The U.S. Department of Commerce declared the West Coast salmon fishery a disaster this week, setting the stage for some financial relief for local fishing communities.

The move came after a great deal of pressure from fishermen, lawmakers and the governors of California and Oregon. We also called for federal action in this space on June 16 and June 30. Some combination of all those efforts finally reached a tipping point Thursday.

Kudos to all who lobbied for help on a variety of levels, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena.

Because of poor fish runs, the salmon fishery has been closed along 700 miles of coastline, including Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Although low-interest loans are available to fishermen, the federal declaration paves the way for more substantial aid down the pike.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said 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.

In announcing the move, 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.”

We hope they are also guided by the need for speed. Our fishermen need help now.