May 09, 2005
5/9 - Salmon Disaster in Oregon and California?
From the Eureka Reporter: Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on Thursday urging him to declare a fisheries disaster in California and Oregon. According to a news release from Thompson’s office, this year’s salmon returns are expected to be very low as a result of the drought and low water conditions three years ago. Thompson is seeking financial relief for affected individuals, businesses and communities after the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended severe restrictions on the offshore ocean salmon fisheries of California and Oregon. The California Department of Fish and Game also imposed a drastically reduced salmon fishing season for commercial ocean and river fishermen, as well as for the subsistence fishery of the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk tribes. According to the letter sent to Gutierrez, the estimated loss to the commercial fishing fleet alone will exceed $100 million.
