19 Mar 2023 Salmon Disaster Updates from March 18, 2025
2023 Salmon Disaster Updates from the March 18, 2025 Meeting
During a the meeting, Chester Lindley from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) provided an update on the 2023 Salmon Disaster Relief Program. Lindley, the senior environmental scientist overseeing the Ocean Salmon Project, outlined the key details of the $20.6 million relief program approved by NOAA in January 2025. The slides from this presentation can be downloaded here and you can watch the full meeting below.
Key Takeaways
Funding Overview:
The $20.6 million in relief funds will be distributed primarily through direct payments to commercial salmon fishers, fish processors, CPFV (charter) operators, and in-river guides.
Eligibility Criteria
Commercial Salmon Fishers:
Must have held a salmon vessel permit in 2023 and recorded landings in 2021 or 2022.
Fish Processors:
Must have documented salmon landings in 2021 or 2022.
CPFV Operators:
Must have taken at least 30 anglers on salmon trips between 2018 and 2022, with at least one trip in 2021 or 2022.
In-River Guides:
Must have held a guide license from 2020–2023 and indicated they were targeting salmon.
Application Process
The application portal opened on March 3, 2025, and will close at midnight on June 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted online through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) portal. If you qualify for more than one sector, a special link is required to apply for multiple payments.
Payment Timeline
Payments will be processed after the application period closes on June 1, 2025. No paper applications are available, and late applications will not be accepted.
Contact Information
For application issues, contact ca_fish_disaster@psmfc.org.
For general program questions, email salmondisaster@wildlife.ca.gov.
Additional Notes
Applicants will receive confirmation upon successful submission of their applications. Disputes over payment amounts or records should be directed to Pacific States.
Lindley addressed several questions about eligibility, application errors, and payment disputes, emphasizing that Pacific States is responsible for processing applications and handling financial issues. For additional information, please visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.