While the San Juan Islands have been closed to fishing during the winter months for 10 years or more, it will now reopen for hatchery chinook salmon.

Due to negotiations with the state, San Juan Island fishing has been expanded from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. (For the past 10 years, chinook salmon was closed during the months of November, December and January.)

“There is more fishing time than any other area in the inland marine waters,” said Tony Floor, director of fishing affairs for the Northwest Marine Trade Association.

“While the San Juan Islands have been closed to fishing in the winter for at least 10 years, where it has normally been closed for chinook salmon in November, December and January, it will now reopen for hatchery chinook salmon. It will now open on Dec. 1 for Hatchery Chinook Salmon and remain open through the month of April.”

Wintertime fishing has been closed for the last 10 years to protect wild chinook salmon, including those that are protected under the Endangered Species Act.