It's almost certain there will be no California wild salmon at markets and restaurants in 2023. And recreational boaters won't be able to put poles in the water to catch Chinook.

That's because commercial fishermen and government fisheries managers asked to shut down the entire salmon fishery this year due to a dramatic dearth of salmon in the coastal waters off Oregon and California.

Last week in Seattle, commercial fishing representatives asked the Pacific Fishery Management Council to recommend full closures of the salmon fishing season from the south Oregon coast to San Diego.

The council is the group that recommends seasonal limits for ocean fisheries. And looking at the numbers, there is no way the season can proceed....if there are to be wild California salmon in the future.

In the coming days, the KRCB newsroom will be bringing you interviews and stories about Sonoma County's salmon fishing industry...

and what the absence of fresh, wild-caught king salmon will mean for our restaurants, markets and other businesses.  

Meanwhile, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is providing millions of dollars in funding to improve salmon habitat throughout the state.