Recreational Fisheries February 2024 Newsletter

As we head into 2024,  we wanted to share our reflection on our work in 2023, highlighting national and regional activities that showcase the successes and collaborations shaping NOAA Fisheries’ efforts on recreational fisheries. We remain committed to ensuring a broadly accessible and diverse array of sustainable saltwater recreational and non-commercial fisheries for the benefit and enjoyment of the nation. Learn about our 2023 year in review here.

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, and Northwest Fisheries Science Center hosted a roundtable discussion focused on recreational fisheries off our West Coast on November 4th, 2023 in Garden Grove, CA. A diverse group of the recreational fishing community attended: individual private anglers and related associations, guides, charter vessel owners, operators, and related associations, landing owners, and commercial fishing vessel owners. We appreciate their time for an open discussion. A theme emerged from the discussion: the fishing community is here to help, engage, advise, and be of service to ensure our local communities and fishing opportunities remain strong, responsive, and resilient to change. They are key contributors for the social, cultural, and economic wellbeing of the fishing community and our nation. Read more about the roundtable here.

NOAA Fisheries has declared Quillback rockfish off the coast of California overfished. A stock assessment in 2021 found that the quillback rockfish stock off the coast of California is below the minimum stock size threshold. Therefore, NOAA Fisheries has notified the Pacific Fishery Management Council that the stock is overfished. Once the Council is notified the stock is overfished, the Council must develop a rebuilding plan for the stock. We know from experience that this is an effective strategy to achieve long-term sustainable fisheries. The rebuilding plan may force substantial reductions in fishing, and the Council is considering ways to offset those reductions such as opening areas that are currently closed to fishing for certain low-impact gear types. The fishing industry can help reduce mortality of Quillback rockfish and collect information that will improve the management response and future stock assessments. Learn more about the recent determination and Frequently Asked Questions.

NOAA Fisheries has published our 2024 priorities for saltwater recreational fishing data collection. These priorities support unique regional needs, stock assessments, and sustainable fisheries management nationwide. With this plan as our guide, we aim to strengthen our relationships with our partners and work toward a renewed state-regional-federal data collection partnership. Find the 2024 priorities here.

NOAA Fisheries has announced the opening of the application period for all 2024 Pacific halibut permits for International Pacific Halibut Commission Area 2A. Applications are now available through the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Coast Groundfish and Halibut Portal. As a reminder, charter vessels, or Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels, retaining Pacific halibut in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A must have an active permit issued by NOAA Fisheries. The recreational charter permit for Pacific halibut must be applied for 15 days prior to participating in the fishery. Apply for a permit here.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC or Council) and its advisory bodies will meet March 5-11, 2024 in Fresno, California and via webinar. The Council is scheduled to take up a wide-range of items related to salmon, groundfish, highly migratory species, Pacific halibut, and administrative matters. Several agenda items have impacts that span multiple Fishery Management Plans (FMP) and are labeled “Cross FMP.” Find more information on the meeting here.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the allocation of $20.6 million to address a fishery resource disaster that occurred in the 2023 Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean and inland salmon fisheries. NOAA Fisheries used revenue loss information from the commercial, processor, and charter sectors to allocate funding for the disaster. In the coming months, NOAA Fisheries will work with the state of California to administer the disaster relief funds. Fishing communities and individuals affected by the disaster should work with their state or other agencies as identified by the state, as appropriate. Learn more about the announcement.

Want to learn how the Pacific Ocean is likely to change and affect salmon survival in the coming year? Stay tuned, scientists say. The ocean indicators that NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center researchers track off Newport, on the Central Oregon Coast, are decidedly mixed for the coming year. El Niño is still developing at the equator and there are both positive and negative indicators in local waters for emerging salmon. The ocean indicators of juvenile salmon survival—now online—reflect a rapidly changing ocean that is tough to predict. Learn more about these mixed signals.

NOAA Fisheries released the latest comprehensive report on recovering threatened and endangered species. We are also adding the endangered Rice’s whale to the Species in the Spotlight initiative, which will provide more resources and foster partnership dedicated to recovering the species. The Species in the Spotlight initiative is covered in the report, which summarizes efforts to recover all domestic and transnational species under our jurisdiction and highlights progress made towards recovery of endangered species, like the Rice’s whale. Read the report here.

Despite efforts to support the recovery of Sacramento winter-run Chinook in recent years, the species remains endangered. Warmer summer temperatures and thiamine deficiency pose new challenges for survival. One recovery plan seeks to re-introduce the species to historical spawning habitats which have been restricted by the Shasta Dam since the 1940s. Learn more and access the full status review here.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced funding opportunities under the 2024 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) Proposal Solicitation Notice for projects to enhance or protect salmon and steelhead habitat. Total funding available under this solicitation is anticipated to be approximately $17 million, contingent upon allocation from NOAA for Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The full application period is open from March 5th through April 18th, 2024. Learn more here.

Multiple major dams on the Willamette River tributaries stand between salmon and steelhead and their historic spawning grounds in the upper watershed. An influx of $27 million from the Office of Habitat Conservation under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act is reinvigorating efforts to restore threatened salmon and trout species in Oregon’s Willamette River watershed. Learn more here.

The Potlatch River basin in north-central Idaho is home to an endangered population of wild steelhead. Due to a variety of factors, including historic land use practices, wild steelhead numbers in the Potlatch River have been declining. Idaho Fish and Game and partner organizations have been conducting large-scale restoration work in the Potlatch basin. Check out this 4-part video series on restoring steelhead habitat in the Potlack River.