Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival Meets a Canceled Salmon Season
Over 20 boats braved 30+ knot winds to participate in the Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival Boat Parade and Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, April 23. This was the 50th anniversary of the annual festival, which usually marks the opening of salmon season (sadly, salmon season has been canceled this year). Decorated boats motored up the channel, and upon their return to the marina, were blessed by local clergy.
Aboard their Beneteau 423, EJ Flyer, Janice Dahms and Evan Gomberg of Occidental were the only sailors in the parade this year — the strong winds kept their colorful pennants flying proudly!
This is the first year since 2008 that the salmon season has been closed for both recreational and commercial salmon fishing. Despite this year’s heavy rains, the low fish stock is caused by the prior eight years of drought. The Golden State Salmon Association is doing what it can, but for now, nature just needs time to recover.
Yes drought was certainly a factor, however decisions made by the Newsom administration not allocating small amounts of cool river water stored in reservoirs when salmon need it in the fall for spawning and in the spring to help the baby salmon get out to the ocean is the main reason for the closure. This gives Golden State Salmon Assn., of which I am chairman, the opportunity to publicize California’s anti-environment river water policies. Ca. is usually a leader in environmental policy, absolutely not so when it comes to water.