Disaster relief help sought for fishermen

On the first day of the 110th Congress, bills were introduced in both the House and Senate to aid West Coast commercial salmon fishermen suffering from slashed seasons due to declining Klamath River salmon runs.

WASHINGTON -- On the first day of the 110th Congress, bills were introduced in both the House and Senate to aid suffering salmon fishermen.

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, introduced legislation to provide federal disaster relief to California and Oregon's salmon fishing industry.

The bill authorizes the appropriation of $60.4 million for the fishermen, tribes and businesses that were impacted by the commercial fishery failure of 2006.

California Sen. Barbara Boxer also introduced companion legislation Thursday in the Senate.

Reps. Lois Capps, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Peter DeFazio, Darlene Hooley, George Miller, Doris Matsui, Tom Lantos, Zoe Lofgren, Lynn Woolsey and David Wu co-authored Thompson's legislation. Boxer's legislation is co-authored by Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden.

”It is our responsibility to do everything we can to help the thousands of families and businesses that are suffering from the largest commercial salmon fishery disaster in our nation's history,” said Thompson. “The devastating impact this disaster has had on California's North Coast has been obvious for years, and it is time we help bring this important industry back to life.”

Boxer said: “Our coastal communities have already waited too long to get the disaster relief they need as a result of this administration's mismanagement of the Klamath River. By introducing this legislation on the first day of Congress, we are letting our communities and families know that getting them financial assistance is a top priority this year.”

According to Thompson's office, the fisheries disaster was due in large part to poor federal management of the Klamath River, which caused 80,000 adult salmon to die in 2002. Since then, the salmon population has continued to deteriorate, forcing the Pacific Fisheries Management Council to sizably reduce the fishing seasons in 2005 and 2006. As a result, the commercial fishing season was cut by more than 90 percent in 2006, costing fishing families and associated fishing businesses more than $60 million.

There is also an expectation that the commercial salmon season will be significantly reduced in 2007, as well.

”Getting our fisherman and salmon businesses back on their feet is a top priority for me and my colleagues from California and Oregon,” said Thompson. “But it is also important that we stay focused on restoring the salmon population in the Klamath basin so this disaster does not continue into the future. As a first step toward that goal, we passed legislation last Congress requiring the government to implement a salmon restoration plan, and I look forward to monitoring the government's progress.”