Thompson Requests Fisheries Disaster Declaration

North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez this afternoon urging him to declare a fisheries disaster in California and Oregon. This year's abridged salmon season will have a drastic economic impact on coastal communities throughout the two states. In order for individuals and businesses to apply for federal disaster assistance the Secretary of Commerce must declare a fishery disaster.

The text of the letter can be found below:

May 4, 2005

Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez
Office of the Secretary Room 5516
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20230

RE: Disaster Declaration for 2005 California Salmon Fisheries

Dear Secretary Gutierrez:

This year salmon fishermen from California and Oregon will experience unprecedented restrictions on their salmon fishing season due to very poor adult salmonid returns to the Klamath River. The low returns are the result of a multi-year drought and subsequent water conditions. The situation is so extreme that I am writing to urge you to declare a fishery disaster, as provided for under the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act, to provide financial relief for the affected individuals, businesses and communities.

On April 8th 2005, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) recommended severe restrictions on the offshore ocean salmon fisheries of California and Oregon. As a result, in California, the Fish & Game Commission has imposed a drastically reduced salmon fishing season for commercial ocean and in-river fishermen and for the subsistence fishery relied on by the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk Tribes. This will result in catastrophic economic losses for fishing families and for fishing dependent communities. The estimated loss to the California commercial fishing fleet alone could exceed $100 million. The situation for others, including processors, port and tribal communities, related on-shore businesses, sports fishing guides and related businesses will be disastrous. Similar steps have been taken in Oregon with similar impacts on the local fishing industry and communities.

At least twice before, NOAA Fisheries declared the salmon fisheries of the West coast a disaster, once following the seven-year drought of the late 1980's and Secretary Gutierrez early 1990's and an earlier one following the El Niño of 1982-83. Declaration of a fishery disaster is the first step needed to allow the affected individuals and businesses to access federal disaster relief programs called for under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

I urge your immediate review of the situation so that the affected communities can help prepare for the impact of the new restrictions. If you have any questions regarding this request or need additional information concerning the financial impact of the restrictions please not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, MIKE THOMPSON
Member of Congress# # #