Feds warn entire salmon season could be halted

Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

(03-12) 04:00 PDT Sacramento - --

So few salmon are living in the ocean and rivers along the Pacific Coast that salmon fishing in California and Oregon will have to be shut down completely this year unless an emergency exception is granted, Pacific Fishery Management Council representatives said Tuesday.

It would mark the first time ever that the federal agency created 22 years ago to manage the Pacific Coast fishery canceled the coast's traditional salmon fishing season from April to mid-November.