May is here, and we can definitely feel the season shifting. Read on for this month's bulletin on the salmon season closure, potential regulatory shifts for dungeness crab, a special AMSEA meeting, a new financial resource for CA fishermen, and more.

2024 Salmon Season Update

On April 10th federal fishery managers unanimously voted to cancel all commercial and recreational salmon fishing off the coast of California for the second year in a row.

In April, CDFW invited public comments on the draft 2023 Salmon Disaster Spend Plan, including the proposed allocations of relief funding to fishing sectors, qualifying criteria, individual payouts and other components. The comment period closed on April 19th. CDFW will finalize the plan for submission to the Department of Commerce. To check for updates regarding the allocation of monies, visit the NOAA webpage linked here.

AMSEA Training May 15th

AMSEA is holding a F/V Drill Conductor training on Wednesday, May 15th in Moss Landing that is free for all commercial fishermen. Join to learn cold-water survival skills, firefighting, how to de-water pumps and more. Get more information about this training opportunity here.

Potential Dungeness Crab Regulatory Shifts

CDFW has proposed amendments to the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) affecting the dungeness crab fishery. The proposed RAMP amendments the following summarized changes:

• Adjust definition of Confirmed Entanglement through removal of Impact Score, and how it is calculated,

• Clarify management areas under RAMP,

• Adjust decision making considerations and timing for Management Actions,

• Clarify reporting requirements and requirements for electronic monitoring,

• Provide specifications for Dungeness crab fishing gear identification, and

• Clarify types of limitations or conditions in authorizing Alternative Gear

Small Fisheries Succession Planning

The MBFT has released a plan to help support California commercial fisheries participants transfer business assets from one generation to the next. The purpose of this document is to identify succession planning tools and strategies that could structure mutually beneficial fishing asset transfers for buyers, sellers, and working oceanfront communities.

Sablefish Gear Switching Decision

The PFMC has selected its final preferred alternative, under which gear switching would only be limited in years when sablefish quota pound availability is low (specifically when northern sablefish annual catch limit is below 6,000 mt). For other FPA provisions and more details, please refer to the April Decision Summary linked here:

Upcoming Meetings

Meetings Archive

Missed a management meeting? It's ok, they get recorded! Not only that, but you can go back and watch meetings from months...to years old.

California Fish and Game Commission

Pacific Fisheries Management Council

For more information about our programs and to access resources relevant to the fishing industry, visit the Fisherman's Portal on our website.