Press Advisory for Wednesday, June 12, 8pm
Contact: Scott Artis, Golden State Salmon Association
925-550-9208, scott@goldenstatesalmon.org
500,000 Baby Salmon to be Released in Richmond Wednesday Evening
Richmond Police Activities League Kids Get Rare Chance to Witness Salmon Start Ocean Journey
Who: Golden State Salmon Association (GSSA), CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, City of Richmond, Richmond Police Activities League, Salty Lady Sportfishing
What: Release of 500,000 juvenile salmon in the City of Richmond. A boat with Richmond PAL kids will observe the release from the water
Where: 1556 Dornan Dr, Richmond, CA 94801 (and the Richmond Marina harbormaster dock to interview kids when they return, 1340 Marina Way South, east end of Hall Ave.). CDFW staff will unlock the gate upon arrival.
When: Wednesday evening, June 12. Boat picks up kids at Richmond Marina at 7pm. CDFW tanker trucks arrive 1556 Dornan at ~8pm. Fish to be released at ~8:45pm. Kids return to Richmond Marina about 9:15pm
Why: Due to higher survival rates for trucked hatchery salmon, the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is including Richmond in its release sites for trucked baby hatchery salmon to San Pablo and San Francisco Bays.
In 2022, GSSA worked with CDFW and the City of Richmond to identify new release sites. GSSA identified a site in Richmond and worked with the city to win permission for a release, which has been used every year since. This site provides a big survival benefit compared to the traditional CDFW release sites near Vallejo because of its closer location to the Golden Gate Bridge and ocean.
The Richmond PAL sees this as an annual event their kids can learn from and enjoy. Charter fishing and whale watching boat Salty Lady has again graciously volunteered to take the kids to see the release close up from the water. In past years this has been a first boat ride for some or all of these local kids.
Press are being invited to attend the release onshore at 1556 Dornan Drive. CDFW, GSSA, and City officials will be there. Interviews with the kids can be had when their boat returns to Richmond’s Marina Bay harbormaster dock, expected around 9:15pm. GSSA will make video available shot from the onshore release site and aboard the boat with the kids through dropbox at: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kl7bb5tdsvx0sv2qvd3z0/APgeIjZbFBfYnQ8uAtrUjyE?rlkey=1oa402qjapylm7vosvq86trpl&st=88fhgogc&dl=0
GSSA executive director Scott Artis said, “GSSA is happy to continue the partnerships with the City of Richmond, the Richmond Police Activities League, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to see these fish released in a spot where they’ll survive in high numbers. It’s important to provide a fun learning opportunity for local kids to get to know their local waterways and wildlife. This is the perfect way to create new salmon stewards and protect a keystone species for future generations.”
About GSSA: The Golden State Salmon Association (www.goldenstatesalmon.org) is a coalition of salmon advocates that includes commercial and recreational salmon fishermen and women, businesses, restaurants, native tribes, environmentalists, elected officials, families and communities that rely on salmon. GSSA’s mission is to restore California salmon for their economic, recreational, commercial, environmental, cultural and health values.
# # # #