California’s commercial salmon season is back after three years of closure
For the first time in four years, commercial salmon boats are heading back out on the California coast. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that both commercial and recreational ocean salmon fishing have officially reopened for 2026 after three consecutive years of closures. The shutdown, which began in 2023, was driven by historically low Chinook salmon populations linked to drought, poor river conditions and habitat degradation. The reopening was made possible by significant improvements in Sacramento River fall-run and Klamath River fall-run Chinook stocks. The Klamath River runs in particular have benefited from the removal of four dams, the largest dam removal project in American history.
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