California’s salmon fishery is reopening after a population crash led to a 3-year closure, but that doesn’t mean all is well

Salmon have faced a boom-bust cycle for years. Making their recovery last longer will require some big changes, including how hatcheries produce fish.

By: Eric Palkovacs, University of California, Santa Cruz and Steven T. Lindley, University of California, Santa Cruz, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 26, 2026

Words: 1,302

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Eric Palkovacs, University of California, Santa Cruz and Steven T. Lindley, University of California, Santa Cruz

Along the California coast, from Bodega Bay to Morro Bay, commercial fishing boats have started pulling in salmon for the first time in three years, and local salmon are once again appearing on restaurant menus and in seafood markets across the state.

California’s commercial ocean salmon fishery began reopening in May 2026 for the first time since …

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