California’s struggling salmon industry faces another blow as the Nimbus Fish Hatchery in Sacramento County announces major production cuts. With the state’s commercial salmon season shut down for a third straight year, the hatchery – responsible for about 90% of Chinook salmon and steelhead in the lower American River – will reduce output by 50% due to inadequate federal funding.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has allocated $2.5 million for hatchery operations in the coming year, but the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) says $3.16 million is needed to sustain historic production levels, with fish feed alone costing more than $500,000 annually. As a result, fall-run Chinook smolt production will drop from 4.5 million to 2.25 million, while steelhead will be cut from 430,000 to 215,000.
Both CDFW and the Golden State Salmon Association argue the funding falls short of federal obligations to support salmon recovery. “The loss of millions of juveniles from Nimbus would be devastating for the state’s struggling salmon industry, as well as the communities that depend on salmon,” said association director Scott Artis.