Pacific Council adopts 2025 ocean salmon management alternatives for public review after multi-state, tribal and public debate

The Pacific Fishery Management Council on March 11 adopted proposed 2025 ocean salmon fishery management alternatives for public review after hearing technical analysis, tribal testimony, advisory-subpanel reports and public comment.

Council staff presented agenda item E7, outlining that the council would review the supplemental Salmon Technical Team (STT) report and advisory and tribal comments, then adopt alternatives for public review and identify any that might require emergency rule implementation. The STT told the council that some stocks are not meeting management measures and that further modeling inputs from Canada and Alaska could change impacts before final decisions in April.

Why it matters: The alternatives the council advanced will shape preseason public review and in-season options that managers and states use to design commercial and recreational salmon seasons. Tribal representatives told the council that ocean allocations must reflect treaty sharing agreements and long-standing restoration needs, and several public and advisory speakers urged conservative measures to protect at-risk stocks.

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STT analysis and technical warnings Angela Forstall, presenting agenda E7, told the council the adopted alternatives should strive to meet Fishery Management Plan objectives and that the council would further modify options at the April meeting if necessary. Dr. Michael O'Farrell of the Salmon Technical Team summarized Supplemental STT Report 1 and warned that “a small number of stocks” are not meeting management measures under current analyses and that continued…