Will California Have a Salmon Season in 2025? Public Process Kicks Off with CDFW Meeting

With Northern California’s salmon populations in decline and back-to-back season closures in recent years, uncertainty looms over whether a 2025 salmon season will be allowed. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will begin the public process of determining the upcoming season with its annual Salmon Information Meeting, held virtually on Wednesday, February 26, at 10 a.m. The meeting will provide key data on spawning returns, abundance forecasts, and management objectives, setting the stage for regulatory decisions in the coming months.

As fishery managers and stakeholders work to balance conservation efforts with the economic impact of closures, KMUD News asked CDFW Marine Region’s Emma Keller whether officials are leaning toward allowing a season or facing a third consecutive closure. Lauren Schmitt reports…