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