EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Federal biologists are forecasting a big increase in salmon returns to two Northern California rivers that have been stingy in turning out catches for Oregon and California ocean salmon fishermen in recent years.
And while a lot of work has been done to provide more water for fish in the Klamath and Sacramento rivers, experts say an upturn in the cyclical supply of food in the Pacific Ocean is largely responsible.
The Eugene Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/yJsfm6 ) that the Pacific Fishery Management Council forecasts 1.65 million adult Chinook for the Klamath, and 819,000 for the Sacramento.
Newport salmon fisherman Darus Peake, a member of the Oregon Salmon Commission, says the fleet may have a hard time taking advantage because so many fishermen have gone broke or turned to other species.
