WASHINGTON – West Coast members of Congress appealed to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on Thursday to declare a fishery failure, triggering federal aid because of a devastating collapse of the Sacramento River fall-run chinook.
Federal fishery managers recently said that the Sacramento River run could be the second lowest in history, potentially shutting down the West Coast commercial season. A decision on the closure could come as early as this weekend when the Pacific Fishery Management Council meets in Sacramento.
"Sacramento River salmon are caught in California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia and are considered the 'driver' of commercial salmon fisheries off the Pacific Coast," the lawmakers said.
"The implications of a precipitous decline to the Sacramento River chinook salmon stocks would be detrimental for the commercial salmon fishing fleet and related businesses along the entire West Coast of the continental United States," they said.
The lawmakers want the fishery disaster designation as quickly as possible so that they can include emergency assistance money in upcoming spending bills.
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said past experience with the Bush administration following depressed salmon runs on the Klamath River was a motivating factor in the lawmakers' effort to signal their unified support for prompt, early action.
"When we had record lows out the Klamath River in 2006, it took months and months for the secretary to declare the season a failure," Thompson said in a statement. "As a result, fishing families and businesses on the North Coast are just now getting federal relief."
The bipartisan letter was signed by the six senators from the three states and 43 House members.
Call David Whitney, McClatchy Washington Bureau, (202) 383-0004.
