Tillamook Headlight Herald: Fishers wait for federal salmon fishery failure declaration April 22, 2008

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Fishers wait for federal salmon fishery failure declaration

Amber Nobe
Headlight-Herald Staff

April 22, 2008

TILLAMOOK - Current fishery policies are not working, evidenced by three years in a row of closed or restricted seasons and the disappearance of Sacramento River salmon, formerly one of the most robust stocks on the West Coast. This was the thrust of discussion at April 20 meeting in Newport hosted by Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore).

Oregon salmon fishers are waiting for a federal fisheries disaster declaration, for the aid it will bring and the policy changes it could prompt. While the declaration is expected, no one seems to know how long it could take. Meanwhile, state officials are working with fishers to do what they can at home in wake of the ocean salmon fishery closure.

Hooley's public forum was attended by about 50 people from Lincoln and Tillamook counties. Also present were state Rep. Deborah Boone ( D-Cannon Beach ), state Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), county commissioners Charles Hurliman and Mark Labhart and representatives from various state agencies.

Labhart said he was impressed at the spirit of collaboration and lack of anger in the face of such a devastating situation. "It was an interesting meeting because no one was beating up on anyone - it was more 'we need to work together,'" Labhart said.

With immediate assistance, the group asserted aid payments must be fairly distributed, and low-interest loans must be available to those whose livelihoods depends on salmon. But, unlike two years ago when the commercial season was also closed, the interest rates must be low enough for fishers to actually be able to take advantage, fishers said.

Having seen this problem over and over, the group asserted new policies are needed that will sustain fisheries. At the same time, stocks must be built up to such high levels again that less controllable factors, like the lack of ocean upwelling in some years, will not decimate salmon numbers to unacceptable levels.

Finally, money must be put toward research to determine not just what went wrong but what can be done to protect salmon in the future. Frank Bohannon of Tillamook recommended studies on how whiting predation affects stocks; Bob Lohn with the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration Fisheries agreed such a study would be wise, as little is being done in that area now.

Labhart said he and others are confident the Secretary of Commerce will make a federal fishery failure declaration, clearing the way to Congress to appropriate emergency money to Oregon and California . But he noted that unlike with a FEMA flood emergency, a fishery failure does not come with a formula work plan.

"It's a learn-as-you-go process," he said. "There's a lot of heavy lifting still to do." He emphasized the need to review what worked after the 2006 commercial fishery closure and what did not.

Different this time is the inclusion of fishing charter businesses, as the recreational seasons were also affected. As the state works through distributing the $500,000 in aid pledged by the governor, it will determine a process for even distribution that will speed things up when federal money comes, state Salmon Commission chair Darus Peake said.

The salmon commission has been meeting with the state department of agriculture and the governor's office to establish an equal distribution process. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has asserted that following the example set in 2006, the process will be relatively quick.

ODA previously estimated fishers can expect a check in hand in early summer. There remains no timeline for a federal declaration or aid distribution.