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California
Gov. Schwarzenegger Takes Action to Address Impacts of Salmon Fishery
Closures
Fall
salmon run near
The Governor issued a
proclamation declaring a state of emergency in
"
"In addition to our
commitment to immediately assist the salmon fishing industry, the
legislation will fund critical coastal salmon and steelhead fishery
restoration projects to address the long-term environmental challenges
resulting from poor ocean conditions and other factors."
Today, the PFMC, one of
eight regional fishery management councils established by the Magnuson
Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976, now known as
Magnuson-Stevens, responsible for managing fisheries off the coasts of
The recommendations will
now go to the California Fish and Game Commission for a final decision
via a process beginning this Tuesday, April 15. The Commission will work
to provide further fishing opportunities to Californians while ensuring
the future of salmon fishing in the state.
At the Governor's
request, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) assessed the
potential damage from the closure of the salmon season and determined
the loss to be $255 million and 2,263
The Governor's
proclamation directs numerous state agencies and departments to take
various actions, including:
* Directing DFG and
Resources Agency to address the long-term restoration and management of
salmon in California;
* Directing the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Department
of Finance, and Labor and Workforce Development Agency to make grants
and loans available to prevent and/or mitigate business insolvencies and
employment losses;
* Directing DFG to request continued funding from the federal government
under the federal Sport Fish Restoration Act that might be decreased
based on the decrease in fishing license sales, and to refund or waive
commercial salmon fishing permit fees for the 2008 and 2009 seasons; and
* Directing Department of Finance to make up to $2.7 million in special
fund money available to DFG to refund commercial fishing salmon stamps
and permits for the 2008 season.
In March, the Governor
joined with Oregon Governor Kulongoski and Washington Governor Gregoire
in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez
requesting a fishery resource disaster declaration if fisheries are
closed.
Below is the full text of
the Governor's proclamation:
A PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE
STATE OF
WHEREAS
WHEREAS the Sacramento
River Fall Run Chinook Salmon have been significantly impacted by poor
ocean conditions, and other environmental factors; and
WHEREAS the Sacramento
River Fall Run Chinook Salmon, traditionally a mainstay salmon
population for the West Coast, have declined in abundance to a level
where
WHEREAS Sacramento River
Fall Run Chinook Salmon are predicted to have extremely low ocean
abundance for 2008 in waters from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the
U.S./Mexico Border in San Diego County, California; and
WHEREAS appropriate
management of the Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon is critical
to California's businesses and local communities that provide goods and
services in support of California's salmon fisheries; and
WHEREAS on March 14,
2008, I requested U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez to use his
authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act to determine that there has been a commercial fishery failure due to
a fishery resource disaster; and
WHEREAS on April 10,
2008, the Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted final regulatory
recommendations to close commercial and recreational salmon fishing, and
it is anticipated that the National Marine Fisheries Service will adopt
an emergency rule followed by a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of
Commerce, that is consistent with the Council's action; and
WHEREAS these
restrictions will have significant impacts to California's commercial
and recreational ocean salmon and Central Valley in-river recreation
salmon fisheries and will result in severe economic losses throughout
the State, including an estimated $255 million economic impact and the
loss of an estimated 2,263 jobs; and
WHEREAS the serious
circumstances of the Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon put at
risk the livelihoods of families and businesses dependent upon them.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, find that
conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and
property exist within California due to the poor ocean conditions and
resulting from the significant restrictions that have been imposed on
the State's salmon fisheries, and the magnitude of this disaster will
likely exceed the capabilities of the services, personnel, and
facilities of the counties in California. Therefore, I find
In addition, pursuant to
this Proclamation:
I DIRECT the Director of
the California Department of Fish and Game and the Secretary of the
Resources Agency to: (1) report to me immediately upon final action of
the Department of Commerce and the California Fish and Game Commission
on any further actions necessary to ensure the protection of the
resource and of the economic livelihood of the fishery participants and
local communities; and (2) address the long-term restoration and
management of the Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon in ongoing
discussions with federal agencies and representatives from conservation
and fishing organizations and fishing communities.
I FURTHER DIRECT the
Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, with the
cooperation of the Department of Finance, to activate the Small Business
Disaster Assistance Loan Guarantee Program to guarantee loans to prevent
business insolvencies and loss of employment in
I FURTHER DIRECT that to
ensure that adequate assistance is available to individuals who have
lost their jobs as a result of this emergency, the Secretary of the
Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Director of the
Employment Development Department shall make available additional
assistance grants in those circumstances where the local Dislocated
Worker formula allocation is not adequate to cover the demand for
services to individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of this
State of Emergency.
I FURTHER DIRECT the
Director of the Department of Fish and Game to request from the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, that California
continue to receive the maximum apportionment for federal funds under
the federal Sport Fish Restoration Act allowable for the years 2008 and
2009 through an exemption from the apportionment calculation of other
suitable means since a predicted decrease in fishing license sales may
negatively affect the State's apportionment.
I FURTHER DIRECT the
Director of the Department of Fish and Game to take all necessary
actions to issue refunds for commercial fishing salmon stamps issued
under Fish and Game Code section 7860, and for Commercial Salmon Vessel
Permits issued under Fish and Game Code sections 8235 and 8245, paid for
the current 2008 commercial fishing salmon season because retention of
such fees would hinder mitigation of the effects of this emergency.
I FURTHER DIRECT that no
administrative charges, by any State department, agency, board,
commission or office, will be claimed or charged to the Department of
Fish and Game for the processing of these refunds.
I FURTHER DIRECT that the
Director of Finance make up to $2.7 million in special fund money
available to the Department of Fish and Game for the purposes of
refunding commercial fishing salmon stamps and Commercial Salmon Vessel
Permits for the 2008 season; for increased enforcement activities; and
to increase public awareness of the federal policy and the State's
actions.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as
soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of
the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given
of this proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of
California to be affixed this the 10th day of April 2008.
Source: California
Governor
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Source: http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48746022_california-gov-
schwarzenegger-takes-action-address