How does ODFW determine how long the salmon fishing seasons are and what the quotas will be?
The primary limiting factor in structuring fisheries is ensuring compliance with conservation and recovery plans established under the Endangered Species Act (see ESA FAQ). Under the ESA, fisheries are limited to “allowable impacts” on various stocks and species of listed fish. These allowable impacts establish the limits that are imposed on fisheries, in terms of total take of fish. Federal ESA impact limitations are developed and mandated to the states by NOAA Fisheries. The ESA listings require the states to develop fisheries that are able to comply with these limitations, and the allowable fishery impact rates specified by NOAA Fisheries cannot be exceeded. The states must also ensure that sharing agreements with the Columbia River Treaty tribes are upheld. Known as the U.S. vs. Oregon agreement, the latest version of this sharing agreement is in effect for 2008-2017, and specifies the total allowable shares of available ESA impacts that are to be allotted to Treaty and non-Treaty
