Forum participants focus on long-term salmon recovery solutions

By Terry Dillman Of the News-Times

April 23, 2008

An unprecedented shutdown of the 2008 commercial and recreational salmon fishery along the Oregon and California coasts has families and businesses dependent on the industry for their part or most of their livelihoods facing Mother Hubbard's empty cupboard scenario.

Yet, faced with the potential loss of their homes, boats and basic necessities, local fishermen said nary a word about those pending economic hardships, and instead focused on finding a long-term solution to the dwindling salmon conundrum during a Sunday afternoon public forum at Yaquina Bay Yacht Club on Newport's waterfront. Organized by U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., the forum featured representatives from various local, state, and federal agencies and organizations ready to listen to those affected by the pending closure, discuss the next steps, and answer questions about available economic and social resources.

But long-time fisherman Herb Goblirsch immediately sent the session after an entirely different, but related quarry.

"Every fisherman in this room would rather be fishing than taking money," he declared.

What they want, he and others noted, is more research into the reasons behind the collapse of the Sacramento River Chinook stocks and salmon in general. While fishermen and related businesses endure the hardships created by the declines and closures, and often get the blame for them, they say it's a multi-faceted problem that requires a multi-faceted solution that's fair to everyone, with everyone sharing the losses.

Predation by California sea lions, harbor seals, terns, cormorants, and other species; water diversion for farming and drinking water supplies; loss of hatcheries; ocean conditions and more received a share of the blame. A few even suggested that whiting (hake), another big fishery off the Oregon coast, were also culprits, scarfing up juvenile salmon as they emerged from rivers.

"Everything we've talked about today is part of it," said Port of Newport Manager Don Mann , noting that the disaster is twofold: the fisheries and community development. " Newport has one of the best working waterfronts on the coast, and they spend a lot of money on salmon. Everybody relies on what's happening in the fisheries. When this occurs, everything gets put on hold. We have to learn from our mistakes."

Fishermen also pointed out that closing the salmon fishery will transfer the pressure to other fisheries, depleting them quicker. Meddling too much with nature will always have its downside. And they now face the added threats from proposed wave energy projects and marine reserves.

"We're in conditions now that no one can forecast," Goblirsch concluded. "We need research more than anything else, and something we're starving for is funding for research."

They made it clear they can't just walk away from their boats or the industry; fishing is their livelihood, intertwined inextricably with their day-to-day lives. For now, they'll have to be content with bridging the financial gap from the pending closure, so fishermen can put food on the table, keep their boats and homes, support their families.

Local and state officials are putting in a concerted effort to mitigate the pending economic hardships, taking the lessons learned from the 2006 commercial closure to expedite the process.

Governor Ted Kulongoski issued an executive order April 10, declaring a state of emergency in Lincoln , Tillamook, Coos, Clatsop, and Curry counties, as well as the coastal sections of Lane and Douglas counties. He ordered all state agencies to work cooperatively and collaboratively to mitigate the impacts and expedite services and resources to individuals and businesses hurt by the closure, and to focus state efforts on easing the economic hardships created by the situation. Hooley joined five other congressional representatives from Oregon , including Peter DeFazio and David Wu, and California in signing a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, requesting her assistance in providing much-needed emergency disaster funding within an emergency supplemental appropriations bill scheduled for discussion in late April or early May.

"We already know what's happening. The states already have the information," Hooley noted. "There's no reason they can't declare a disaster."

The federal disaster declaration is only the first step in a touch-and-go trip through congress and the Bush administration that's rife with more risk than a late crabbing venture on stormy winter seas. Still, the chances are quite good for quick netting of federal funds.

"Every request takes its own path, but we recognize this is the worst fishing failure ever," said Bob Lohn, director of the Northwest Region Office for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "The case is very clear."

Terry Dillman is assistant editor of the News-Times. He can be reached at (541) 265-8571 ext. 225, or terrydillman@newportnewstimes.com.  

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