Commercial and recreational salmon fishing has resumed off the North Coast after a three-year statewide closure, marking a long-awaited milestone for a troubled industry that has endured historic losses in revenue and resources. Charter captains are reporting abundant catches out of Bodega Bay, and commercial boats up and down the coast are again unloading hauls of the prized West Coast staple for the first time since 2022. Still, the reopening is far from a return to normal, industry veterans say. This year’s season is heavily restricted with staggered openings and closings designed to limit the take on rebounding Chinook salmon returns. And fewer boats may be around to cash in, as some fishermen say years of lost income from curtailed and closed fisheries have driven some away from the water for good.

Other fishery and fish restoration news:

• KJZZ (Phoenix): Protections for Grand Canyon native fish in limbo amid low Colorado River flows
• Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): Scientists just explained how a wildfire killed thousands of fish on the Klamath River