Still mulling fishery failure and financial relief; only loans for now

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce declared the West Coast salmon fishery a disaster after feeling substantial pressure from fishermen, lawmakers and the governors of California and Oregon, but financial relief is still in the works.

Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said the declaration will pave the way for relief, while in the meantime, low-interest loans will be available. Federal experts will be visiting the region next week to determine if this year's nearly eliminated salmon fishery meets the criteria for a commercial fishing failure, he said.

”Today's announcement is not the end of the process, but the beginning,” Gutierrez said. “In all of our efforts, we will be guided by compassion, common sense, and a careful application of the law and federal regulations.”

Few fishermen have taken advantage of a loan program through the state of California, and have questioned how a fishery closed along a 700-mile stretch of coastline could not be deemed a failure.

Rep. Mike Thompson said that the move is a critical first step.

”We need to be working overtime to ensure that we get a full disaster declaration that will bring the financial relief needed to our fishing communities,” the St. Helena Democrat said. “Small business loans mean little to a commercial fisherman who has lost everything in this disaster and has nothing left to pay it back with.”

The fishing closures are designed to protect an expected feeble run of salmon to the Klamath River this year. The river has suffered massive fish kills of both adult fish and young fish in recent years, and is plagued by a host of problems from poor water quality to toxic algae.

”The restricted salmon fishing season along the West Coast has created a substantial economic hardship to salmon fishermen and our communities along the coast,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. “Secretary Gutierrez's decision to declare a state of emergency allows state officials to pursue assistance for those who rely on salmon fishing -- those who are at risk of losing their boats, permanently shutting their doors or being forced out of their livelihoods.”

The governor was part of a phone conference with Thursday afternoon Gutierrez and others, who, along with Thompson and California Sens. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, have been pressing for assistance for fishermen and fishing communities.