GSSA Executive Director On California Salmon Situation: ‘Time For Decision Makers To Change Course’

Golden State Salmon Association executive director Scott Artis wrote an opinion piece in the San Jose Mercury News that spells out what needs to be done to help solve California’s salmon woes. While fishing seasons returned after two years of closures, there is still concern about the long-term sustainability of Central Valley and North Coast Chinook amid political infighting for water rights and Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial water projects.

Artis was clear in his assessment of the situation in his editorial, proclaiming that, “It’s time for decisionmakers to change course.”

Here’s more from Artis:

Closed salmon runs mean closed tackle shops, and struggling motels, marinas and marine supply stores. Fishing communities, which should be bustling through a long fishing season, are becoming ghost towns. Our restaurants, markets and dinner tables are bare of delicious and healthful California salmon.

When runs are healthy, California’s salmon fishing industry supports 23,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in economic activity.

Today, salmon fishing faces three grim threats.

Artis goes on to mention the collapse of salmon runs throughout the state’s watersheds, followed by intervention from the Trump administration’s pursuit of appeasing farmers who have been begging for more water allocation despite the struggles of salmon and other anadromous species, and finally some of Newsom’s policies that have been panned by GSSA and other fishing industry sources. It’s a very compelling read.