Thompson Introduces Legislation to Establish New Policy for Wild Pacific Salmon
April 22, 2009
Today, Representative Mike Thompson (D-North Coast) introduced bipartisan legislation to protect and restore the healthiest remaining wild Pacific salmon ecosystems in North America. A companion bill was introduced earlier this month by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), with co-sponsorship from the entire West Coast Senate delegation.
“Research shows that it's far more cost effective to preserve a species by supporting healthy ecosystems than by trying to intervene after the damage has already been done,” said Congressman Thompson. “Salmon have been an important part of our North Coast economy for a long time, and we need to use all available tools to help the fish population grow so that our environment will be restored and our fishing families can prosper.”
The Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act will target healthy salmon ecosystems as a complement to traditional salmon recovery programs. The bill will authorize $15 million each to the National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish & Wildlife Service for the years 2009-2013 to fund projects that protect and restore critical spawning habitats. The bill currently has 7 cosponsors.
“Through Congressman Thompson's leadership, the U.S. will have a more comprehensive and strategic approach to protecting wild salmon populations,” said Greg Block, Vice President for Conservation at the Wild Salmon Center. “This bill recognizes that while we must continue to invest in recovery, in the face of increasing development and climate change, it is also critical to ensure that we maintain watersheds that are currently functioning and productive.”
In 2002, disastrous water decisions killed off over 80,000 adult salmon. Last year's salmon season in California was cancelled, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended that this year's season be closed as well. California Department of Fish and Game estimates that this could cost California's economy $279 million and almost 2,700 jobs.
“Wild salmon and steelhead mean so much, to so many people, in so many parts of the West. Forging these partnerships for bold action is exactly what we need to do to provide a solid foundation for region-wide recovery as we progress in our efforts to restore degraded watersheds," said Chuck Bonham, California Director at Trout Unlimited. “It is good for land and water conservation and restoration; good for people and businesses; and, definitely good for wild salmon and steelhead."
"This partnership will allow all the Pacific States to identify and protect the healthiest watersheds and salmon populations across the West Coast,” said Kevin Shaffer, Native Fishes Program Manager for the Fisheries Branch of California Department of Fish & Game. “California looks forward to contributing to this vital effort to conserve our salmon fisheries."
"Protecting the last intact salmon habitats and their natural spawning populations is essential as we work to restore the historically high producing, but now damaged, salmon rivers in the Columbia/ Snake, Klamath/Trinity and Sacramento/San Joaquin systems," said Glen Spain, Northwest Director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "Preserving the strongholds is integral to rebuilding the Pacific Coast's great salmon runs and with them the jobs and food production these fish represent."
Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID) is the lead Republican cosponsor.
“Research shows that it's far more cost effective to preserve a species by supporting healthy ecosystems than by trying to intervene after the damage has already been done,” said Congressman Thompson. “Salmon have been an important part of our North Coast economy for a long time, and we need to use all available tools to help the fish population grow so that our environment will be restored and our fishing families can prosper.”
The Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act will target healthy salmon ecosystems as a complement to traditional salmon recovery programs. The bill will authorize $15 million each to the National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish & Wildlife Service for the years 2009-2013 to fund projects that protect and restore critical spawning habitats. The bill currently has 7 cosponsors.
“Through Congressman Thompson's leadership, the U.S. will have a more comprehensive and strategic approach to protecting wild salmon populations,” said Greg Block, Vice President for Conservation at the Wild Salmon Center. “This bill recognizes that while we must continue to invest in recovery, in the face of increasing development and climate change, it is also critical to ensure that we maintain watersheds that are currently functioning and productive.”
In 2002, disastrous water decisions killed off over 80,000 adult salmon. Last year's salmon season in California was cancelled, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended that this year's season be closed as well. California Department of Fish and Game estimates that this could cost California's economy $279 million and almost 2,700 jobs.
“Wild salmon and steelhead mean so much, to so many people, in so many parts of the West. Forging these partnerships for bold action is exactly what we need to do to provide a solid foundation for region-wide recovery as we progress in our efforts to restore degraded watersheds," said Chuck Bonham, California Director at Trout Unlimited. “It is good for land and water conservation and restoration; good for people and businesses; and, definitely good for wild salmon and steelhead."
"This partnership will allow all the Pacific States to identify and protect the healthiest watersheds and salmon populations across the West Coast,” said Kevin Shaffer, Native Fishes Program Manager for the Fisheries Branch of California Department of Fish & Game. “California looks forward to contributing to this vital effort to conserve our salmon fisheries."
"Protecting the last intact salmon habitats and their natural spawning populations is essential as we work to restore the historically high producing, but now damaged, salmon rivers in the Columbia/ Snake, Klamath/Trinity and Sacramento/San Joaquin systems," said Glen Spain, Northwest Director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "Preserving the strongholds is integral to rebuilding the Pacific Coast's great salmon runs and with them the jobs and food production these fish represent."
Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID) is the lead Republican cosponsor.
Issues:Energy & Environment