Cdfw. “Recreational Ocean Salmon Fishery Season Curtailed on Much of the California Coast.” CDFW News, 14 June 2021, https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2021/03/11/recreational-ocean-salmon-fishery-season-curtailed-on-much-of-the-california-coast/.

Recreational ocean salmon fishery season has been curtailed and a large part of the California coast, ocean waters will open on April 3 from pigeon point to the US Mexico border, and fish must be at least 24 inches long the northernmost areas of the California coast will remain closed until further notice. These fission management strategies were put in place as a result of the California drought in 2021 salmon fishery representatives, and the Pacific fishery management council PFMC, decided to delay these dates due to poor stock forecasts. These final dates will be decided later in the season for other areas.

This article is fairly similar to the first article I researched, except it was last year and more focused on the ocean rather than coastal rivers, although the article is nearly outdated, it is important to compare last year‘s management to this year‘s management, as we can compare the different stock levels and different management practices. Additionally we can take into account the environmental effects that that year had on the management and the fish levels. 2021 and especially early 2021 was yelling somewhat little rain and very little rain storms. Therefore many species struggle to maintain population levels as coastal rivers struggle to maintain water flow. That is a likely result of these curtailed fishing seasons in 2021. Although we saw similar effects in 2022 and coastal rivers and the ocean, the dates were not pushed back as far and the areas restricted were much smaller and limited to certain rivers rather than nearly half of the California coast north of pigeon point. California is clearly doing the right thing when it comes to management in some of my articles and never seems like California is putting fishing before the health of fish species. Reading articles from the California Department of Fish and wildlife itself to articles that were posted on fishing logs information seems rather similar even fishermen seem to accept the health of their fish species.

“Innovative Management for Central Valley Native Fish.” California Trout, 13 Dec. 2021, https://caltrout.org/news/innovative-management-for-central-valley-native-fish

Innovative management for central valley native fish has been studied in late 2021 into 2022, only 5% of central valley for flood plains remain intact and three or four native chinook salmon runs are endangered or threatened. In the past starving salmon and smelt populations of today were thriving in the central valley where every part of the central valley was essentially a floodplain. The studies done this year we’re on chinook salmon that were placed in floodplains canals and rivers. After two weeks The floodplain salmon is twice the size or even three times the size as the canal and river salmon. Therefore it is clear that the flood plains are a much healthier environment than the canal or rivers. Therefore the habitat restoration and the Sacramento Valley is very necessary. Strategies include providing access to foraging and rearing habitat on the floodplains. And exporting the productivity to inundated floodplains on the dry side. projects such as the Nguri project are doing just that with success.

It is incredible that the entire central valley used to be a floodplain, and rather depressing that so much of it is lost 95% essentially. I wonder how efficient these strategies are in terms of saving water, and if it’s really worth it for the species to be saved, and it is not necessarily saving the species either but rather helping their species become more healthy and growing efficiently. I think there needs to be more done in order to study the floodplains and the possibility of this management for central valley fish. At the end of the day restoring habitats to the way they used to be, when the fish were thriving in the first place is one of the best strategies in my opinion, I think altering the habitats and trying to create new habitats is a dangerous game to play and therefore restoring floodplain saw they were 100 years ago is not a bad idea at all.

Commentary, Guest. “Kelp Is the Fastest Growing Aquaculture Sector in California.” CalMatters, 4 Feb. 2022, https://calmatters.org/commentary/reader-reactions/2022/02/kelp-is-the-fastest-growing-aquaculture-sector-in-california/.

Although not necessarily a fish species, kelp is a critical Californian fish ecosystem, and kelp forest can be found from as far south as the Mexican border and as far north as the Mexican border Oregon border, also being found on coastal islands like Catalina Island or the Channel Islands. The California coastal commission has approved for seven seaweed farms to be started as aqua culture grows as a farming possibility.  These leases of California waters are called “bottom leases “and they’re not giving out easily, there are 10 sites available that cover 16,000 acres of offshore Californian waters for aquaculture specifically.

Some believe aquaculture practices are detrimental to ocean ecosystems, it is in fact true that aquaculture and seaweed production could be driving forces in reversal of climate change or at least the stop of it. It is possible that we can create biofuel with seaweed, feed livestock with seaweed, and use it for other things that could be preventions of climate change. For example feeding seaweed to livestock reduces their carbon dioxide outputs significantly. And livestock carbon dioxide production is one of the greatest factors and greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. Additionally it is already clear that these permits or bottom permits are not being given out easily, in fact the coastal act has prevented more than 10 from ever being given out since 1982. Now aquaculture is a “priority use, “and therefore it is clear that more permits will be given out. Try to tie this into the rest of my articles so far is interesting, as it deals with the ocean and not coastal rivers, however all the articles connect and that associations seem to be smart about handing out restrictions or prohibitions, and since earlier in the year when I read articles it seems that these associations are doing a much better job.

“Caltrout’s North Coast Projects Receive Funding Awards from CDFW.” California Trout, 19 Jan. 2022, https://caltrout.org/news/caltrout-north-coast-projects-receive-funding-awards-from-cdfw.

 On the northern coast of California, the nonprofit Cal trout has received nearly $1 million from the California Department of Fish and wildlife. This funding is for the research of different fish species including salmon and steelhead trout. This portion of the coast is less developed than any other part of California. Therefore they are strongholds when it comes to fish species that we are losing in central and southern California. Watershed health will be improved as a result of these studies being done by professors at UC Berkeley and other private scientific study companies. Multiple plans have already been put in place and rivers such as the eel River Hill river basin Cedar Creek and other creeks and rivers along the north coast some coastal some central.

It is nice to see the connection between this article and the article about the restrictions being placed for the same river such as the Eel river. These rivers are so crucial to the survival of California’s fish species, and placing restrictions on fishing when needed, and doing studies to further understand the species and how we can help them is crucial. Seeing both of these strategies work simultaneously is something we have never seen before, and it is important that they continue as we see more and more droughts, pollution and overfishing. Another connection between this article in the previous article is the CDFW California Department of Fish and wildlife, and both instances the CDFW is the reason for the protection happening, and it is nice to see that we have an association doing its job whether it’s emergency drought funds projects or prolonged fishing restrictions. Although there has been backlash from fishermen, and their industries, at the end of the day these things are being done for them because in the long term there won’t be any native fish left if we don’t make a change. It is also interesting to look at each individual plan or restoration progress report, the amount of funding needed is rather significant adding up to millions of dollars, however it seems their studies are worth it and their connections to tribal and nonprofit associations or rather interesting. It seems many of the restorations are either removal of dams or barriers or re-restoration or redirecting rivers and creeks.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Emergency Regulations Allow CDFW to Extend Angling Restrictions in Coastal Waters Experiencing Prolonged, Low-Flow Conditions from Drought.” Lake County News, 5 Feb. 2022, https://www.lakeconews.com/news/recreation/71657-emergency-regulations-allow-cdfw-to-extend-angling-restrictions-in-coastal-waters-experiencing-prolonged-low-flow-conditions-from-drought.

 In Clear Lake, California, The California Fish and Game Commission decided to adopt regulations to allow the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to further restrict fishing regulations into the season. These restrictions have been put in place as a result of an extended drought relating to low flow river conditions. The slow flow is occurring in the Russian, Eel, and Smith Rivers particularly, but is not limited to just those three as there are several other river rivers with similar conditions. The restriction is currently in place until April 30, however could possibly be extended. Salmon and steelhead are the fish that the restrictions have been put in place to protect. Particularly breeds such as the coho salmon or steelhead trout. These restrictions were put in place on January 31.

Although frustrating for many Californian anglers this restriction that was put in place is well worth it in terms of the overall health of the ecosystem, and the possibility for these fishes continued survival in years to come. If these fishermen think in the bigger picture they might realize that if they over fish in a year like 2022 where we have seen limited rainfall and even drought, it would be clear that they could lead to the extinction of the species as a whole, destroying their possibilities of catching these fish in the future. Therefore, although Frustrating for fishermen, the new regulation is proper. It is interesting to me that these regulations are called emergencies, however in the future maybe they will become so frequent that they are no longer emergencies and this is the beginning of a trend we might see in the future. Although unfortunate for fishermen it is clear that this restriction is necessary as many of the fish species that the restriction is letting me to protect are already struggling to continue their previous reproduction rates as they swim up coastal rivers.

• Protecting the largest, most prolific fish may boost productivity of fisheries. UC Santa Cruz News. (2021, August 17). https://news.ucsc.edu/2021/08/fisheries-productivity.html.

The UCSC article explains the flaws in fishery assumptions that harm the productivity of the fisheries and therefore the health of the species. Long story short, due to previous unreliable studies fisheries have made the assumption that all fish will reproduce and produce the same number and health of offspring. Some fisheries even target the younger females. However according to new studies larger and more mature females are more likely to produce higher quality and numbers of offspring. 

This study shows a different side of management including its flaws. It also shows the importance of environmental scientists in their roles to provide quality results in studies that can make a difference for the success of fisheries and other things on the economic side, along with the success of a given species health.

• ScienceDaily. (2021, January 11). More management measures lead to healthier fish populations. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210111112149.htm.

The article’s main point is that “In general, we found that more management attention devoted to fisheries is leading to better outcomes for fish and shellfish populations.” It is important that the study was done across hundreds of diverse marine ecosystems that all show the same result of thriving after management. An example of the management’s success comes with the mid-Atlantic population of black sea bass in the US, plans to rebuild the population started in 1996 and the Bass made a full recovery by 2009. 

Overall the article goes to show the importance of environmental science and regulations. Direct evidence from a respectable study shows that regulations lead to a more thriving ecosystem. It is interesting that the study explains that fishing can still be done while preserving a thriving ecosystem. This sort of goes against John Muir’s ideas of preservation without human interference and instead supports the idea of conservation while still using resources.

• Duggan, T. (2021, March 11). Bay area salmon season is expected to be much shorter this year, bringing higher prices. San Francisco Chronicle. https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/environment/article/Bay-Area-salmon-season-is-expected-to-be-much-16016342.php.

Salmon season is expected to fall drastically this year as the projected number of fish from the Sacramento river goes from 473,200 last season to 271,000 this spring. Not only is the drop giving fishermen a sharp drop in business but we will see less salmon in our markets for higher prices. Fishermen, scientists and policymakers at the Pacific Fisheries Management Council met to decide a reasonable number of fish to be caught, along with a reasonable length of season. After extensive work the PFMC will come to a restricting decision to manage the numbers of Salmon allowed to be caught especially because the numbers are fluctuating quickly.

The article illustrates the way that Environmental scientists work closely with local, and larger governments, our economy, and the workers in it(fisherman in this case). They must make laws annually in order to preserve our ecosystems. It is interesting to think about how significant this job would be, the salmon around the bay area is a single species out of millions that need to be preserved. It really proves how important environmental scientists are.

• Fisheries, N. O. A. A. (2021, August 13). NOAA issues 2021 report on Global IUU fishing and bycatch of protected marine life resources. NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/noaa-issues-2021-report-global-iuu-fishing-and-bycatch-protected-marine-life-resources.

 The US report on Unreported and Unregulated fishing reveals the 31 nations that engaged in IUU fishing activitues this past year. Along with the 31 nations, Mexico was additionally flagged for failing to restrict vessels from crossing into the US waters of the gulf of Mexico and engaging in IUU fishing. As a result the US plans to restrict Mexican vessels from entering US ports and possibly restricting their imports. Overall the article sheds a negative light on global fishing standards and goes to show the work that needs to be done.

In terms of Environmental science the article is rather disappointing. It is disappointing that 31 countries are breaking laws that protect our oceans speciation,

• FAO.org. What is IUU fishing? | Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021, February 13). http://www.fao.org/iuu-fishing/background/what-is-iuu-fishing/en/.

IUU fishing Stands for Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Illegal fishing is essentially when a fishing vessel is fishing against the laws of its own nation or state. For example when a US vessel breaks laws in US waters it is illegal fishing. Unreported fishing is reported, or have been misreported, to the relevant national authority, in contravention of national laws and regulations. And lastly Unregulated fishing is done by vessels that do not fly their nation’s flag or do not associate with a nation. When unregulated these vessels have no rules to follow and are therefore part of the IUU.

The article gives important context to the globally accepted standard for the most basic rules that need to be followed by all nations. The IUU gives context to what sort of environmental science jobs might be available and the large scale of those jobs.