Governor holds salmon summit
By Joel Gallob Of the News-Times
March 29, 2006
Governor Ted Kulongoski chaired a "salmon
summit" Tuesday where federal and state officials and legislators heard
suggestions from fishermen and coastal leaders on ways to mitigate the harms
that could be cause by a complete or near complete closure of the 2006 salmon
season.
Kulongoski said he has called Commerce Department Assistant Director for
Fisheries Bill Hogarth to seek a federal fisheries disaster declaration.
Charter operators will get six weeks of salmon fishing, but unless the Pacific
Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) adopts an emergency rule and the National
Marine Fisheries Service and Commerce Secretary signs onto it, there will be no
2006 commercial season except around the Columbia River mouth and some small
"bubble" fisheries at the mouths of a few other rivers.
Kulongoski instructed Cam Preus-Braly, his director
for community colleges and workforce development, to coordinate implementation
of the ideas discussed. She worked in the groundfish disaster response, and said
she learned lessons from it. One was that "direct compensation is
critical." Another was that an outreach program similar to one for that
earlier fisheries disaster - based on people who live in the fishing community -
is crucial.
"I'm glad to hear we will have an experienced traffic cop to coordinate all
this," State Senator Betsey Johnson said.
Kulongoski said once the PFMC has a final decision on the season, "I will
send a letter to Secretary of Commerce (Carlos) Gutierrez asking him to ...
declare a disaster. I will then send a letter to our congressional delegation
asking help passing a package of measures shaped by today's input. And I'm
directing my natural resource office to work with the fishing fleet, other
agencies, and our congressional delegation" in addressing the crisis.
Kulongoski said he asked Gutierrez to look at three issues. One was how many
Klamath Chinook actually must return to have a viable salmon population.
"The state has asked for an amendment to the Klamath salmon management
plan," he said, updating it annually until the science behind it is
stronger. And, Kulongoski said, he wants to look at "meaningful, timely
ways" to help fishing communities.
What's needed
Newport fishermen Jeff Feldner urged "a better job predicting the size of
the Klamath stocks." He suggested using some of the hoped-for federal
disaster funds to hire fishermen to gather data to better understand the Klamath
fish and their role in the fishery.
Commercial fisherman Mark Newell urged the state to open up a summer salmon
fishery in state waters, which go out to three miles. The first two miles are
too shallow to fish, but between two and three miles out, he said, fishers could
catch some salmon.
Paul Heikkila said Coos Bay and Newport would be hardest hit by a closure, with
other coast towns not far behind. And, he warned, "safety will go
downhill" because maintaining a safety raft, flares, and beacons costs
nearly $2,000 annually - money many fishers now won't have.
Don Stevens, a member of the PFMC's Salmon Advisory of Subpanel, offered a list
of "immediate needs" that included:
* A May 1, 2006 opening date for a season of at least 75 days, and fishing on
returning healthy Klamath Chinook going into Oregon streams starting Sept. 1;
* Access to the Oregon Health and Human Services Department;
* Direct compensation to some 700 Oregon salmon troll families, their deck hands
and affected seafood processors;
* Unemployment compensation for the trollers and deck hands;
* Waiver of troll license renewal fees; and
* Funding for researchers at the Oregon State University center for fish disease
and for an economic loss analysis.
Seafood processor Bruce Buckmaster was "leery about retraining programs
because we rely on well-trained employees for our business, and with every
training program we can lose those employees." He was not happy with
low-interest loans either, saying "adding debt is not generally an
answer."
Lincoln County Commissioner Terry Thompson said a closure would add costs to
coastal county governments. "We'll have to pick up the slack in mental
health, community corrections, and domestic violence" - the later worsened
when "wives and kids pay for the consequences" of a husband's
joblessness. "And we'll need shelters for men, we lack them on the
coast."
Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association Director Onno Husing said "the
number-one job is to get a fishing season. We need an emergency rule from the
PFMC, even if it's just half of past seasons. We need to look to our
congressional delegation to shepherd the process."
The impacts on Klamath Chinook from sport fishing are "all but
negligible," he added. "Let's get a recreational fishery this summer,
by emergency rule," as well as some fishing for commercial fisherman.
"Charter fishers say nobody's booking salmon trips," and the state can
help, he said, by publicizing the availability of some sport fishing. And, he
added, "we need to make sure the Klamath River is managed on a sustainable
basis."
Depoe Bay Mayor Jim White said his town is a small community that depends on its
eight commercial fishing boats and numerous sport charters. "I'm here
trying to save Depoe Bay, and I need your help now," he said.
Getting services
State Employment Department Director Laurie Warner said fishers could be
eligible for either standard unemployment compensation or disaster benefits
unemployment compensation (after a disaster is declared by the president).
Clyde Saiki, deputy director for the Oregon Department of Human Services, wanted
to work with counties to "put together a cohesive strategy" for
services, "streamline our processes" for the fishers, and get
information and access to them. Jim Neely, also with DHS, promised "to do
everything we can to be flexible, offer special appointment times, streamline
our processes ... and work with fishermen" to get them benefits.
Workforce Development Commissioner Cam Preus-Braly noted the availability of
low-interest loans, training, and Workforce Development Centers "all along
the coast."
Oregon Economic and Community Development Director Bob Repine offered to
"turn my wallet inside out to see what resources we have," and to work
with county commissioners to match their needs.
Roy Elicker, interim director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, agreed
that "we need a fishery" to protect both the fishermen and the
industry's infrastructure. He promised to work with the PFMC for "some kind
of commercial fishing," and to seek "every opportunity in state waters
for bubble fisheries." Further, he said, "we will work with tourism to
get the word out that the Oregon coast is open to (sport) fishing."
Oregon Tourism Director Todd Davidson stated "our newsletter will go out to
100,000 consumers," telling them about those fishing opportunities. He
promised to use the state's website, visitor centers and public relations
capacity, also, to spread the word.
Dalton Hobbs, of the state Agriculture Department, offered to facilitate
meetings between fishers and Klamath farmers. He promised to revisit the
"Hire the Fishermen" program of a decade ago and to work with the
salmon commission, seafood buyers and fishermen "to develop messages to the
marketplace to keep market share."
Deborah Buchanan of the state Department of Revenue promised to get information
to fishers on operating loss rules that could generate refunds and capital gains
rules that may benefit fishers ceasing fishing. "For individuals in
trouble, please file; we will work with you if you can't make payments,"
she said.
Getting funds
State Senator Joanne Verger (whose district includes this county) and Rep. Wayne
Krieger attended the summit and promised to help, as did former legislator and
Tillamook County Commissioner Tim Josi.
Representatives of all the state's congressional delegation said their superiors
would seek a disaster declaration. Senator Gordon Smith's representative, Kerry
Tymchuk, noted that Smith and Senator Ron Wyden are on the Energy and Natural
Resources Committee, which Interior Secretary-designate Dick Kempthorne will
soon face for confirmation. He added that Smith is on the Commerce Committee,
too, "and will work to make sure the Secretary of Commerce is ready to come
to Oregon," as the governor had requested.
Josh Kardon, Wyden's chief of staff, said a supplementary funding bill had just
passed the House and if the delegation can't get emergency funds into it now,
Wyden will seek to get funding into the Commerce, Justice and State
(departments) funding legislation. And, he added, Wyden is "ready to
address the long-term issues," too.
Dan Whelan, speaking for Representative David Wu, John Snider (for Rep. Greg
Walden), Hillary Barbour (for Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Karmen Fore (for Rep. Peter
DeFazio) and Suzanne Kunse (for Rep. Darlene Hooley) all promised to work for a
disaster declaration and relief and assistance funds.
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