Expert Panel Examines Uncertain Future of Salmon and Steelhead

News Release: For Immediate Release, January 14, 2009

Contacts: Sep Hendrickson (707) 452-8595
Dan Bacher (916) 685-2245
thingy Pool (925) 825-8560


“Salmon: Recovery or Extinction” - Expert Panel Examines The Uncertain Future of Salmon and Steelhead in California


A panel of fishing, biological and environmental experts on Saturday, January 17, will convene at the International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo in Sacramento to discuss the uncertain outlook for salmon and steelhead in California. A news conference (press only) is set for 12:00 noon at the Cal Expo Administration Offices, followed by a public presentation at 1 p.m. in the California Sportsmen Theater.

The future of these prized fish stands at a crossroad. For the first time in 150 years, the commercial and recreational ocean salmon fishing season in California and most of Oregon was closed in 2008. All recreational salmon fishing on Central Valley rivers was also closed, with the exception of a two-month season on a short stretch of the Sacramento River. The result was a huge economic disaster resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs by commercial fishermen, fish processors, equipment manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

The 2008 closure was spurred by the return of less than 90,000 fall run Chinook salmon to spawn in the Sacramento River system in 2007. Federal and state fishery biologists estimate that less than 60,000 fish returned this fall. As recently as 2002, 780,000 fall run fish returned to the system. Key causes of the unprecedented collapse include massive export pumping from the Sacramento San-Joaquin River Delta, water pollution and the decline in upriver habitat conditions, combined with poor ocean conditions.

Will the runs be recovered or will the current government policies assure their extinction? The panel will discuss these issues and reveal the steps that must be taken if extinction is to be avoided.

The panelists are Dr. Joshua A. Israel, UC Davis State of the Salmon Team Led by Dr. Peter Moyle; Barry Nelson, Water Policy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council; Assemblyman Jared Huffman, Chair, Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee; Zeke Grader, Executive Director, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations; Michael Jackson, Attorney, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance; and Dick Pool, Administrator, Water4Fish Program. Dan Bacher will moderate the press conference, while Sep Hendrickson, California Sportsmen Radio, will moderate the public presentation.

Dr. Joshua Israel, part of the prestigious team of fishery researchers led by Dr. Peter Moyle at U.C. Davis, has spent the last two years in a study commissioned by California Trout to analyze the current conditions of the 31 remaining species of salmon, steelhead and trout in California.

“Unless society makes substantial changes in river flow management and estuarine habitat conditions for salmon and steelhead in the near future, two-thirds of the runs are headed for extinction,” said Israel. “The extinctions include three runs of Sacramento River Chinook and one run of Klamath River Chinook that have been the backbone of the California recreational and commercial salmon fishery. Every citizen and leader of California needs to do more to avoid this extinction crisis so our families and communities can benefit from a resilient environment and reliable water.”

Assemblyman Jared Huffman, a member of the legislature since 2006, represents the 6th District that encompasses Marin County and parts of Solano County. Mr. Huffman, a recreational angler, now chairs the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee that has oversight over legislation affecting the state’s fisheries. Prior to his election to the legislature, Huffman helped forge several key fisheries accomplishments including a historic agreement that calls for the restoration of 153 miles of the San Joaquin River.

“We clearly face a growing crisis in the salmon, steelhead and trout populations of California,” said Huffman. “We also face a crisis in allocating and managing the water deliveries of California to sustain our population growth and our economy. Unfortunately, the legislature and the governor have been unable to develop a consensus on how to do this job. We want to solve the problems and I am dedicated to see that we do not leave out the needs of fish and the industries they support. However, as we know, water management policies and practices must change in order for California to meet the various competing demands."

Barry Nelson is Water Policy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In July of 2008 with his guidance, NRDC produced a comprehensive study showing how California can recover its salmon and also meet its water needs for several decades. The report, titled “Fish Out of Water,” can be reached at http://www.NRDC.org.

“Salmon are a unique resource,” said Nelson. “They’re an iconic fish, a valuable commercial and recreational fishery, and a keystone species that can help us manage our water and rivers in a more sustainable way. If we invest properly, in alternative water supplies – what we call the “virtual river” – we can develop enough water to meet our future water needs and leave more water in our rivers."

Zeke Grader has represented the interests of commercial salmon trollers for 25 years. He has drafted legislation and regulations and served on numerous state and federal fisheries advisory committees. He is a member of the Environmental Law Section of the California Bar, the American Fisheries Society and the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists.

Michael Jackson is an attorney who has specialized in fishery and environmental issues for over 20 years. He has attained numerous rulings that protect fish including numerous State Water Resources Control Board actions, the most recent of which was the revocation of the Auburn Dam water rights. In November 2008, he filed notice of a landmark suit against the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation asking the court to curtail water exports from the Delta.

“Management of fisheries by the courts is not the best way to proceed in the long term, but is absolutely necessary in the short term if the species are to survive," said Jackson. "Therefore, if the state and federal governments fail to obey the laws, we have no recourse. The organizations I represent, including CSPA, C-WIN, Water4Fish and many others, will continue to fight these battles until the laws are obeyed and our fisheries are managed the way they should be to restore and enhance the fishery.”

Dick Pool is an engineer and principal owner of Pro-Troll Fishing Products. He has served on numerous state and federal salmon advisory committees. He has testified before Congress and the Legislature on salmon and has written three books and produced two movies on salmon subjects. He served three terms on the board of directors of the American Sportfishing Association and administers the Water4Fish.org fish advocacy program.

“So far we are losing the battle to protect salmon and steelhead," said Pool. "The water people have been in control and the fish are the losers. Fishermen and wildlife supporters are currently not players in the political process. We are ignored. Our only recourse is to get more politically involved and get organized. When you log into Water4Fish.org, you give us your grass roots proxy and you tell the politicians that represent you that you want changes.”