Coho Salmon Hearing Scheduled for August 16 in Sacramento

The California State Assembly’s Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture will convene an informational hearing on the topic of “Coho Salmon on the Brink: Understanding the Depth of the Crisis and Recovery Strategies.”  The hearing will be conducted on August 16 at 10:00 a.m. in room 4202 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.  It is also expected to be available online.

In a press release, Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro, Chair of the Joint Committee, stated:

"At one time Coho salmon in California were abundant across their entire range from, Santa Cruz to the Oregon border," Chesbro said. "Today they are in danger of disappearing, particularly from their southern range, and are listed under state and federal Endangered Species Acts. This hearing will examine the status of the Coho in California and identify strategies to bring back this important fishery. The Committee will hear testimony from fisheries experts, commercial and recreational fisherman, tribal representatives and other concerned Californians."

More than thirty speakers and panelists are scheduled to participate, including John McCammon, Director of California’s Department of Fish and Game, Rod McInnis, Regional Administrator for the Southwest Region of the National Marine Fisheries Service, and Catherine Kuhlman, Executive Director of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.  They will address a wide variety of topics affecting Coho, including current status and recovery efforts, population trends, stream flow problems and solutions, rearing habitat, and others.  The meeting agenda and presenter information are available here.  Related presentations and documents can be found here.

For more information concerning this hearing, please contact K. Eric Adair from our office, or the KMTG attorney with whom you normally consult.