Pacific Fishery Management Council adopts 2025 ocean salmon measures after week of disputed forecasts

Pacific Fishery Management Council members voted April 15 to adopt final ocean salmon management measures for 2025 after a week of technical briefings, advisory‑body recommendations and public testimony.

The measures approve distinct packages for (1) waters north of Cape Falcon, (2) Cape Falcon to the Oregon–California border, (3) Oregon–California border to the U.S.–Mexico border, and (4) treaty troll measures. The council recorded motions and votes to send all four packages to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for review and implementation as appropriate.

Why it matters: Forecasts for key stocks — notably Klamath River fall Chinook and Sacramento River fall Chinook — remained low this year, forcing tradeoffs among tribal, commercial and recreational priorities. Council members, state and tribal co‑managers, and advisory panels debated short recreational openers, quota‑style limits, and whether to allow tribal treaty troll fisheries to extend through late September.

The council adopted measures for waters north of Cape Falcon with a modification shortening some recreational and commercial closure dates to Sept. 15 in selected subareas and adding a pre‑June‑25 possession prohibition in the Columbia River subarea. Kyle Addicks moved the North‑of‑Cape‑Falcon package (seconded by Butch Smith); the motion passed (record: “Motion passes unanimously”). The council next approved the Oregon (Cape Falcon to Oregon–California border) package as presented by John North; that motion passed with four members recorded as voting no. The California package (Oregon–California border to the U.S.–Mexico border) was adopted next; that vote passed with one no vote recorded. Finally, the council approved the treaty troll package for waters north of Cape Falcon, including quota triggers for tribal fisheries; that motion also passed.

Key details and clarifications - North of Cape Falcon: The council adopted the measures in the STT (Salmon Technical Team) report with the edits in the motion. The motion specifies changing summer season end dates to Sept. 15 for several subareas north of Ledbetter Point and prohibits possession of salmon in the Columbia River subarea prior to June 25 on days when that subarea is closed. (Mover: Kyle Addicks; seconder: Butch Smith.) - Oregon (Cape Falcon–Oregon–California border): The Oregon motion adopted the STT package for that area; the council noted four “no” votes. (Mover: John North; seconder: Chris Desvanson.) - California (Oregon–California border–U.S.–Mexico border): California’s package includes highly precautionary, short recreational opportunities and no commercial troll season in 2025; the motion passed with one “no.” (Mover: Marcy Remco/Yremko; seconder: Mark Guralnick.) - Treaty troll (north of Cape Falcon): The council approved the treaty troll submission language that allows tribal regulations to set the September closing date or to close when tribal quotas are taken (motions specify 22,500 Chinook and 37,500 coho quota triggers in the adopted text). (Mover: David Sones; seconder: Kyle Addicks.)

What the advisory bodies and tribes said - The Salmon Technical Team (STT) presented preseason assessment material and a Klamath River fall Chinook analysis, noting natural spawner escapement forecasts below minimum thresholds and a >50% probability that at least one key Klamath substock would be below critical substock thresholds under some fishing scenarios. The STT cautioned that small model updates were forthcoming in Preseason Report 3 but said preliminary changes would be minor. - Makah Tribe representatives and the Makah chairman, TJ Green, urged restoring a September 30 closing date for the treaty troll fishery and described test‑fishery sampling designed to resolve late‑September stock composition questions. “September 30 closing date for Ocean Treaty Trolls fishery would not significantly impact coastal coho stocks of concern,” TJ Green said in testimony. - State representatives and SAS/GAP/GMT advisory members described proposed in‑season monitoring, two‑day recreational openers and other safeguards intended to reduce the risk that a short opener would sweep available harvest limits.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded on the council floor) - Adopt non‑Indian commercial and recreational measures North of Cape Falcon with edits (Addicks motion; second by Butch Smith) — Outcome: adopted (motion passed unanimously; mover and seconder recorded). Notes: modified season end dates to Sept. 15 for specified subareas; added possession prohibition in Columbia River subarea prior to June 25 when closed to retention. - Adopt non‑Indian commercial and recreational measures Cape Falcon to Oregon–California border (North motion; second by Chris Desvanson) — Outcome: adopted (motion passed; four members recorded voting no). Notes: council recorded four no votes (transcript names given at the time of vote). - Adopt non‑Indian commercial and recreational measures Oregon–California border to U.S.–Mexico border (Remco motion; second by Mark Guralnick) — Outcome: adopted (motion passed with one no vote recorded). - Adopt treaty troll measures for waters north of Cape Falcon (Sones motion; second by Kyle Addicks) — Outcome: adopted (motion passed unanimously). Notes: text submitted allows tribal regulations to define the September closing date or ends when specified tribal quotas (22,500 Chinook or 37,500 coho as in motion language) are taken; STT impacts and conservation objectives were accounted for in analysis.

Context and next steps - The STT will incorporate small, final data updates into Preseason Report 3 to reflect late‑breaking corrections the STT noted on the record. The adopted packages will be transmitted to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as the council’s recommendations for 2025 ocean salmon management. NMFS (NOAA Fisheries) will complete federal rulemaking and any emergency regulations needed for implementation.

Closing note: Council members underscored vigilance and continued monitoring. John North, a motion sponsor, said the adopted packages “meet all of our domestic and international conservation objectives for all of our stocks.” The council also requested continuing work on improved transparency and methods review for Klamath and Sacramento forecasting models and on in‑season monitoring plans for short recreational openers. Ending: The council completed final action on salmon measures and moved to conclude the meeting.