Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

California has canceled salmon season — here’s why that matters

After years of drought finally fade, Californians are hit with yet another devastating problem

Lindsay Parrill
By

For most Californians currently getting pummeled by atmospheric rivers of rain, it’s hard to believe there could possibly still be effects of a drought that, right about now, seems like a distant memory. USA Today reports that after all of the recent California storms, data reveals that parts of California are 200% over the historical average for rainfall year to date.

In fact, after decades of California’s uncomfortable parch, only 36% of the state is still in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. And while this is obviously welcome news after such a difficult period, there is, of course, a chain reaction after such drastic dryness. One of those reactions is that California has had to cancel its 2023 ocean salmon fishing season.

Recommended Videos

Due to the drought, salmon populations have decreased significantly. In 2022, of the 196,000 Chinook salmon expected, only 60,000 adults returned to the Sacramento River to spawn. According to the fish and wildlife department, this was dangerously close to a record low for the area.

Public Domain Images/Pixabay

As a result, the state has teamed up with the National Marine Fisheries Service, including state agencies in Oregon, to ban salmon fishing along the coast from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to the U.S./Mexico border. The ban will run until May 15, and could potentially last through April 2024.

This isn’t the first time this has happened. Salmon fishing was also banned due to drought during the 2008/2009 season. And while the ban did increase the salmon population, it also resulted in what NOAA called a “collapse of the salmon fishery.” According to their research, the 2008 ban forced 1,200 fishing boats to stay in port, and as many as 23,000 jobs were lost. The salmon fishing industry is one upon which tens of thousands of Californians depend, and another ban could result in an absolutely devastating loss.

In the meantime, you’re likely to see higher-priced salmon dishes when you go out to eat (or other fish entirely) — and it’s probably a good time to perfect your cooking skills when it comes to salmon alternatives.

Editors' Recommendations

Lindsay Parrill
Lindsay Parrill
Contributor
Lindsay is a graduate of California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu, San Francisco, from where she holds a degree in…
Campbell’s Soup has an executive chef, and he’s dishing amazing tips and recipes
Did you know Campbell's Soup has an executive chef? Neither did we, but we chatted him up for culinary tips
Campbell's executive chef Bryan Cozzi.

When you think of Campbell's, you probably think of chicken noodle soup and Andy Warhol. Well, the classic American brand, founded back in 1869, also has a research and development team fit with culinary talent. Campbell's even has an executive chef, with whom we chatted about cooking, some special Cambell's Soup recipes, and general tips for an elevated eating experience.

Bryan Cozzi is an East Coast native and has been with Campbell's for a decade. He's helped the company innovate with fresh meals and sauces and currently focuses on soups and broth. After 10 years with Campbell's, he says he's still excited to go to work every day.

Read more
The USDA tightens the rules for organic food labels (and here’s why it matters)
Organic labels are in the process of changing. Here's what you need to know next time you're at the store.
Variety of raw uncooked organic potatoes: red, white, sweet and fingers potatoes over wooden background.

In what can only be described as overdue, the rules for organic food labels are changing. It's a refreshing move that will give consumers more info and allow us to avoid imposter foods trying to play the organic card. It's also one of the biggest moves the USDA has made in recent history.

For years, the rules have been a bit fuzzy, meaning that producers have been able to slap the "organic" label on products that may not technically be so. Like sustainability, organic has become a term with as much (or more) marketing cache thanks to its environmental and health benefits. And with loose regulation comes an opportunity for some producers to enter the fray with products that may not meet the standards others are shooting for.

Read more
Your diet goal for 2023 should include hacking your gut biome — here’s why
Gut health and weight loss: What experts wish you knew about the two
a produce flatlay on a green background

If your New Year’s resolution to lose weight is stalling, consider your gut health. Last month if you logged onto the r/nutrition subreddit, the buzzy word “gut microbiome” came up.

“There is an increasing body of research concluding that gut microbiome strongly [affects] a lot of aspects of our bodies – composition, weight, mood, mental clarity, etc.,” posted u/Dr.Melbourne.

Read more