Salmon aid injected into farm bill

The Times-Standard

May 13, 2008

A $170 million aid package has been included in a federal farm bill for salmon fishermen and related businesses facing an unprecedented shutdown of fishing along the West Coast this year.

Rep. Mike Thompson issued a statement this morning, saying that Congress is expected to pass the final version of the bill later this week.

Ocean salmon fishing has been closed this year after a collapse of vital salmon stocks in the Sacramento River basin . Regulators weighed the possibility of a limited salmon season, but could not justify it based on the expected number of spawning fish returning to the river. Those numbers may be even lower next year. The fishery was also closed in Washington because of poor returns expected to the Columbia River .

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has declared the season a federal disaster, which opened the door for Congress to provide aid.

”This funding is desperately needed by the communities and families who rely on salmon fishing, many of whom face losing their businesses and homes due to two years of no fishing,” said Thompson, a St. Helena Democrat.

The disaster comes two years after expected poor runs to the Klamath River stifled salmon season, and eventually drew on Congress to appropriate $60 million in assistance.

This year, runs to the Klamath are expected to be strong, and river fishing could be excellent. That means communities along the Klamath hammered by regulations two years ago may have a solid season. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

Source:  http://www.times-standard.com/ci_9244546