Humboldt Bay provides important habitat for over 115 species of fish, with at least 50 species considered year-round residents. Humboldt Bay's habitats provide feeding, spawning, and nursery grounds for a wide variety of speecies, including salmon, herring, Green Sturgeon, bat rays, and several species of sharks. The abundance of the bay's fisheries have been in decline due to impacts of logging, habitat degradation, and the toxic legacy of dozens of industrial sites. Humboldt Waterkeeper works to hold polluters responsible for the impacts on water quality of the Bay. Our goal is to restore the bay's water quality to support healthy and lucrative fisheries. Sport and commercial fishing in and around the Bay is still a significant part of the local economy. Over 200 commercial vessels list Eureka as homeport and over 500 vessels from other West Coast ports use the bay’s facilities every year, delivering catch to seafood buyers located in Humboldt County.Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, and Pacific Lamprey all pass through Humboldt Bay on their way to streams like Elk River, Freshwater Creek, and Jacoby Creek to spawn. The Tidewater Goby, an endangered species, is limited to the coast of California, and research suggests that Humboldt Bay supports one of the core populations that colonize other areas.
