fishery stakeholders, and the public,” said Merrick Burden, Executive Director of the Council. “The adopted seasons reflect the valuable input we received from fishing communities—balancing their needs and priorities with the critical goal of giving struggling salmon populations a chance to recover.” The Council developed three management alternatives in early March for public review and further analysis. The review process included input from Tribal, Federal, and state fishery scientists and fishing industry members; public testimony; and three public hearings hosted by the Council. At its April meeting (April 11-15), the Council consulted with scientists, heard public comments, revised preliminary alternatives as necessary, and chose a final alternative. The decision must be approved by NMFS. Coastal states will adopt fishery regulations for state-managed waters that are compatible with the Council’s actions. Council Role The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 for the purpose of managing fisheries 3-200 miles offshore of the U.S. coastline. The Pacific Council recommends management measures for fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. On the Web • Pacific Fishery Management Council (www.pcouncil.org) • 2025 seasons adopted by the Council are on the ‘Annual season management process’ page on the Council’s website. • Final analyses of the biological and socioeconomic impacts will be posted on the Council web page on or about April 22 (look for 2025 Preseason Report III on this page) • Fact sheet: Salmon • Fact sheet: Geography of Salmon • Fact sheet: Common Terms Used in Salmon Management googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });