US Fisheries Agencies Adjust Salmon Seasons, Issue New Ecosystem Forecasts

On July 28 2026 the National Marine Fisheries Service announced in‑season closures and modifications to recreational ocean salmon seasons along California’s north coast. The Klamath Management Zone, spanning the waters from the California‑Oregon border to 40°10′ N, was closed, while the Fort Bragg Management Area reopened briefly from August 1 to August 9 before closing again after meeting its harvest guideline of 5,100 Chinook salmon. Other areas – the San Francisco and Monterey Management Areas – remain open through August 31 or until their respective Chinook salmon harvest guidelines of 34,900 and 21,800 are reached.

Separately, NOAA released the 2026 State of the Ecosystem reports for the Mid‑Atlantic and New England regions, marking the first use of seasonal and decadal ocean forecasts in U.S. fisheries ecosystem assessments. The reports, prepared by the Northeast Integrated Ecosystem Assessment team, incorporate NOAA’s Modular Ocean Model version 6 to predict future ocean conditions that affect commercial, recreational and protected species. NOAA scientists and council members said the forecasts provide new tools for multi‑year management decisions.