The California Department of Fish and Game announced it will commence a status review of the coho salmon that inhabit coastal streams from San Francisco Bay north to the Oregon border to determine whether to recommend the popular commercial and sport angling fish for listing as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.

The year-long status review will solicit biological information and public comment from a variety of sources to help develop the basis for DFG's conclusions.

The review process began in April when the California Fish and Game Commission accepted for consideration a petition from the public to list the north state coho salmon, also known as silver salmon, as endangered. Once the commission accepted the petition for consideration, coho salmon became a candidate species under the provisions of CESA and DFG was required to undertake the status review.

DFG has until April 2002 to present its report and its recommendations to the commission, which will then make the decision to list the fish or not, and in which category, threatened or endangered.

Last week, DFG mailed public notices that announced to various constituents and interested parties that the status review has begun. The notice also contains a solicitation for information and comments that will assist in the review. Responses must be received by Aug. 31 to be considered in the final report to the commission.

Information and comments should be sent to: California Department of Fish and Game, Native Anadromous Fish and Watershed Branch, 1807 13th Street, Suite 104, Sacramento, Ca. 95814; Attention: Coho Status Review.

Coho salmon were once a popular commercial and sport angling fish in California. They are found in coastal streams from the Oregon border south to Santa Cruz County. The decline of California populations of coho salmon in recent years has resulted in severe restrictions on commercial and recreational fishing.

In 1995, the commission listed coho salmon that inhabit streams south of San Francisco as state-listed endangered. All California populations of coho salmon are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.