Thompson Demands Transparency from NOAA Fisheries on Klamath Salmon Policy

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with NOAA Fisheries asking for all documents pertaining to federal salmon policy dating back to 2001.

“It's time to shine a bright light into the shady backrooms where the Bush Administration has been making politically motivated decisions about the management of the Klamath,” Thompson said. “These politically motivated decisions are directly responsible for the poor condition of the Klamath and the near loss of this year's salmon season.”

In 2002 the Bush administration inappropriately diverted Klamath River water to upper basin farmers to solidify their political base. These water diversions resulted in a fish kill that claimed 80,000 adult salmon. Experts say the fish kill and parasitic infection, resulting from poor federal management of the river, are responsible for the low salmon returns expected this year. Thompson's FOIA request would include all administration correspondence pertaining to the 2002 decision to divert water and the 2002 fish kill.

Today's request comes amid NOAA Fisheries' continued refusal to provide Congress with a report quantifying the economic impact of last year's shortened salmon season. In a March 29th meeting NOAA officials told Members of Congress that last year's shortened salmon season did not warrant a fisheries disaster.

“I have continually asked NOAA fisheries to provide me with the data used to determine that last year's slashed salmon season didn't have a negative economic impact. They have balked each time,” Thompson added. “I find it mystifying that the president can declassify top secret intelligence information that is harmful to our national security, but his own administration won't provide unclassified information on a topic important to the livelihoods of thousands of Americans up and down the California and Oregon coast.”