West Coast fisheries conservation and management

Conservation efforts and regulatory discussions regarding West Coast fish populations have emerged across several species. In the Pacific Northwest, a coalition of organizations has announced plans to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, challenging the denial of Endangered Species Act protections for fisher populations in northern California and southwestern Oregon. Advocates cite habitat loss from logging, wildfires, and poisoning as primary threats.

Simultaneously, salmon advocates are pushing for reforms to international fishing agreements. During a meeting of the Pacific Salmon Commission, groups argued that current frameworks permit excessive Chinook salmon harvesting. The United States and Canada are currently renegotiating the 1985 Pacific Salmon Treaty, with new agreements regarding harvest sharing and conservation expected to be implemented in 2029.

In British Columbia, recovery plans for Upper Fraser Chinook salmon are being developed by combining scientific research with Indigenous Knowledge, even as researchers note that long-term recovery remains uncertain despite recent increases in abundance.