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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman David Wu and eleven other members of Congress today sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi to ask she support critical economic disaster relief for ocean salmon fishers in the forthcoming emergency spending bill. $60.4 million in disaster relief funds is needed for West Coast salmon fishers and related businesses that are suffering from last year's federally mandated ocean salmon fishery closure.
"Oregon salmon fishers and their families need Congress to deliver. Their livelihoods depend on it," said Congressman Wu. "This disaster wasn't created by fishermen, but rather by poor Klamath Basin management decisions made back in Washington, D.C."
The $60.4 million represents $16 million in 'direct vessel' assistance for ocean salmon fishers in both Oregon and California. Financial losses for Oregon and California businesses directly associated with the commercial and recreational salmon fishing industries are estimated at $8.7 million and $35.7 million, respectively.
February 14, 2007
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
H-232 Capitol
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
As the House Appropriations committee starts deliberations on the emergency supplemental, we respectfully request that you ask House Appropriations committee to include $60.4 million for disaster relief for commercial salmon fishermen along the coasts of California and Oregon. This disaster aid is critical to commercial salmon fishermen, tribes and related businesses affected by the commercial fishery failure of 2006 - the largest commercial salmon fishery disaster in U.S. history.
Last year, the Department of Commerce all but eliminated the commercial salmon fishing season for more than 1,000 commercial salmon fishermen in California and Oregon due to poor salmon returns along the Klamath River. Early salmon return data indicate that fishing will likely remain closed for the 2007 season, further compounding the economic impact to our fishing communities. The impact upon the coastal areas dependent upon this industry has been devastating. Despite the Secretary of Commerce declaring a commercial fishery failure on August 10, 2006 and personally making calls to House and Senate Appropriations Committee chairmen, the 109th Congress was unable to appropriate funds before adjournment.
Issuing these disaster funds is a top priority for our constituents and is supported by the governors of Washington, Oregon and California, our county boards of supervisors, the Klamath Water Users Association and the California Chamber of Commerce. We are also steadfastly committed to instituting comprehensive legislation that will restore the Klamath River basin so commercial salmon fishermen, tribes, farmers and related businesses do not have to suffer these types of disasters again.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. We stand ready to work with you and the House Appropriations committee to ensure that this disaster aid is included in the emergency supplemental.
Sincerely,
DAVID WU
Member of Congress
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BACKGROUND: In April 2006, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) completely closed commercial ocean salmon fishing south of Florence, Oregon to Point Sur California. North of Florence to Cape Falcon, Oregon, commercial salmon fishers are restricted to a 56-day fishing season. This is a further reduction from the 96-day commercial fishing season in 2005.
NMFS says their decision to close the salmon commercial fishing season is to restore the Klamath River fall Chinook salmon run. However, ocean salmon fishing only accounts for an estimated 5% of salmon loss.
This erroneous federal policy brings unnecessary economic harm to salmon fishers, their families, related businesses and Oregon's economy. Salmon fishers expect to only catch about 10% of what is normally caught off the coasts of Oregon and California.
Congressman Wu has written several letters on behalf of Oregon salmon fishers and has attended meetings with federal officials to discuss the April decision. Officials have agreed that water mismanagement and environmental degradation are the primary causes of salmon loss, not fishing.
After pressure from Congressman Wu and other Oregon and California members of Congress, NMFS declared a commercial fishery failure. The declaration of a fisheries failure authorizes Congress to appropriate disaster relief funds.
Congressman Wu also played an integral role in amending an annual spending bill last Congress to include $2 million in disaster relief for salmon fishers. The account created by the amendment acted as a place holder for further action in the Senate. The Senate was able to add $10 million.
Because Congress did not complete action on any of the annual spending bills before adjournment, none of the $12 million will be released.
The forthcoming emergency spending bill represents the first opportunity this year to secure funding for ocean salmon fishers.
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