SAN FRANCISCO, March 13 (UPI) -- U.S. officials are considering canceling the 2008 salmon fishing season in California and Oregon because of a dramatic decline in salmon population.
The total number of Central Valley fall-run chinook salmon has dropped by more than 90 percent since 2002, The Sacramento Bee said.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council estimates only 59,100 chinook salmon will spawn this fall in California's Central Valley rivers, falling well below the minimum conservation goal of 122,000 fish. The National Marine Fisheries Service said poor ocean conditions may be caused by global warming.
The West Coast fishing industry is estimated at $103 million annually, the newspaper said.
