Fall Salmon Rebound

Doom and gloom over the fate of this year’s fall Chinook salmon run on the Sacramento River may ease now that the number of fish making their way “home” – to the hatchery on the Feather River appears to be strong. 

“It’s an early snapshot of how many fish are coming back and it’s good news ” says Harry Morse spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.

 “The number of fish looks good and the number of eggs we are taking are good.” 

Morse explains that last year at this time DFG saw just 3000 to 5000 fish return to the Feather River Hatchery in Oroville. During the same short interval this year the number was around 20,000.

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San Joaquin Delta water users alarmed by salmon report

A state agency’s opinion on what salmon need to survive has water users warning of an economic disaster.

The State Water Resources Control Board has suggested greatly increased flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

That could mean a reduction of more than 40 percent in the amount of water that farms and cities take from the Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers, one attorney involved in the issue said last week.

Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2010/10/04/1367511/san-joaquin-delta-water-users.html#ixzz11RGBSbz4

State may rescue ailing salmon industry

SAN FRANCISCO — An unabated crash in West Coast salmon numbers prompted a federal department to extend an emergency declaration, potentially providing millions of dollars for out-of-work fishermen and affected businesses.

Chinook salmon once swarmed from the Pacific Ocean — where they were caught by slow-trolling fishermen using lures and baited hooks — through the San Francisco Bay and up delta waterways toward spawning grounds.
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http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/State-may-rescue-ailing-salmon-industry-102318559.html#ixzz0yrzEmhG5

Measure to streamline regulations for salmon restoration on the San Joaquin River headed to the Governor’s desk

From Senator Dave Cogdill’s office:

“Legislation by Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), Senate Bill 1349, which will help farmers, ranchers and other water users adhere to one set of standards by conforming state law with federal law for efforts to restore salmon to the San Joaquin River, is now headed to the Governor’s desk.

The measure originates from a 2006 settlement that ended almost twenty years of litigation regarding salmon runs on the San Joaquin River. Wildlife agencies will begin reintroducing salmon to the river in 2012. However, discrepancies between state and federal law have created a problem for water users complying with the settlement.

“This measure balances the goals of restoring salmon runs to the river without imposing hurdles for water users to comply. I urge the Governor to sign this bill which will also save taxpayers money in the future,” said Senator Cogdill.

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Genetically engineered salmon under FDA consideration

Reporting from Washington —

With a global population pressing against food supplies and vast areas of the ocean swept clean of fish, tiny AquaBounty Technologies Inc. of Waltham, Mass., says it can help feed the world.

The firm has developed genetically engineered salmon that reach market weight in half the usual time. What’s more, it hopes to avoid the pollution, disease and other problems associated with saltwater fish farms by having its salmon raised in inland facilities.

The Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve what would be the nation’s first commercial genetically modified food animal.

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