Salmon disaster declaration granted by U.S. Commerce Secretary
Declaration comes at request of Gov. Kulongoski to ensure commercial ocean salmon fishermen will have access to federal disaster aid
(Salem) - Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a complete closure of the commercial Chinook salmon fishing season in the ocean from Cape Falcon, Oregon to the US/Mexico border off California. The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted on April 8th that NOAA should take such action.
In response to a request by Governors Kulongoski and Schwarzenegger, U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke this afternoon declared a commercial fishery failure under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and a resource disaster under the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act.
“The collapse of the Sacramento River fall Chinook has once again required sweeping closures of Oregon’s ocean to commercial salmon fishing,” said Governor Kulongoski. “The decision today by the Secretary of Commerce comes at an important time for Oregon’s fishing communities and I appreciate the quick response to this critical request.”
Secretary Locke’s decision serves as a continuation of the declarations issued in 2008. By recognizing that the 2009 fishery failure is a continuation of the 2008 disaster, the Department of Commerce has determined that federal funds appropriated, but not fully distributed in the first year, can be carried over to address this season’s economic impacts. There is approximately $53 million dollars in federal aid remaining from last year’s disaster assistance. Oregon will receive $6.7 million.
Last week, Governor Kulongoski 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 in response to the decline in ocean fishing opportunity for commercial fishermen.
Click here for a copy of Secretary Locke’s response to the Governor.
Click here for a copy of the Governor’s letter to the Secretary of Commerce.
Click here for Executive Order 09-08.
Contacts:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rick Hargrave (ODFW), 503-947-6020
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