Humble salmon would be elevated to official state fish

SACRAMENTO
February 22, 2010 11:55am

The Chinook salmon, largest of the Pacific salmons and once in abundance in the Central Valley where they spawn in the rivers and creeks, would become California’s official state anadromous fish under a bill authored by Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.

But the bill would do more.

It establishes a state goal to restore Chinook salmon to sustainable levels within a decade. The population of the fish has declined dramatically in recent years to the point where some feel it is headed toward extinction.

Mr. Huffman’s bill also calls on the state Department of Fish and Game to work collaboratively with public and private partners to restore Chinook salmon, and to prioritize conservation planning efforts for recovery of Chinook and other types of salmon.

"Given their incredible resilience, their important role in California's history, and the critical values they provide today for both healthy ecosystems and the state's economy, it is fitting that the Chinook salmon be officially recognized as the state anadromous fish," says Mr. Huffman. "It is equally important that the state renew its commitment to recovery of Chinook salmon to levels sufficient to once again support viable tribal, recreational and commercial fisheries, and to ensure these fish will still be around for our grandchildren to enjoy and appreciate."

The bill does not specify how the fish population would be increased. But the decline has been blamed in part on the pumping of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to urban and farming users.

The salmon commercial fishing season has been closed for the last two years. Mr. Huffman says the economic impact of the closure is estimated at over $2 billion, with as many as 23,000 jobs lost.

"It is imperative that the Legislature and responsible state agencies do all we can to protect these invaluable fish populations,” says state Sen. Pat Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, a co-sponsor of the bill.

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