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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Police: Man beat neighbor with cane in lawn dispute ... Ariella St. Clair retiring from producing live music shows ... Pipeline project annoys east Medford residents ... Police: Man beat neighbor with cane in lawn dispute ... Ariella St. Clair retiring from producing live music shows ... Pipeline project annoys east Medford residents ... WEST COAST Pacific salmon may be scarce, pricy in stores this summer Comment By Scott Smith The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Scott Smith The Associated Press Posted Apr. 16, 2016 at 4:47 PM By Scott Smith The Associated Press Posted Apr. 16, 2016 at 4:47 PM » Social News FRESNO, Calif. — Salmon caught off the Pacific Coast may be harder to find in stores this summer and cost more with tight restrictions imposed on fishermen who anticipate pulling fewer of the prized catch into their boats, officials said. Four years of bruising drought in the West has strained inland rivers where salmon spawn, putting the fish in sharp decline. Restrictions announced this week leave fisherman nearly half of the opportunity to catch salmon compared to last year, under the recommendations of an industry oversight body. "If you like the good stuff, it's going to be harder to find this year," said Dave Bitts, a Eureka, California, fisherman and adviser to the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The council oversees commercial and recreational salmon fishing off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. It is made up of industry representatives, scientists and government officials. The National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to adopt the council's recommendations on May 1. Salmon depend for survival on cold and abundant water flowing down rivers, such as the Sacramento and Klamath, where the fish migrate and spawn in three-year cycles. California has endured the driest four-year period on record before this winter's El Nino delivered some relief with a near-average snowpack. The salmon industry in California and Oregon alone is valued at $2 billion annually. It supports 23,000 jobs in California, according to the Golden Gate Salmon Association. "While fishermen are not happy to have restricted seasons, they realize their responsibility to be good stewards," said John McManus, the association's executive director. The fishing industry and farmers in California's fertile Central Valley are in a constant struggle over the same river water to sustain their livelihoods. The last two years have been disastrous for salmon in the Sacramento River. Just 3 percent of California's juvenile winter-run salmon survived in 2015 compared to 5 percent survival the previous year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries agency has reported. It is too soon to say how high the price of wild-caught salmon could be for consumers until fisherman return to the docks with their catch. Wildlife officials, however, estimate low numbers swimming in the Pacific. "As a fisherman, you always expect a miracle, that there's all kinds of fish in the ocean," said Larry Collins, a San Francisco commercial fisherman and seafood buyer. "I just don't expect that this year." By Scott Smith The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Scott Smith The Associated Press Posted Apr. 16, 2016 at 4:47 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501