These are some of the conclusions of the California Current Ecosystem Status Report, an annual assessment of the West Coast marine ecosystem by NOAA’s California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment team. The report provides ecological insight for the Pacific Fishery Management Council and others on the ecological, social, and economic factors likely to influence fisheries and other ocean uses in the coming year.
The report assesses conditions and trends over the last year for insight on coming seasons. Other leading takeaways from the annual report include:
- Deep-water nutrients likely fostered toxic algae as it mixed with warm surface water
- Juvenile salmon, young rockfish and anchovy flourished in productive conditions
- Shrimp-like krill, which often reflect the health of the ecosystem, proved abundant coastwide
- Precipitation on land reduced drought conditions but sparse snowpack reduced water storage
- Four coastal fish processors closed as total coastwide landings remain low
View the key messages in our interactive infographic.
Read the full summary of the report by NOAA Fisheries.
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Read the full 2025-26 California Current Ecosystem Status Report.