“
Specialist helps
salmon fishers stay afloat
By Laura Eberly Of the
News-Times
July 26, 2006
 |
 |
Port Outreach Specialist Jen
Wimpress is available to help salmon fishers and workers
successfully navigate business and family challenges related to
current restrictions on commercial salmon fishing. (Photo by Laura
Eberly) |
Jen Wimpress has been selected as
the Port Outreach Specialist for Newport and Depoe Bay and is available to
help commercial salmon fishers and workers maintain business and family
stability during the current restricted commercial salmon season - a
direct result of poor salmon conditions in the Klamath River Basin.
Wimpress is one of seven individuals along the Oregon coast available to
assist fishers and workers as part of a program funded with Oregon Lottery
dollars by Oregon State Emergency Services through the Oregon Department
of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and organized by the
Oregon Salmon Commission.
"My job is to connect fishermen to the resources available; to hear
their stories and translate that into where they need to go and how they
need to get there," Wimpress said. "It's really crucial that we
keep the (salmon fishing) infrastructure in place so that when the
regulations allow the fishermen to go back to work, they're able to.
"Every salmon fisher is a
small business," she continued. "When you figure 400 to 500
salmon permits statewide - that's a lot of businesses going out of
business." Wimpress emphasized "the intent of the program is not
to transition people out of salmon, the intent is to bridge this time
period. There will be salmon fishing again. It may be a few months, it may
be a year and a half. We want to make sure that people can survive and
feed their families" during the interim.
While some resources are available to salmon permit holders only,
community outreach services and numerous other programs are available for
any persons affected by the salmon closures including crew, icehouse
workers and other secondary market positions such as workers at marine
supply stores and other support businesses.
Wimpress encourages "anyone who is touched in any way by this, it
does not have to be a direct salmon fisher" to contact her with any
questions related to accessing relief resources.
As a Port Outreach Specialist, Wimpress is specifically available to help
fill out relief program forms - a process that can be overwhelming - and
is on hand to help guide applicants through the department of health and
human services registration process for services such as the Oregon Trail
Card, which provides assistance with food purchases. She also works to
connect affected fishers, workers, and their families to affordable
healthcare resources, such as those offered through the Lincoln Community
Health Center; and directs interested persons to additional outreach
organizations including Lincoln County Food Share and the Newport
Fishermen's Wives Association (NFWA).
While its resources are limited and focused mainly on connecting people to
available service agencies, NFWA does administer limited monies through
the Barry Fisher Family Fund, which is designed to help maintain normalcy
in the home during interruptions in regular fishing operations. The fund
is for "incidental fees, items to help keep family life as normal as
possible," Wimpress said, such as covering the cost of sending a
child to summer camp.
Wimpress, who serves as volunteer vice president of NFWA, also works with
Lincoln County Marine Sea Grant Agent Kaety Hildenbrand in helping connect
salmon fishers and workers with helpful agencies and services.
"I'm here to help get the process rolling. Every agency has different
eligibility requirements. My job is to have the information
available" to help the applicants receive the services they need,
Wimpress said.
Funds from many sources
Resources available specifically to permit-holding, commercial troll
salmon fishers include the Salmon Fisher Financial Assistance Fund, a
$500,000 total allotment released by the Oregon Emergency Board (OEB).
Applications for a portion of the fund must be postmarked by Friday, July
28.
Additionally, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners has approved the
distribution of up to $75,000 total from the county's community and
economic development fund - monies generated through the Oregon Lottery -
for direct aid through moorage relief. Applicants for the county funds
must hold 2006 salmon troll permits, and applications must be received by
Sept. 1.
Wimpress noted the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has waived the
$20 fee it ordinarily charges for producing a copy of fishing vessel
landing records that fishermen may need to apply for relief funds.
Limited assistance is also available through the Klamath Relief Fund for
Commercial Salmon Fishers and Families, a community fund established by
farmers and residents of the Klamath River Basin area.
Job programs exist to help affected fishers and workers through the salmon
crisis: the Oregon Water Enhancement Board has made temporary positions
restoring woodland salmon habitats available to salmon fishers and their
families, and some fishers may elect to participate in paid CROOS
(Cooperative Research on Oregon Ocean Salmon) at-sea research projects.
Wimpress is available to answer questions over the phone, and will arrange
to meet with persons seeking more detailed assistance. In addition,
"all of those people who are able to help, who have money they want
to donate or services they want to let people know about, they can call me
too," she said.
Wimpress may be reached at 264-0614 and jenwimpress@yahoo.com.
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