Members of the Oregon Salmon
Commission will travel to the Klamath Basin next week, at the invitation of
local farmers, to learn more about the impact of the Klamath Irrigation
Project on fish populations.
The two-day tour is part of a series of meetings facilitated, in part, by
the Oregon Department of Agriculture in an attempt to foster better
understanding and cooperation between coastal fishermen and Klamath Basin
farmers in the wake of severe harvest restrictions on Chinook salmon this
summer.
“We share many values with the Klamath Basin farmers and it is important
for us both to develop solutions together,” Gold Beach fisherman and
processor Scott Boley said in a press release. Boley also is a member of the
Oregon Salmon Commission.
All commercial salmon fishing
from Northern California to Florence is closed this year due to concerns
about wild stocks of Klamath River fall Chinook. From Florence north to the
Columbia River, there will be staggered openings with limits of 75 fish per
week.
“Our goal in these talks and tours is to form an alliance between farmers
and fishermen to address the issues that face us and try to find
solutions,” Klamath Basin farmer Dick Carleton said. “We want to dispel
the myth that this is an issue of farmers vs. fishermen when, in fact, it is
not. We want to work together to find a way to put more fish in the ocean
and rivers for all of us, including sport fishermen.”
The Klamath Project Tour will include stops at Upper Klamath Lake, a local
farm, the Lower Klamath area - including stops in the Tulelake area of
California - and a presentation at the Klamath Water Users Association
office.
All commercial salmon fishing
from Northern California to Florence is closed this year due to concerns
about wild stocks of Klamath River fall Chinook. From Florence north to the
Columbia River, there will be staggered openings with limits of 75 fish per
week.
“Our goal in these talks and tours is to form an alliance between farmers
and fishermen to address the issues that face us and try to find
solutions,” Klamath Basin farmer Dick Carleton said. “We want to dispel
the myth that this is an issue of farmers vs. fishermen when, in fact, it is
not. We want to work together to find a way to put more fish in the ocean
and rivers for all of us, including sport fishermen.”
The Klamath Project Tour will include stops at Upper Klamath Lake, a local
farm, the Lower Klamath area - including stops in the Tulelake area of
California - and a presentation at the Klamath Water Users Association
office.