Report on Sustainable Salmon Fishery Management Actions

Introduction: Collaborative Management for Sustainable Development

A series of coordinated in-season management actions have been announced for the recreational ocean salmon fishery. These actions, resulting from a consultation between the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), and the states of Oregon and Washington, underscore a commitment to sustainable resource management. The decisions reflect a science-based approach to fishery regulation, directly aligning with the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Regulatory Actions and Sustainable Management

Joint Agency Directive for the Columbia River Subarea

The following regulatory changes apply to the recreational salmon fishery in the area from Leadbetter Point, Washington, to Cape Falcon, Oregon.

1. Temporary Reopening: Effective 12:01 AM, Saturday, August 30, 2025, the fishery is open for salmon fishing.
2. Imminent Closure: Effective 12:01 AM, Sunday, August 31, 2025, the fishery is closed to all salmon fishing, and possession of salmon on board a vessel is prohibited.

Harvest Regulations Promoting Species Conservation

During the single-day opening on August 30, 2025, the following rules are in effect to ensure harvesting remains within sustainable limits:

• Daily Limit: Two salmon per person.
• Species Limit: No more than one of the two salmon may be a Chinook.
• Coho Salmon Requirement: All coho salmon retained must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip, a measure to protect wild, unmarked coho populations.
• Size Requirements: A minimum size of 22 inches for Chinook and 16 inches for coho is enforced.
• Area Closure: The Columbia River Control Zone remains closed to salmon fishing.

Rationale and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The management actions are a direct implementation of SDG 14, which calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.

• Preventing Overfishing (Target 14.4): The initial closure on August 19 was enacted as catch estimates indicated the coho quota was nearly met. The decision to reopen for a single, controlled day is based on scientific data showing approximately 3,400 coho remaining in the quota. This precise, data-driven management prevents overfishing and helps restore fish stocks to sustainable levels.
• Science-Based Management: The coordinated decision-making process involving federal, state, and council bodies exemplifies the implementation of science-based management plans to regulate harvesting effectively.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

These regulations promote sustainable consumption patterns by ensuring that the harvest of marine resources does not compromise the long-term health of salmon populations.

• Quota Management: The strict adherence to a pre-determined coho quota ensures that consumption is directly tied to the sustainable capacity of the ecosystem.
• Minimizing Waste and Impact: Rules requiring the release of wild coho salmon ensure that production and consumption activities (recreational fishing) are conducted with minimal negative impact on natural population dynamics.

SDG 8 & 15: Economic Growth and Life on Land

The decision also reflects a balance between conservation and economic activity, supporting sustainable tourism and local economies (SDG 8). By protecting anadromous salmon species, these marine regulations contribute to the health of the interconnected freshwater ecosystems they rely on, thereby supporting biodiversity on land (SDG 15).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article is entirely focused on the management and conservation of marine life, specifically ocean salmon populations (Chinook and coho). It details regulatory actions taken to control fishing and ensure the sustainability of these fish stocks.
2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article demonstrates a multi-stakeholder partnership in action. It explicitly mentions the collaboration between federal and state agencies—the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)—to make a unified management decision.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics.
     • Explanation: The article is a direct example of this target in practice. The agencies are regulating the recreational salmon harvest through a quota system. The text states, “it was anticipated that the coho quota would be reached” and that the decision to reopen the fishery was made “to allow access to the remaining quota, while also minimizing the risk of exceeding the quota.” This demonstrates a science-based management plan designed to prevent overfishing. The rules on daily limits (“Two salmon per day, no more than one of which may be a Chinook”) and the requirement to release wild coho (“All coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip,” “Anglers must release wild coho”) are specific measures to regulate harvesting effectively.
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
     • Explanation: The management actions described—closing and reopening the fishery based on catch data—are designed to sustainably manage the marine ecosystem in the Columbia River Subarea. By strictly controlling the removal of salmon, the agencies are working to protect the fish stocks and, by extension, the health and productivity of the local marine environment. The closure of the “Columbia River Control Zone” is another specific action to protect a sensitive part of this coastal ecosystem.

2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
     • Explanation: The article showcases policy coherence by presenting coordinated and consistent “in-season management action” from three different government bodies: ODFW (Oregon), WDFW (Washington), and NMFS (Federal). They all announce the same dates, rules, and rationale for the fishery’s one-day reopening, indicating that their policies are aligned for the shared goal of sustainably managing the salmon resource that crosses their jurisdictions.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…
     • Explanation: The article explicitly states that the decision was made by the “National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the State of Oregon, the State of Washington, and fishery representatives.” This describes a multi-stakeholder partnership at a regional level, where different entities share information (catch estimates) and expertise to achieve a common sustainable development objective.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 14 Targets

   • For Target 14.4 (Regulate harvesting and end overfishing):
     • Indicator: The article provides specific quantitative data used to manage the fishery, which serves as a direct measure for this target. These include:
       • The existence of a fish stock quota: Mentioned as the “coho quota.”
       • Catch data relative to the quota: The text states, “Catch estimates through the 19th indicate 93% of the coho quota has been taken.”
       • Remaining allowable catch: Calculated as “approximately 3,400 coho remaining.”
     • Indicator: The implementation of management plans is also an indicator. The article details several regulatory actions:
       • Daily catch limits (“Two salmon per day”).
       • Species-specific limits (“no more than one of which may be a Chinook”).
       • Regulations to protect wild stocks (“All coho must be marked with a healed adipose fin clip,” “Anglers must release wild coho”).

2. Indicators for SDG 17 Targets

   • For Target 17.14 (Policy coherence) and 17.16 (Partnerships):
     • Indicator: The existence of a formal consultative process and joint action is a clear indicator. The article states that the agencies “met today via conference call” and took “in-season management action” in consultation with each other and “fishery representatives.” The fact that ODFW, NMFS, and WDFW issued parallel and consistent notices is tangible evidence of this partnership and policy coherence in action.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nwsportsmanmag.com