Commission discusses Pacific Council salmon season alternatives and possible comment supporting recreational alternative

The Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission discussed season alternatives proposed through the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and considered whether to submit public comment ahead of the council's impending decision.

Commissioner Dominic Weaver summarized the PFMC process and described the council’s document, saying the council estimated about "43,000 Chinook salmon" available off the California coast for harvest and that the recreational alternative under discussion would open four short periods with a statewide quota of about 7,000 fish.

"They have a quota. It's completely different than anything we've ever experienced before," Weaver said, noting the proposed recreational calendar would consist of several short open periods rather than a continuous season. He told commissioners the council would likely rely on creel‑and‑ramp counts, temporary census workers and other data sources to estimate catches and close fisheries when quotas were reached.

Why it matters: The alternatives would permit limited recreational harvest in a season constrained by low abundance estimates and propose small commercial landing windows with low weekly limits. Local party‑boat operators and commercial fishers have argued the options would make it economically difficult to operate, and the council previously declared a fisheries disaster for affected fleets.

Commission discussion and suggested action

Commissioners discussed whether to file written or oral comments. One commissioner suggested a potential comment language: "Mendocino County Fish and Game Commission supports alternative 2 for recreation and defers to the commercial fleet for their choices on that." The meeting record shows commissioners asked staff to circulate council contact information and instructions for remote participation; no formal vote was recorded at the meeting.

Next steps and timing

The PFMC meeting and related comment window are scheduled for mid‑April (the commission referenced an April 11–15 meeting date). Commissioners who wished to speak or submit written comments were advised to follow the PFMC public‑comment instructions; attendees noted that late written comments may be accepted only via phone during the council meeting.

Ending

Commissioners expressed interest in filing or phoning in comments in support of the recreational alternative and agreed to coordinate logistics; the commission did not adopt a formal resolution during the session.