Oregon, California Governors Request Salmon Disaster Declaration

Low returns of Sacramento River fall Chinook will curtail commercial salmon fishing; Governor orders state agencies to help struggling coastal fishing communities

April 21, 2009 -- (Salem) - Today, Oregon Governor Kulongoski and California Governor Schwarzenegger requested that U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke declare both a resource disaster under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act, and a commercial fishery failure under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Securing federal declarations under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Act will provide important leverage for ocean fishermen seeking vital economic assistance.

“Salmon are a vital component of California and Oregon’s natural resources and provide
significant aesthetic, recreational, commercial, and economic benefits to our state,” the governors wrote. “Economic assistance will again be critical for the well-being of our fishing communities and states.”

Governor Kulongoski also issued Executive Order 09-08 declaring a state of emergency in Tillamook, Lincoln, Coos, Clatsop and Curry counties and coastal portions of Lane and Douglas counties as a result of actions earlier this month by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to limit commercial salmon fishing in the ocean.

“Sadly, this is the second consecutive year that the collapse of the Sacramento River fall Chinook has led to major commercial ocean fishing closures along Oregon’s coast,” Governor Kulongoski said. “We need salmon populations to rebound, in order to sustain ocean ecosystem health as well as Oregon’s fishing communities.”

Anticipated low numbers of Sacramento River fall Chinook returning to the river led to a March vote by the Council to not allow a previously scheduled March 15 opener for commercial salmon fishing from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain and from Humbug Mountain to the Oregon/California Border. On April 8th, the Council voted to completely close the commercial Chinook salmon fisheries from Cape Falcon, Oregon to the US/Mexico border off California.

As in 2008, the Governor directed state agencies to immediately take steps to mitigate economic harm to Oregon’s commercial salmon fishing families and related businesses. Specifically, the executive order directs state agencies to assist with job retraining, provide food and health services, and to seek emergency financial assistance among other actions.

“While I recognize there are many Oregonians in need at this time, I nonetheless have asked state agencies to make serving the coast a priority since these communities have been struggling over the last several years as a result of extremely limited fishing opportunity,” explained Governor Kulongoski.

The Council’s recommendation for the season closure has been forwarded to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) fisheries division for review, and approval is anticipated by May 1, 2009.

Source: Oregon Governor