Council takes preliminary guidance on 2025 ocean salmon measures; Quinault and QTA request September 15 treaty closure

The council provided preliminary guidance on tentative ocean salmon management measures and asked the Salmon Technical Team (STT) to complete impact calculations in time for final action at the next meeting.

STT lead Mike O’Farrell presented updated impact matrices showing several stocks still at risk under existing options and noted the Klamath and certain Puget Sound stocks required particular attention.

Tribal representatives asked the council to limit ocean fishing in September. Quinault Treaty Area (QTA) delegates told the council they oppose extending the treaty troll season through Sept. 30 and urged that all ocean fisheries (treaty troll, non‑treaty commercial, and recreational) be closed no later than Sept. 15 as a precaution to reduce risk to Washington North Coast natural‑origin coho. QTA representatives also requested a coordinated, multi‑year, genetic‑based test fishery across North‑of‑Falcon areas 2, 3 and 4 if more data are needed to understand late‑season stock composition.

Council staff advised that the STT will incorporate the latest inputs and correct a freshwater input error that affected some inside fisheries projections; staff said corrected numbers will be available for the council’s final action tomorrow. For the Klamath fall Chinook, tribal representatives reiterated their request that the 50:50 sharing rule be honored and tribal harvest maximized in accordance with the harvest control rule; staff confirmed the earlier guidance to maximize tribal harvest under the control rule had been implemented in the runs provided to the council.

The STT will return with refined effect tables and text for the council’s final decisions.