Salmon season shortened

The impacts of the collapse of the Sacramento River salmon fishery continue to be felt. Last week the state Fish and Game Commission decided that the fall salmon-fishing season on the river would be shortened to from six months to just two, Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. It also would be limited to the stretch between Red Bluff and Knight’s Landing, and the daily catch limit would be reduced from two to one fish.

No fishing will be allowed on the Sacramento’s tributaries, including the Feather River. And all spring-run fishing will be banned.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier announced an emergency ban on commercial salmon fishing off the coast, the first in more than 150 years. Fall fish counts are expected to be only one-third of historic levels.