Statesman Journal: About 40 attend salmon talk

About 40 attend salmon talk

Governor says he has urged declaring state of economic disaster

HENRY MILLER
Statesman Journal

March 29, 2006

The wheels already are in motion for a federal disaster declaration for Oregon commercial salmon anglers and the coastal communities that depend on the fishing fleets.

More than 40 people attended an emergency salmon summit Tuesday at the Capitol to discuss the problem. The gathering was convened by Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Final decisions about West Coast salmon seasons will be made at the end of next week by the members of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, during meetings in Sacramento, Calif.

Even under the best of options, though, the catch will be so small that economic devastation couldn't be avoided, according to a panel of commercial salmon trollers, packers and coastal mayors and commissioners.

"This is, in my memory, probably going to be the most difficult salmon season for us to cope with," said Jeff Feldner of Newport. "It's going to be very difficult to come through this."

Paul Alexander, a commercial fishermanwho lives in Salem, speaks on behalf of fishermen at the end of a summit about salmon Tuesday.

Feldner has been a commercial salmon troller for more than three decades and served two terms as an Oregon Fish and Wildlife commissioner.

"I've already prepared an urgent request for the federal secretary of commerce to take the steps toward a declaration of economic disaster," Kulongoski said Tuesday, adding that the request "will lead to an authorization of federal dollars to help ease the economic impact of a complete or partial closure."

Fishing seasons off of Oregon's coast from Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, southward are being held hostage to the situation on the Klamath River in Northern California and southern Oregon.

With the run of Klamath fall chinook forecast to be about 25,000 fish -- about 10,000 less than what biologists say are needed to maintain the run -- all salmon fishing where Klamath fish mix with other stocks will have to be drastically curtailed.

A shutdown of salmon fishing would send an economic tsunami on the coast, affecting businesses such as processors, boat yards, tackle stores, motels and restaurants.

Representatives from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, tourism and economic development agencies, as well as the salmon trollers, said the first order of business is to keep a commercial season, regardless of size or configuration.

"We need a fishery; we need some type of limited commercial fishery to protect our infrastructure and to have something for these guys to do besides sit on the beach," said Roy Elicker, the acting director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

And that's the plea that Oregon's representatives are going to make at the council meetings, he added.

Kulongoski called the summit to allow the anglers to make their case in front of representatives of Oregon's Congressional delegation, coastal state legislators and the heads of state agencies ranging from tourism to human services.

They got an earful.

"As a county commissioner, I've learned a lot about the ramifications of a disaster," said Terry Thompson, a Lincoln County commissioner. He said the economic impact of a fishing ban would result in more spending by local agencies, to handle social demands such as mental health, corrections, domestic violence and shelters.

Jim White, the mayor of Depoe Bay, added, "Everything goes up because families can't make it. I don't know what to do ... but something has to happen."

Representatives of Oregon's congressional delegation also attended and said the lawmakers were on board with the coming request for a disaster declaration and economic assistance.

"This is going to be a bipartisan effort with all hands on deck," said Josh Kardon, the chief of staff for Sen. Ron Wyden, echoing the sentiments of Kerry Tymchuk from Sen. Gordon Smith's office.

And for his part, Kulongoski told state agency heads sitting on the dais to have details of proposals to his office by April 14 about their preparations for dealing with aid and assistance to the coastal communities and anglers.

As soon as the council makes its recommendations, a letter will be en route to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez asking for a ruling that "a fisheries resource failure has occurred, and if it warrants, a disaster declaration," he said.