Recreational Fisheries March 2023 Newsletter

Attention West Coast anglers, we need your help! Understanding how saltwater recreational fishing contributes to the U.S. economy assists us in developing informed decisions on recreational fishing issues. We are in the last month of a survey aimed at estimating the amount of money spent by anglers on saltwater fishing trips and fishing-related equipment. Randomly chosen license holders should have received a survey via email or through the mail. If you received this survey, please respond and tell us about your marine fishing related expenses during the past 12 months. It is voluntary & confidential. Learn more about the survey here

NOAA Fisheries has taken inseason action in the Pre-May 16, 2023, recreational and commercial salmon fisheries south of Cape Falcon, which includes coasts of California and southern Oregon. Forecasts of fall Chinook returns, especially to the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers were so low that NOAA Fisheries has halted salmon fishing for the last two months of the salmon season that ends this May. Find the inseason actions.

State fish and wildlife managers are now sharing the available alternatives for the remainder of the year’s salmon season with the public and the fishing community for public comment.

In a new analysis, researchers and collaborators confirmed that nearly all of the evaluated stocks managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council are vulnerable to climate change. Out of the 64 species in the analysis, 67 percent were at least moderately vulnerable to climate change. What makes species most vulnerable to climate change in the California Current? Scientists say it’s species with complex life histories, long life spans, or high commercial value. Read more

Ecological relationships across the Pacific Coast that once guided annual expectations such as salmon returns are evolving as climate change disrupts long-standing connections. NOAA Fisheries researchers report these findings in their latest annual Ecosystem Status Report for the California Current Ecosystem. Learn more

NOAA Fisheries West Coast is now on Instagram! The account is a collaboration between the West Coast Region, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and Southwest Fisheries Science Center as we work together to apply the latest science to sustainably manage the rich marine resources of the region for generations to come. The new account directly supports NOAA's vision of creating an informed society by communicating our science and policy decisions, and supports NOAA's cross-cutting priority of enhancing environmental literacy. Follow us

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with NOAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, Occidental, Shell, and TransRe, is now soliciting pre-proposals for the 2023 National Coastal Resilience Fund. NFWF will award up to $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems in order to increase protection for communities from coastal hazards, such as storms, sea- and lake-level changes, inundation, and coastal erosion, while improving habitats for fish and wildlife species. Pre-proposals must be submitted through NFWF’s Easygrants system no later than Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

The 2022 Deep-Sea Coral Report to Congress included a “Focus on the West Coast” section that references the conclusion of the 4-year research initiative in U.S. West Coast waters. This initiative was co-led by the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Collaborators prioritized research to focus on 1) areas that were under consideration for reopening to fishing or for new fishing restrictions, 2) areas with relatively high coral bycatch, and 3) areas within the five West Coast national marine sanctuaries. View the Report to Congress