California and Oregon Governors request federal declaration of salmon disaster and assistance

California’s Gov. Jerry Brown and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown have spearheaded an effort by both states to seek assistance from the federal government for aid in assisting commercial salmon fishers and salmon-dependent businesses in light of the two states’ catastrophic regional fishery disaster and commercial fishery failure this year. The two governors sent a joint request letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Thursday asking for a declaration of the two states salmon disaster and assistance.

California Senator Mike McGuire (D-2^nd District-Eureka) and Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-2^nd District-Humboldt) had written Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this month requesting he declare a statewide Salmon Fishery Disaster. They cited the state’s protracted drought, poor ocean conditions and federal water management policies as causes for the high mortality and very low survival of juvenile salmon for the 2017 salmon season resulting in low adult numbers and devastating closures.

“Drought, disease, and stream diversions have decimated the north coast salmon population,” said Assemblymember Wood. “The hard-working men and women who rely on these fish to support their families have been put in a terrible situation through no fault of their own. They deserve our support.”

On Wednesday, a joint Senate and Assembly California committee hearing, “Where Have All the Salmon Gone?” was led by Sen. McGuire as the chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture.  More than 15 scientists, attorneys, government representatives and tribal leaders addressed the committee during the four-hour meeting.

“The 2017 salmon season is anticipated to be one of the worst on record including predictions of the lowest return of Klamath River salmon in history. This collapse has had disastrous impacts on our fisheries, our commercial and recreational fishing industries and on tribes, whose commercial fisheries will be closed and subsistence and ceremonial fishing severely curtailed,” Sen. McGuire said.

The governors joint letter to Secretary Ross spared no ink in citing the devastating effects of the salmon catastrophe. Some of the statistics from the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and highlights of their letter included:

• The full season closure for sport and commercial ocean salmon fisheries from the Oregon/ California border south to Horse Mountain means that businesses dependent on salmon fishing in this area will earn zero revenue from salmon fishery activity in 2017. The recreational fishery has been open an average of 116 days in 2012-2016, while the commercial fishery produced an average of $220,000 in ex-vessel revenue over this recent time period.
• In the Fort Bragg area, 2017 commercial salmon fishery revenues are projected to decline 93 percent compared to 2012-2016 average revenues of $4.4 million. Meanwhile, in the San Francisco area, projected catch will only result in $1.9 million in ex-vessel revenue, a 69 percent reduction from the recent average of $6.3 million.
• The full season closure for sport and commercial ocean salmon fisheries from the Oregon/ California border south to Horse Mountain means that businesses dependent on salmon fishing in this area will earn zero revenue from salmon fishery activity in 2017. The recreational fishery has been open an average of 116 days in 2012-2016, while the commercial fishery produced an average of $220,000 in ex-vessel revenue over this recent time period.

“Salmon are a vital component of Oregon and California’s natural resources and provide significant commercial, recreational, economic, and aesthetic benefits to both states and Native American tribes,” said Oregon Gov. Brown. “Federal assistance, along with continued federal, state, tribal, and local government collaboration, is critical to recover and restore salmon populations and to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our salmon fisheries and coastal communities.

Praise for the two governors’ letter to Secretary Ross was forthcoming from California and Oregon legislators, tribal leaders and the salmon fishing industry.

“California salmon fishermen are facing an unprecedented crisis and we are grateful for the Governor who is standing strong for the hard-working men and women of California’s salmon fleet,” Sen. McGuire said. “The California salmon fishery is our state’s oldest and it’s one of the most iconic fisheries in America. Thousands of working families on the North Coast are in crisis and desperately need our help – today’s action by the Governor brings us one step closer to providing that support.”