GSSA In The News

416-Objection-Brief

A Renewed Approach to an Old Problem 

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has released findings from a project GSSA partnered with them on that released Coleman hatchery fry into the upper Sacramento River. The fry were from brood years 2021 and 2022. Almost two million unfed fry were released in early 2022. About 2.8 million were released a year later. Fry salmon are the tiny fish that develop shortly after hatching. 

Testing When Timing Might Matter More Than Size 

The project was conducted to determine whether the survival of these hatchery-born fish can be improved by releasing them earlier in the year, when winter storms and runoff create higher-flow conditions in the Sacramento River and its tributaries.  

The Tradeoff: Bigger Fish vs. Better Conditions 

Normally, the fry would be reared at the hatchery for months longer until they’re big enough to cut the adipose fin off and insert coded wire tags into their snouts. The bigger they are at release, the higher their survival, except for one major factor. After early April, farmers throughout the Sacramento Valley crank up irrigation pumps and lower the river, making it far more dangerous for our migrating juvenile salmon. Holding Coleman hatchery salmon to a size where they can be clipped and tagged commonly requires rearing them into April. Releasing them as fry can occur in January.  Releasing fry from the Coleman Hatchery was once a regular tool but was discontinued in the early 1990’s. 

How Parent-Based Tagging Makes This Possible 

To make the parent-based tagging system work, tissue samples were first collected from the parent fish in 2021 and 2022. The unique DNA in these samples was identified. Then, in 2023, returning adult fish with intact adipose fins had their tissue sampled, starting with jacks (two-year-olds). Tissues were again collected from two and three-year-olds in 2024 and 2025. More samples will be collected this year to continue the study.  

What the Early Data Shows 

The Fish and Wildlife scientists were able to positively identify DNA that matched the parents from 2021 and 2022. The project also encountered some DNA samples that were too degraded to provide the info needed. Other samples passed some screens for the released fry but were inconclusive on others and were therefore not considered part of the group.  

Promising Signals—But More Work Ahead 

Of all the tissue samples collected, about 2.55% were fish released as unfed fry. Much more study will be needed to understand the overall contribution of such releases to the production of adult salmon. In addition, tissue samples will be needed from additional tributaries and collection sites throughout the basin to provide a more complete picture of how these fish are surviving and where they end up.  

Toward Smarter Release Strategies 

Eventually, researchers should be able to determine what release locations and strategies provide the highest survival and tailor future releases accordingly.  

This is what progress looks like—but it doesn’t happen on its own.
Smarter strategies like early fry releases only work when science, funding, and advocacy come together.

👉 Join GSSA, support the work, and help drive real solutions for salmon.

Be Part of the Night That Brings Everyone Together

After a few tough seasons, we’re finally back on the water—and this year’s Santa Rosa Dinner is all about celebrating that.

Catch up on this year’s catch! Lend a hand, hype the fish, and help make this year’s dinner a success.

Good food. Cold drinks. A packed room full of people who care about salmon.

And it doesn’t happen without a great crew behind the scenes.

---

Why Volunteer?

Because this isn’t just another event—it’s one of our biggest nights of the year.

• Be part of a high-energy, community-driven event
• Meet other anglers, passionate advocates, and dedicated supporters
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at how it all comes together
• Help make sure the night runs smoothly (and stays fun)

Whether you’ve been part of GSSA for years or you’re just getting involved, volunteering is one of the best ways to plug in.

---

What You’ll Be Doing

We’ve got a range of roles depending on how you want to jump in:

Guest Experience

• Registration & check-in
• Raffle coordination
• Merch table

Event Support

• Silent & live auction support
• Appetizer stations
• Bar service (21+)

Operations

• Event set up
• Break down & clean up

Some roles are fast-paced and social. Others are more behind-the-scenes.
All of them matter.

---

What to Expect

• Clear roles and guidance when you arrive
• A team environment—no one’s doing this alone
• A fun, busy night (it goes by fast)
• Plenty of time to still enjoy parts of the event

---

A Quick Note

We especially need help with:

• Set up
• Break down
• Auction support

If you’re open to jumping in where needed, that makes a huge difference.

---

Sign Up to Volunteer

Pick a shift (or two), grab a spot, and we’ll follow up with details.

---

Questions?

Reach out to info@goldenstatesalmon.org, and we’ll point you in the right direction.

“We’re finally seeing the kind of conditions that give salmon a fighting chance—but none of this happened because of luck. It’s the result of years of advocacy, better science, and people refusing to give up on these fish.”
— Vance Staplin

After years of uncertainty—closed seasons, low returns, and real concern about the future of salmon fishing in California—we’re finally seeing something we haven’t felt in a while:

Momentum.

Boats are back on the water. Fishermen are planning trips again. And for the first time in a few seasons, there’s a sense that things might actually be turning in the right direction.

That’s worth celebrating.

But it’s also worth understanding why this is happening—and what it took to get here.

A Comeback Years in the Making

The improved outlook for salmon this year didn’t just show up overnight.

Stronger-than-expected returns—driven in part by favorable river conditions in recent years—have helped set the stage for a more optimistic season. Wet winters in 2023 and 2024 brought higher flows, cooler water, and better conditions for salmon eggs to hatch and for young salmon heading out to the ocean.

Those conditions are super important. 

When you break it down, it’s all sort of simple. First, when incubating salmon eggs are in cold enough water, they’ll hatch. Then, when juvenile salmon have the water they need to move safely downstream, more of them survive. And when more fish survive, we start to see the kind of returns that support fishing seasons, coastal economies, and the broader ecosystem.

Turning Science into Action    

Good conditions are key—but there is another part of the story.

One of the biggest shifts in recent years has been the use of science to actively improve the survival of hatchery salmon.

GSSA worked directly with the California legislature to secure $11.8 million in funding for Parentage-Based Tagging (PBT)—a game-changing tool that will eventually enable scientists to track salmon using genetic data rather than traditional wire tags.

People often ask why this is important.

Unlike traditional coded wire tags, PBT opens the door to earlier fry releases—sending young salmon into the system earlier in the year, when rivers are moving faster, water is more turbid, and predators are less of a threat.

Instead of waiting until baby salmon are large enough to be tagged the old way (which can mean holding them until May when agricultural water diversions are in full swing), we will eventually be able to release them during the winter or early spring, at a time when they’re more likely to survive.

It’s a smarter, more adaptive approach.

Fighting for the Water Salmon Need

At the end of the day, salmon need one thing above all else:

Water.

And getting enough of it—at the right time—has been one of the biggest challenges facing California salmon.

That’s where advocacy comes in.

GSSA has been pushing for pulse flows—targeted releases of water that help juvenile salmon move downstream more quickly and safely. These flows can improve river conditions by increasing turbidity, lowering water temperatures, and reducing exposure to predators and disease.

They’re not always easy to secure. In some cases, they’ve been denied even when reservoirs are full.

But the science is clear: when flows improve, survival improves.

And every step toward better water management is a step toward rebuilding salmon populations.

Real Wins, Real Impact

These efforts aren’t abstract. They show up in real ways:

• More fish are making it to the ocean
• Better returns in the following years
• Reopening fishing opportunities for communities that depend on them

In a “normal” year, California’s salmon industry supports $1.4 billion in economic activity and more than 20,000 jobs—from charter boat captains and tackle shops to restaurants and coastal hotels.

When salmon struggle, those communities feel it immediately.

When salmon recover, so do they.

A Moment Worth Celebrating—And Protecting

It’s okay to feel good about where things are right now.

After everything the salmon—and the people who depend on them—have been through, this moment matters.

But it’s also fragile.

The same challenges that put salmon at risk in the first place haven’t gone away:

• Ongoing pressure to divert more water from rivers
• Infrastructure projects that threaten habitat
• Climate-driven extremes that make conditions less predictable

Progress isn’t permanent unless we protect it.

What Comes Next

This is the part where momentum matters most.

We have better tools. Better science. And proof that when conditions improve, salmon respond.

Now the goal is simple:

Do more of what works.

That means continuing to:

• Advocate for science-based water management
• Invest in innovative approaches like PBT
• Improve hatchery practices and support hatchery infrastructure upgrades
• Protect and restore critical habitat

And it means continuing to show up—together.

Be Part of What Comes Next

If you’ve been waiting for a sign that things are moving in the right direction, this is it.

But none of it continues without support.

Join the Golden State Salmon Association:
https://goldenstatesalmon.org/join/

Support the work directly:
https://goldenstatesalmon.org/donate/

These wins aren’t random. And they won’t continue without people who care enough to fight for them.

Good food. Cold drinks. Great people. A cause that matters.

After a few tough seasons where we weren’t sure what salmon fishing would look like, we’re finally back on the water chasing fish again. That alone is worth celebrating—and there’s no better place to do it than in a room full of your fishing buddies.

Join the Golden State Salmon Association in Santa Rosa for one of our favorite nights of the year.

The annual Santa Rosa Dinner brings together anglers, families, and the broader salmon community for a fun night of BBQ, local drinks, raffles, and auction prizes. Tickets are limited, and the event is expected to sell out.

Event Details

Friday, June 5, 2026
Friedman Event Center, Santa Rosa
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Get Tickets Here

What to Expect

Your ticket includes:

• Full BBQ dinner
• Local beer and wine
• Raffle and auction prizes
• A lively crowd and a great night out

Enjoy a full BBQ dinner with ribs, chicken, and sides, along with local beer and wine. The night also features raffle and auction items, including fishing trips and gear. Tickets are $125, or reserve a table for 10 for $1,000. 

Bring Your Crew

This is the kind of night that is even better with a table full of friends.

Bring your fishing buddies, your family, your clients—or anyone who enjoys a great night out.
Tables for 10 are available and are the best way to experience the event.

Why This Night Matters

The Santa Rosa Dinner is a great night on its own. It also helps support GSSA’s work to protect and restore California salmon.

Ticket sales help fund GSSA’s work to restore California salmon—from improving river flows and hatchery practices to advancing science and advocating for better water management.

Get Tickets

Individual Ticket: $125
Table for 10: $1,000

Get Tickets Here

Tickets are limited, and the dinner is expected to sell out.

Questions?

For questions, please email info@goldenstatesalmon.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 12, 2026

Contact:

Vance Staplin, GSSA Executive Director, 916-225-2790

Salmon Fishing underway in Monterey Bay

San Francisco – The Pacific Fisheries Management Council has finalized when and where salmon fishing will occur in the ocean off California in 2026. Sport fishing for salmon began on Saturday, April 11, from Pigeon Point south to the Mexican border. Due to stormy weather, only a few boats fished, and a small number of salmon were caught. 

Sport fishing for salmon will begin north of Pigeon Point on June 27. This will include waters off Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Bodega Bay, and up to Point Arena. Waters from the Oregon border south to the “40/10” line offshore of southern Humboldt County will open June 13.

To implement the new quota system, each ocean regulatory “cell” will be assigned a number of catchable salmon. Salmon that are caught will be counted in as near to real time as possible. When the number of fish caught in a cell equals the quota for that cell, fishing will be shut down. The summer sport fishing quota for the Monterey cell is 21,800. The San Francisco cell quota is 34,900, and the Fort Bragg cell quota is 5,100.   

Commercial salmon fishing will begin May 16, and the summer season, which runs until August 27, will include five openings above Pigeon Point and ten below Pigeon Point. The openings last three to seven days. Commercial boats will be limited to 160 salmon per opening and an overall quota of 83,000 salmon. Additional commercial fishing will be allowed in the fall season, starting September 4, until a quota of 20,000 salmon is caught.  

This year’s restrictions on the ocean fishery are aimed at protecting what is believed to be a low number of chinook salmon born in coastal California rivers and streams between the Russian River in Sonoma County and Redwood Creek in Humboldt County. These fish are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Because of these protective measures, salmon fishermen in the Sacramento River and its tributaries could see an improved in-river fishery this year.  

This year’s fishing comes after three years of a total fishery shutdown to commercial fishermen and the same to sport, with the exception of six days of fishing allowed in 2025.    

According to official estimates, the current adult salmon population in California is 392,349, an improvement over recent years.  

“We’re cautiously optimistic about what this year’s improved salmon seasons will bring,” said GSSA executive director Vance Staplin. “Businesses up and down the coast and inland are desperate for the economic boost this season will bring, especially after so many recent bad years of no business caused by the shutdown of salmon fishing.  Coastal communities that have grown to rely on the annual salmon fishery are excited at the prospect of hopefully becoming profitable again. When you calculate the economic multipliers, the salmon fishery can bring over a billion dollars, spread across not only California, but also in Oregon, where many Central Valley salmon migrate to rear in the ocean.” 

“We’re excited to have a fishing season, even though it will be greatly restricted this year,” said GSSA board chairman Mike Aughney. “At the same time, we’re also concerned about the juvenile salmon currently trying to get out of the Central Valley and to the sea. After the extremely warm March, we can use all the rain we can get as baby salmon transit from fresh to saltwater between now and June.”

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, a native tribe, 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. 

Currently, California’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually in a normal season, and about half that much in economic activity and jobs again in Oregon. Industry workers benefiting from Central Valley salmon stretch from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon. This includes commercial fishermen and women, recreational fishermen and women (freshwater and saltwater), fish processors, marinas, coastal communities, equipment manufacturers, the hotel and food industry, tribes, and others.

# # # #

Media contact: Vance Staplin, GSSA Executive Director, 916-225-2790

Salmon Are More Than Just a Fish

When most people hear the word salmon, they picture fishing boats, rivers, or maybe a fillet on a dinner plate or at a restaurant. But in California, salmon represent something much bigger.

They support entire coastal and river communities across the state.

From commercial fishermen and charter captains to marina operators, tackle shops, restaurants, and tourism businesses, salmon fuel a major economic engine along California’s coast and throughout the Central Valley.

Historically, California’s salmon fishery has supported approximately 23,000 jobs and more than $1.4 billion in annual economic activity.

That economic network stretches far beyond the water. It reaches into working waterfronts, small businesses, local restaurants and hotels, and family livelihoods.

Simply put, when salmon runs are healthy, a whole economy thrives. And conversely, when salmon disappear, the economic ripple spreads far beyond the rivers.

A Glimpse of Hope: The 2026 Salmon Season Begins to Take Shape

There is some encouraging news for anglers and coastal communities this year.

California’s 2026 ocean salmon season is beginning to take shape.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council has released preliminary alternatives for the recreational and commercial salmon seasons, outlining potential fishing opportunities for the year ahead. But there is one important detail that may be less obvious in the Council’s materials.

The Monterey “Cell” fishery will open on April 11.

This area lies south of Pigeon Point in southern San Mateo County and includes the waters of Monterey Bay all the way south to the Mexican border. It will provide the first ocean salmon fishing opportunity in California in 2026.

Some anglers may notice that a May 15 date appears in the PFMC March meeting documents. That date is not the opening day—it is simply a continuation of the season that begins on April 11.

While the Council will finalize the full season structure by April 12, even limited openings like this matter.

Why this matters is that even before the salmon season opens, boats start moving. Anglers tow trailers down the coast. Charter captains book trips. Folks start renting guest slips and even hotel and Airbnb accommodations. Coastal towns begin to feel the return of fishing activity.

For communities that depend on salmon, the season isn’t just about fishing; it’s about economic survival.

A Working Waterfront

Along California’s coast, salmon fishing has long been the backbone of working waterfronts.

Ports like Bodega Bay, Sausalito, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Half Moon Bay, Monterey, and Fort Bragg support fleets of commercial fishermen who harvest salmon during the short ocean season. Many of these fishermen come from multi-generation fishing families whose livelihoods have been tied to the ocean for decades.

Behind every fishing boat is a network of supporting businesses:

• Marine mechanics
• Fuel docks
• Ice houses
• Gear suppliers
• Fish processors and distributors

For many commercial fishermen, the salmon season helps determine whether their year is financially viable. When salmon fishing opportunities shrink or disappear, boats sit idle at the dock and incomes vanish.

“People tend to focus on the boats, but the truth is the entire waterfront depends on those fish moving through the system,” said Kenny Belov, owner of TwoXSea. “When salmon season is open, we’re buying fish, processing it, distributing it to restaurants and markets—it keeps everyone working. When the season shuts down, we turn to other species to keep our bills paid.  The fishermen don’t always have that luxury. Permits, area restrictions, etc., can keep boats tied up, which means it’s hard for them to get a paycheck.” 

The impact reaches beyond individual fishermen. It affects the entire infrastructure that supports coastal fisheries.

The Charter Fleet and Recreational Economy

Salmon also support a vibrant recreational fishing economy.

Charter boat captains and deckhands depend on the salmon season to fill their calendars with trips. Marinas depend on anglers launching boats and buying fuel. Bait shops and tackle stores depend on fishing activity to keep their doors open.

When salmon are biting, coastal communities feel the energy.

Anglers travel from across California—and often from out of state—to fish for salmon. They book hotels, eat in local restaurants, buy gear, and spend money in coastal towns.

“Salmon are the backbone of what we do,” said Captain Tyja Taube of Reel Obsession Sportfishing. “Rockfish, halibut, crab—they all help—but salmon is what really drives the season. It’s what fills the calendar, gets people excited, and brings life to the harbor. When salmon are healthy, the whole system works. Everything flows downstream from that.”

Captain John Marfia of Tanker City Sportfishing adds, “To be successful with salmon, you have to treat it like a science. “Catch data, tides, moon phases—they all matter, and they all tell a story if you’re paying attention. I fish a lot of different species, but salmon is different. It rewards preparation, and that’s where we separate ourselves. But none of that matters if the fish aren’t there. We need everyone working together—from the people managing the water to the hatcheries—because if we don’t get it right, there’s no fishery left to enjoy.”

And each fish matters more than most people realize. Studies have shown that a single California salmon can generate significant economic value depending on where and how it’s caught. A sport-caught salmon in a river can generate more than $1,100 per fish in total economic impact, while ocean-caught salmon still contribute roughly $280 or more per fish through spending on travel, gear, fuel, and licenses.

Additionally, commercially caught salmon are essential to California’s working waterfronts and local food system, supporting fishermen, processors, and coastal businesses. Individual fish typically generate $138 to $214 in direct economic value, while retail prices for wild California king salmon can reach $20–$35 per pound or more.

In other words, every salmon caught isn’t just a moment on the water—it’s a meaningful contribution to local economies up and down the coast.

Even a short salmon opener can bring a surge of economic activity to communities that rely on seasonal tourism.

The early Monterey Cell opener on April 11 could trigger exactly that kind of movement. Trailer boats and anglers often travel to the first available fishing opportunity of the year, bringing business with them.

For coastal towns, the start of salmon season often signals the beginning of a busy and productive stretch of the year.

Salmon on the Plate

Salmon are also deeply woven into California’s food culture.

Wild California salmon is one of the state’s most iconic seafoods. Restaurants across the state feature fresh salmon on seasonal menus, and local seafood markets depend on salmon landings to supply customers seeking high-quality, locally caught fish.

“For chefs, wild California salmon isn’t just another ingredient—it’s the centerpiece of the season,” said Kevin Godes, GSSA board member and Bay Area chef. “We bring these fish in whole and honor every ounce of them, from a hard sear that crisps the skin to slow preparations that let the richness of the fish speak for itself. But none of that happens without our commercial fishermen. When those boats are on the water, the whole system comes back to life—from the deckhands and processors to the kitchens and dining rooms. Getting salmon back on the plate means getting our commercial brothers and sisters back to work, and that’s something every chef and every diner should care about.”

From dockside markets to farm-to-table restaurants, salmon connects fishermen directly to California’s culinary community.

Every salmon served in a restaurant represents a chain of livelihoods—from the fisherman who caught it to the chef who prepared it.

When salmon runs are strong, that entire chain benefits.

What Happens When Salmon Disappear

Over the past several years, California has experienced how devastating salmon declines can be.

Poor ocean conditions, drought, and harmful water management decisions contributed to extremely low salmon numbers. As a result, California’s salmon fishing seasons were severely restricted or, in the case of commercial fishing, closed entirely in recent years.

The consequences were immediate.

Charter boats canceled trips. Commercial fishermen lost a major source of income. Restaurants struggled to find local salmon. Coastal tourism slowed.

For some fishing families, the closures threatened generations of tradition and livelihood.

When salmon runs collapse, the impact spreads from the rivers to the ocean—and from the harbor to the entire coastal economy.

The Root of the Problem: Water Policy

While ocean conditions play a role in salmon survival, one of the biggest drivers of salmon declines in California is water management.

Salmon depend on healthy rivers to survive. Juvenile salmon must migrate downstream through the Sacramento–San Joaquin watershed and the Delta on their way to the ocean.

When excessive water diversions reduce river flows, salmon conditions deteriorate.

Lower flows can mean:

• Warmer water temperatures
• Reduced habitat
• Increased predation
• Slower migration to the ocean

These challenges significantly reduce the number of young salmon that survive to adulthood.

In other words, decisions about how California manages its water can determine whether salmon runs recover—or continue to decline.

Protecting salmon isn’t just about protecting fish; it’s about protecting the communities that depend on them.

The Path Forward

Despite the challenges, there are reasons for cautious optimism.

After the extremely wet winter of 2023 and the somewhat wet winter of 2024, improved river flows helped create better conditions for juvenile salmon migrating to the ocean. As a result, salmon returns began showing signs of improvement, including strong jack returns in 2025.

These results reinforce an important lesson:

When rivers work for salmon, salmon respond.

Efforts to rebuild salmon populations will require continued action, including:

• Improving river flows
• Restoring habitat
• Modernizing hatcheries
• Ensuring water management decisions consider fish survival

These steps can help rebuild salmon runs and restore the economic benefits that healthy fisheries bring to communities across California.

Healthy Rivers, Healthy Communities

Salmon are more than a species.

They are a keystone of California’s ecosystems, a cornerstone of coastal economies, and a cultural touchstone for fishing communities across the state.

When salmon runs are healthy, fishermen work, coastal businesses thrive, and local seafood reaches dinner tables across California.

The fight to restore salmon is about more than saving fish; it’s about protecting the rivers, jobs, communities, and traditions that depend on them.

Support the Work to Protect Salmon

The work to restore California’s salmon runs is far from over.

You can help support the efforts to rebuild salmon populations and protect the communities that depend on them.

Join the Golden State Salmon Association to stay informed, support science-based policy solutions, and help ensure that California’s salmon—and the economy they sustain—have a future.

Real wins for salmon—and how your support makes them happen

When people come together to support salmon, real change happens.

Over the past few years, California’s salmon have been under serious pressure. Fishing seasons were closed. Returns dropped. Coastal communities—from charter captains to tackle shops to working waterfronts—felt the impact in devastating and very real ways.

But there’s another side to the story.

Real wins are happening right now. Fish are coming back stronger than many expected. The 2025 jack return was the highest since 2011. The 2026 ocean population forecast is significantly improved. And for the first time in years, anglers are looking ahead to a season with cautious optimism, although serious challenges remain, especially for commercial salmon fishermen and women. 

None of that happens by accident. Unfortunately, protecting water for salmon is a constant battle.

Behind every improvement is a combination of better environmental conditions (i.e., getting rain and snow)—and people doing the work to make sure those gains aren’t lost.

That’s where your support comes in.

The Reality: Change Doesn’t Happen on Its Own

Water policy in California is complex, competitive, and often stacked against fish.

Every drop of water in this state seems to be spoken for. Agriculture, cities, and industry all have a stake in this. Without consistent pressure and advocacy, salmon lose—quietly and quickly.

The truth is simple: If no one is in the room speaking for salmon, they don’t get considered.

The Golden State Salmon Association exists to make sure that doesn’t happen.

From regulatory hearings to policy negotiations to public awareness campaigns, we at GSSA do our best to represent the interests of salmon—and the communities that depend on them—where decisions are actually made.

And that work is only possible because of our incredible members and donors like you.

Where Your Support Is Making a Difference

This isn’t abstract advocacy; it’s a tangible, measurable impact.

Smarter Hatcheries, Stronger Returns

Major river systems have dams that cut off historical spawning habitat, so hatcheries play a critical role in sustaining California’s salmon runs today—but how they operate matters.

GSSA has been pushing for improvements that directly increase survival:

• Earlier releases of juvenile salmon to better match natural conditions
• Smarter strategies around trucking and volitional releases
• Expanded use of genetic tools like parentage-based tagging (PBT)

These changes don’t always make headlines—but they show up where it counts: more fish surviving in the ocean, being caught, and returning to our rivers.

This is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that directly impacts what anglers see on the water.

Fighting for Water That Salmon Actually Need

For salmon, water isn’t just about quantity—it’s about timing, temperature, and flow.

When rivers run high, cold, and connected to floodplains, juvenile salmon move faster with less chance of predation, grow stronger, and survive at higher rates. We saw that clearly during the wet years of 2023 and 2024.

GSSA works to ensure those conditions aren’t the exception—they’re the standard.

That means:

• Advocating for better flow management
• Challenging excessive water diversions
• Pushing for policies that reflect what the science and the facts actually show

Because without the right water, sustaining salmon, even hatchery salmon, is a very steep uphill battle. Something should mention that cold, healthy flows are a habitat. Habitat without cold water is just dry gravel and logs on the bank

Holding Decision-Makers Accountable

Many of the most important decisions affecting salmon are made out of public view.

GSSA is there—tracking proposals, analyzing impacts, speaking up, and making sure those decisions don’t go unchallenged.

That includes:

• Testifying at hearings
• Engaging directly with state and federal agency decision makers
• Raising public awareness when policies threaten salmon survival

Because salmon don’t have a voice in these processes, GSSA is there to make sure they’re heard.

Protecting Fishing Opportunities and Coastal Economies

When salmon disappear, the impact goes far beyond the river.

California’s salmon fishery supports thousands of jobs and generates over a billion dollars in economic activity. When seasons close, that entire network—from commercial boats to local restaurants, hotels, shops, and more—takes a hit.

GSSA advocates for both the fish and the people who depend on them. Because a healthy fishery doesn’t just support ecosystems—it supports communities.

A Real-World Example: Why This Work Matters Right Now

There’s a reason people are feeling more hopeful heading into the 2026 season.

The improved ocean population numbers and strong jack returns are directly tied to better conditions in 2023 and 2024—years when Mother Nature stepped in, pushed runoff right through the dams, and rivers flowed higher, colder, and more naturally.  Those fish didn’t show up by accident. Good water years created opportunity. But without continued advocacy, those gains can disappear just as quickly as they arrived.

“The improved outlook we’re seeing right now didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of better conditions and years of people staying engaged and pushing for smarter decisions. That’s what your donation and membership make possible.” — Vance Staplin, Executive Director, Golden State Salmon Association

This Is What Collective Action Looks Like

Membership isn’t symbolic. It’s what makes this work possible.

It supports:

• Science and data analysis that inform better decisions
• Policy engagement at the state and federal levels
• Communications that keep the public informed and involved
• On-the-ground efforts that improve outcomes for fish

Every one of those pieces matters. And none of them happen without support.

What Happens Without It

We don’t have to guess what happens when no one is pushing for salmon. We’ve seen it. Water gets diverted at the wrong times. Rivers run too low and too warm, and fish die. Hatcheries fall behind and cannot reach their goals. Fish numbers drop. Seasons close.

It doesn’t happen all at once. It happens gradually—until suddenly it’s obvious.

The difference between decline and recovery often comes down to whether someone is paying attention—and willing to act.

Your Membership, Your Impact

When you become a member or donate to GSSA, you’re not just adding your name to a list.

You’re helping:

• Protect the rivers salmon depend on
• Support fishing families and coastal communities
• Ensure better decisions are made about California’s water
• Keep salmon on the landscape—and in our future

It’s a direct connection between support and outcome.

Join Us

If you care about salmon, this is the moment to step in.

There’s real momentum right now. Better conditions. Stronger returns. A chance to rebuild. But it won’t sustain itself.

Join the Golden State Salmon Association and be part of the reason salmon still have a future in California.👉 Become a member today
👉 Support the work that makes a difference

California’s salmon are trying to tell us something. When we get the water right—as we did in 2023 and mostly in 2024—they respond. Rivers run higher and colder. Floodplains reconnect. Juvenile salmon move quickly to the ocean. Survival improves.

When we get it wrong, the opposite happens. Fish stall out. Water warms up. Predators concentrate. Survival drops.

It’s not complicated. And that’s exactly why the Delta Tunnel is such a problem.

Because at its core, this project doubles down on the same approach that pushed salmon to the brink in the first place: taking too much water out of the system and calling it “management.”

“You can’t restore salmon while simultaneously taking more water out of the rivers and delta that they depend on to survive. At some point, if we actually want salmon to survive, we have to curb the appetite of those that have proven they will drain the life out of our rivers.” — Vance Staplin, Executive Director, Golden State Salmon Association

The Pitch: Climate Resilience

The state’s Department of Water Resources says the Delta Tunnel is about climate adaptation.

With less snowpack, more extreme storms, longer droughts, sea-level rise, and earthquake risk, the state absolutely needs to think about resilience. All of these things are real. But here’s the question no one is answering honestly:

While building resilience is important, we need to think about whose resilience we are building, and at whose expense?

Because you don’t build climate resilience by draining the very rivers that make ecosystems—and economies—work.

Flow Is Not Optional

Salmon don’t need perfect conditions. But they do need water.

And cold, moving water does the basics:

• Moves juvenile fish downstream faster
• Dilutes pollutants
• Reduces predator pressure
• Speeds up juvenile migration
• Helps fish survive the gauntlet of the Delta

We’ve seen this play out in real time. The stronger returns we’re seeing now trace directly back to wet years and better flows. That’s not theory. That’s evidence.

So when a project is built to move more water out of the system, it’s fair to ask what happens to everything that depends on that water staying in the river.

This Isn’t Just About the Tunnel—It’s About What Comes With It

At the same time, the project is designed to increase the system’s capacity to divert water—potentially by hundreds of thousands of acre-feet per year. That raises a fundamental question: in a system where salmon are already struggling, what happens when we build infrastructure that makes it easier to withdraw even more water? 

That combination should raise alarms.

Because if you’re serious about recovering salmon, you don’t:

• Weaken flow standards
• Increase diversion capacity
• And call it environmental progress

We’re Already Seeing the Consequences of Over-Diversion

This isn’t theoretical. California’s salmon fishery was largely shut down over the past three years. Coastal communities have taken real economic hits. Fishing families have been pushed to the edge.

Those impacts weren’t caused by the Delta Tunnel. They’re the result of years of over-diverting water from the system, creating what many have called a “man-made drought” for salmon—even in years when water was available.

This is a $1.4 billion industry that supports thousands of jobs. And it’s already in trouble.

The question now is what happens if we double down on that same approach—by building infrastructure that makes it easier to take even more water out of the rivers salmon depend on.

Who Pays the Price

When water policy goes wrong in California, the costs don’t fall evenly.

They show up in:

• Commercial and recreational fishing closures
• Lost income for coastal communities
• Impacts on Tribal cultural resources
• Degradation of the Bay-Delta ecosystem

Meanwhile, the benefits from increased water exports flow elsewhere. That imbalance is at the heart of this fight.

There Are Better Options

This is the part that often gets lost. Opposing the Delta Tunnel is not the same as opposing water reliability.

California has real tools to build resilience:

• Groundwater recharge
• Stormwater capture
• Water recycling
• Conservation and efficiency
• Smarter regional supply strategies

None of those requires sacrificing California’s salmon runs or the estuary.

What Happens Next Matters

This project is moving forward through regulatory processes, hearings, and political pressure.

That means public engagement still matters. If you care about salmon, rivers, and the communities that depend on them, now is the time to show up.

Call your legislators:

• Oppose the Delta Tunnel
• No shortcuts on environmental review
• Protect enforceable flow standards

Engage in the process:

• Submit comments
• Attend hearings
• Stay informed

Support the coalition:

• Tribes
• Delta communities
• Fishing organizations
• Conservation groups

This fight is far from over.

The Bottom Line

The Delta Tunnel is being sold as a solution to California’s water challenges.

But for salmon—and the rivers they depend on—it looks like something else:

It’s a long-term commitment to taking more water from a system that is already stretched beyond its limits.

If California wants salmon, it has to protect rivers as rivers—not treat them like plumbing.

And if we’re serious about fairness, we can’t keep asking fishing families, coastal communities, fishing businesses, Tribes, and Delta communities to absorb the cost of decisions they didn’t make.

Take Action

If you care about the future of California salmon, now is the time to act.

👉 Join the Golden State Salmon Association and help us fight for the rivers, fish, and communities that depend on them.
👉 Sign up for updates to stay informed on key decisions and opportunities to take action.
👉 Support the fight by donating to organizations working on the front lines of salmon conservation.

Because once these decisions are made, they’re hard to undo.

And the future of salmon in California depends on what happens next.

How water management decisions on the Mokelumne and Sacramento Rivers shape salmon survival

In late February, fishery managers released a number that many Californians have been waiting to hear: 392,349 adult Chinook salmon forecasted in the ocean for 2026.

After multiple years of low salmon numbers, season closures, and uncertainty, that number represents cautious hope. Even more encouraging? The 2025 jack return was the highest since 2011 — a powerful early indicator that stronger year classes may be moving through the system.

For a deeper look at the data behind California’s salmon trends — including long-term abundance shifts and policy impacts — see GSSA’s latest State of Salmon report. 

But here’s the truth behind the rebound: Those fish were juveniles during the very wet year of 2023 and the above-average wet year of 2024.

Heavy spring runoff in 2023 and 2024 moved through the Central Valley, raising river levels, reconnecting floodplains, and sending cold, turbid, oxygen-rich water downstream. For juvenile salmon migrating toward the ocean, those conditions made all the difference. Survival improved. Stronger year classes began to take shape.

That rebound wasn’t the result of chance or rhetoric. It was the predictable outcome of hydrology aligning with biology. When rivers carry enough cold water at the right time, salmon respond.

For salmon, water is not simply habitat. It is the difference between collapse and recovery.

What “Flow” Really Means

When we talk about river “flows,” we’re talking about three things: how much water is moving, when it moves, and how cold it is. We’re also talking about turbidity, or “mudiness,” which helps hide juvenile salmon from predators that rely on eyesight.

Each one matters. Miss any of them, and survival drops.

1. Volume: How Much Water Moves Downstream

More water moving through a river system does several critical things:

• Speeds juvenile salmon toward the ocean
• Dilutes pollutants and agricultural runoff
• Reduces predator concentration
• Maintains dissolved oxygen levels
• Limits harmful algal bloom conditions
• Moves fish more safely through the Delta
• Maintains estuarine salinity balance
• Generally increases turbidity, which helps hide juvenile salmon from predators

During wet years like 2023 and 2024, higher runoff created more natural river conditions — conditions that salmon evolved to depend on. The result? Improved juvenile survival and stronger returns.

During drought years, by contrast, river and Delta outflows fall to levels biologists warn are insufficient to protect migrating smolts (or juvenile salmon). Reduced flows mean slower travel times, greater exposure to predators, and a higher risk of getting sucked into export pumps. When those waters warm, baby salmon lose energy, and some get sick, making them easy prey. 

The difference between a strong year class and a weak one often comes down to how much water is moving at the right time.

2. Timing: When Water Moves

Juvenile fall-run Chinook typically migrate downstream between March and May. That window is critical.

If strong flows occur during that period, juveniles move quickly through dangerous stretches of river and the Delta. Faster travel means:

• Less exposure to non-native predators
• Reduced stress
• Better ocean entry timing

If flows are weak during that window, migration slows. Juvenile salmon linger in warm, predator-heavy waters, and survival drops.

On rivers where water managers coordinate releases to align with migration timing — often called pulse flows — survival improves.

In these cases, timing isn’t incidental; it’s everything.

3. Temperature: Cold Water is Critical

Salmon are cold-water fish. Their eggs require temperatures generally below about 54°F for optimal incubation. When water temperatures rise above safe thresholds, mortality increases rapidly.

This is where reservoir management becomes decisive.

The Sacramento River system relies heavily on cold water stored in reservoirs like Shasta. That cold-water “pool” must be carefully managed to protect spawning salmon.

In past drought years, insufficient cold-water management has led to hot water in upper Sacramento spawning reaches — resulting in significant egg mortality and weakened year classes.

When cold water is preserved and released strategically, spawning success improves. When it isn’t, entire generations of salmon can be compromised.

The Mokelumne River: A Managed System with a Different Strategy

The Mokelumne River offers an instructive example of how heavily managed systems attempt to support salmon runs.

This watershed supports a significant fall-run population, bolstered primarily by hatchery production at the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery, operated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District.

Unlike rivers where juvenile salmon migrate naturally to the ocean, most Mokelumne hatchery fish are transported by truck around the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta to safe release sites either in the west Delta or on or near the coast.  This trucking program helps juvenile salmon avoid the high mortality risks associated with navigating the Delta’s complex network of channels, export pumps, and predators.

As a result, the Mokelumne rarely sees strong survival from naturally spawned fish migrating entirely through the river system.

While trucking can help maintain hatchery production, it also highlights a broader reality: without adequate river flows and safer migration conditions through the Delta, natural salmon survival remains extremely difficult.

The Sacramento River: California’s Salmon Engine

If the Mokelumne shows what’s possible on a smaller scale, the Sacramento River reveals what’s at stake statewide.

The Sacramento River system produces the majority of California’s fall-run Chinook salmon. These fish fuel:

• Commercial ocean fisheries
• Recreational charter fleets
• Coastal tourism
• Tackle manufacturers and retailers
• Restaurants, hotels, and processing facilities
• Inland sport fishing businesses

In stronger years, California’s salmon industry has generated approximately $1.4 billion in annual economic activity.

When Sacramento River flows support strong juvenile survival, those benefits ripple outward. 

When flows decline, the consequences can be seen in two years or so, when fewer adults return.

From 2020 to 2022, extended drought conditions reduced runoff and elevated water temperatures. Water managers diverted available supplies to agriculture at the expense of the fishery.  Juvenile survival dropped. Returns plummeted. Ocean fisheries were restricted or closed entirely.

Charter boats are tied up. Crews were laid off. Coastal businesses struggled.

This is why we work for salmon — because healthy rivers mean healthy communities. 

Upstream water decisions forced hard economic decisions downstream.

The Delta Bottleneck

Before juvenile salmon reach the ocean, they must pass through the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta — one of the most heavily engineered estuaries in the world.

Water exports from the Delta serve 27 million Californians through the State Water Project and hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland through the federal Central Valley Project.

At the same time, the Delta is a migratory corridor for salmon.

In dry years, reduced river outflows combined with excessive water diversions increase risks to migrating fish. Slower-moving, warmer, clearer water creates conditions that are less favorable for salmon survival.

Recent events underscore how fragile salmon survival can be when water systems are pushed to their limits: in February 2026, a major penstock pipe failure at the New Colgate Powerhouse on the Yuba River caused river flows to drop sharply for hours, leaving hundreds — and possibly thousands — of juvenile Chinook salmon dead in shallow margins as water receded. Such infrastructure failures, growing export demands, and climate-driven variability in precipitation and runoff increasingly intersect to create conditions that imperil salmon at vulnerable life stages.

But the biology remains simple:

Juvenile salmon need strong, consistent outflows to move safely through the Central Valley and the Delta.

Why the Bay-Delta Plan is Important

While state and federal reservoir operators, fish and wildlife agencies, and water districts all play roles in how water moves through California’s rivers, there is only one agency with both the authority and responsibility to set enforceable flow standards to protect salmon: the State Water Resources Control Board.

Through its Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, the California State Water Resources Control Board is responsible for establishing flow standards intended to protect fish and wildlife, including fall-run Chinook salmon, throughout the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta watershed.

In theory, these standards determine how much water must remain in the rivers rather than being diverted elsewhere.

In practice, however, those protections have often fallen short. Many of the flow standards were written decades ago, and over time, water agencies and regulators have repeatedly relied on temporary measures, negotiated agreements, and regulatory flexibility to allow exports and diversions to continue even as ecological conditions deteriorate.

The result is a widening gap between what the science says salmon need and how rivers are actually managed.

Updating and enforcing the Bay-Delta Plan to reflect modern science remains one of the most important steps California can take to rebuild salmon populations.

Learn more about GSSA’s work on water policy and flow protections here. 

Science and the facts are clear that flow volume, timing, and temperature directly affect juvenile survival, spawning success, and long-term population stability. Yet for years, updates to the Bay-Delta Plan have lagged behind the best available science, even as salmon populations declined and fishing seasons closed.

If California is serious about rebuilding salmon runs, the Bay-Delta Plan must reflect modern, fact-driven flow requirements — especially during critical migration and spawning windows. Voluntary agreements and short-term fixes cannot replace enforceable, biologically sound standards.

The State Water Board is uniquely positioned to set those standards. And with that authority comes responsibility.

When flows are aligned with salmon biology, we see measurable improvement — as the 2026 rebound demonstrates. Incorporating science-based flow requirements into the Bay-Delta Plan is not a radical step. It is a necessary one.

The 2026 Rebound: A Real-World Example

The improved 392,349 adult abundance forecast for 2026 didn’t happen in isolation.

Those fish entered freshwater as juveniles in 2023 and the slightly above-normal wet year of 2024. Decent spring runoff:

• Increased river velocities
• Activated floodplains
• Improved habitat complexity
• Enhanced outmigration conditions

The result? The strongest jack return signal since 2011.

Stronger survival upstream translated into more fish offshore.

This is what happens when rivers behave more like rivers.

Better Flows Also Mean More Jobs

It’s easy to frame river flows as an environmental issue. But they are also an economic one.

When salmon seasons are open and healthy:

• Charter captains book trips months in advance.
• Coastal restaurants feature fresh California salmon.
• Bait shops, tackle stores, and boatyards thrive.
• Communities from Fort Bragg to Monterey benefit.
• Coastal hotels and restaurants fill up with excited anglers.

When seasons close, those same communities absorb the loss.

Water policy isn’t abstract. It determines whether businesses open their doors.

What GSSA Is Working For

Golden State Salmon Association advocates for science-based water management that reflects biological reality.

That includes:

• Protecting cold-water pools in reservoirs
• Ensuring adequate spring pulse flows during outmigration
• Supporting science-based minimum flow standards
• Holding agencies accountable for export decisions
• Investing in hatcheries and genetic monitoring tools like Parentage-Based Tagging (PBT)

We have seen that strategic water management works. The Mokelumne shows it. The 2026 forecast confirms it.

But those gains are fragile.

Increased pressure to divert water, climate-driven extremes, and infrastructure instability threaten to erode progress.

The Bottom Line

Salmon don’t need speeches. They need water — at the right time, in the right amount, at the right temperature.

The rebound we’re seeing in 2026 is proof of concept. When rivers receive adequate flows, salmon survival improves.

The science is clear. The data is measurable. The economic stakes are real.

Water decisions are salmon decisions. And salmon decisions are California decisions.

If we want thriving fisheries, resilient coastal economies, and healthy rivers for the next generation, we must treat flows not as optional — but as essential.

Because when rivers run, salmon return.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2026

Contact: 

John McManus, GSSA Senior Policy Director, 650-218-8650

Salmon Forecast Supports a 2026 Fishery

San Francisco, CA – The Pacific Fisheries Management Council forecasts a current adult salmon ocean population of 392,349. This has improved significantly over recent years, with fishery managers now using this figure to plan the 2026 salmon fishing season. The information was released by the California Dept of Fish and Wildlife during their Salmon Information Meeting.  

Improved Forecast Driven by Strong 2025 Jack Returns 

The forecast is based on the number of adult and sub-adult salmon, known as jacks, that returned to spawn in 2025. The 2025 jack count was the highest since 2011, the result of very rainy, wet conditions in the Central Valley during 2024, and other factors.  The heavy runoff into the Central Valley rivers created conditions much closer to those juvenile salmon need to survive, underscoring the benefit salmon enjoy when there’s enough water in Central Valley rivers.  

Winter-Run Salmon Returns May Ease Early-Season Constraints 

A relatively strong return of protected winter-run salmon to the Sacramento Basin in 2025 points to a less constrained early fishing season in Monterey Bay and other areas south of Pigeon Point. These are the areas where protected winter-run salmon collect. 

Klamath Forecast Still Likely to Limit Some 2026 Fisheries 

Although returns to the Klamath River system were also up last year, this year’s Klamath forecast salmon population is still likely to constrain fishing in some coastal waters in 2026. 

Hatchery Data Shows Higher Survival From Coastal Releases 

Additional info from the six days of ocean sport fishing in 2025 was released. About 67% of the fish caught were hatchery fish.  Of these, 35% originated at the Mokelumne hatchery, and most of these were those that had been trucked to safe release sites on the coast and near the Golden Gate Bridge as juveniles. This underscores the survival benefit of releasing fish closer to the ocean compared to those released in Central Valley rivers or the Delta.    

GSSA: River Flows Remain the Key to Salmon Survival

“We’re cautiously optimistic about what this year’s improved salmon forecast means for a return to a more normal fishing season this year,” said GSSA executive director Vance Staplin.  “You can’t miss the correlation between improved salmon numbers and the fact that these fish swam out of the Central Valley a few years ago in very wet conditions. We hear over and over from all of the experts tagging and tracking juvenile salmon in the Central Valley that survival depends primarily on flow conditions in the rivers.”

State to Use Quota-Based Management for 2026 Season 

The state will attempt to regulate the take of salmon this year based on a quota, or number of salmon, that can be taken during the season. Implementing the quota will involve counting and estimating the total catch in as close to real time as possible.  The state says it expects to hire additional staff to assist in this counting and tabulating process, which will apply to both the sport and commercial sectors.   

Public Process Begins for Setting 2026 Fishing Seasons 

Today’s announcements start an approximately one-month process to determine what kind of salmon fishing will be allowed in California in 2026.  The next step occurs next week when the Pacific Fisheries Management Council meets from March 4 to 9 in Sacramento to craft three possible fishing season options.  The public will get a chance to comment on the three options on March 23 in Santa Rosa.  The PFMC will adopt one of the options in early April.  

Economic Stakes High for Coastal Communities 

“Coastal communities that have grown to rely on the annual salmon fishery are excited at the prospect of hopefully becoming profitable again,” said GSSA board chairman Mike Aughney.  “When you calculate the economic multipliers, the salmon fishery can bring over a billion dollars, spread across not only California, but also in Oregon, where many Central Valley salmon migrate to rear in the ocean.” 

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, a native tribe, 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. 

Currently, California’s salmon industry is valued at $1.4 billion in economic activity and 23,000 jobs annually in a normal season, and about half that much in economic activity and jobs again in Oregon. Industry workers benefiting from Central Valley salmon stretch from Santa Barbara to northern Oregon. This includes commercial fishermen and women, recreational fishermen and women (fresh- and saltwater), fish processors, marinas, coastal communities, equipment manufacturers, the hotel and food industry, tribes, and others.

# # # #

Media contact: John McManus, GSSA Senior Policy Director, 650-218-8650