June 30, 2006
Schwarzenegger and two state senators said they will push for urgency legislation authorizing aid for commercial fishermen and other businesses affected by the near-closure of the commercial salmon fishing season by federal officials.
"The federal government's decision to severely limit salmon fishing along the West Coast has had a terrible effect -- it's had a devastating impact on the fishermen, the community and their families," Schwarzenegger said. "It will literally wipe them out if they don't get help."
Representatives from California and Oregon have been pleading with the federal government to declare a federal disaster and help the coastal fishing industry.
"What is really outrageous is that the federal government made this decision and recognizes the devastating impact but will not issue a disaster declaration until next spring," Schwarzenegger said.
The aid package will include $5 million in cash assistance, $20 million in no-interest loans and up to $10 million in small-business loans. Schwarzenegger also extended the state's declared disaster area to other three counties, including San Luis Obispo.
Congressional representatives from California and Oregon slowed work in the House of Representatives on Wednesday until Republican leaders agreed to $2 million in economic relief -- far short of the $81 million that had been sought.
Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said the state aid will be "extremely helpful."
"This gives a clear message to the federal government that this is a serious problem, and it should embarrass the federal government into doing what it should have done a year ago," he said.
Schwarzenegger has made several requests of the Bush administration that have not been fulfilled, including a call for a federal disaster declaration for the state's aging levee system and demands that the federal government reimburse the state for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants.
"This is almost like a tale of two Republicans -- one competent and one incompetent," Grader said.
Because of low numbers of chinook salmon from the Klamath River, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, a federal agency, called for strict reductions in the commercial catch this year.
Fishermen's groups argue that the poor condition of Klamath salmon is the result of years of federal water mismanagement, including diverting the flow of water from the river to farmers. In 2002, more than 33,000 salmon died because of low water, high temperatures and disease. Large die-offs of young salmon have followed in recent years.
Grader and other fishermen said the next step is for the state to take the lead in fixing the Klamath River once and for all.
"Now we need to see restoration activity on the Klamath so we don't have to see this aid be necessary again," said Duncan MacLean, a commercial fisherman and the California salmon troll adviser to the fishery management council.
State Sens. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata (Humboldt County), and Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley (Nevada County), will co-sponsor the emergency legislation authorizing the funds. But because lawmakers adjourned Thursday a week early for their summer vacation, the measure will be considered in August.
"We have a comprehensive bipartisan plan to protect the lives of people on the coast," Chesbro said. "The administration in Washington single-handedly created this disaster, but now it's up to the state to help its people."
Aanestad was also critical of the federal government.
"This is just another case where the federal government is causing a problem and not solving the problem," he said. "Once again, the state has to bail out what should be a federal responsibility."
E-mail Lynda Gledhill at lgledhill@sfchronicle.com.