Fishermen: Salmon bill's death leaves political stench

Salmon fishermen on Friday struggled to understand how a bill that promised quick relief during an abysmal fishing season went belly up in the final hours of the state Legislature.

The bill would have provided

$26 million in assistance, $6.3 million in the form of grants and the rest as low-interest loans, to begin to offset losses fishermen and fishing businesses have seen during this year's gutted salmon season.

The salmon assistance bill authored by Sen. Wesley Chesbro, D-Arcata, had bipartisan backing and the support of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was stalled by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, D-Los Angeles, who apparently insisted the program be made up entirely of loans.

In press reports, Nuñez has placed the blame on the governor's office, saying his help came too late.

North Coast salmon fishermen smelled rotten politics. Eureka fisherman Dave Bitts said Schwarzenegger has been actively pressing for both state and federal aid.

”Someone blaming someone else for their bad behavior really pushes my buttons,” Bitts said.

The salmon season was radically cut this year, with fishery managers expecting a low return of salmon to the Klamath River. That affected the whole West Coast, and prompted U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to proclaim a fisheries failure. The fishing industry tallies losses at about $81 million.

Fishermen have shunned loans since chronic water quality problems on the Klamath -- leading to the death of both adult and young salmon -- don't instill confidence that the situation is going to improve.

To keep commercial fishermen in business will likely require more than the state aid that was hoped to plug the hole in the troubled industry. California and Oregon congressional representatives, and the states' governors, have pushed for the federal disaster declaration.

”If the feds don't come through, there's going to be a lot of bankrupt, down-and-out fishermen around,” said Paul Pellegrini, who fishes out of Eureka.

Pellegrini estimated that 30 percent to 40 percent of his income comes from salmon fishing. Boat payments, insurance payments, a mortgage and other expenses, and trying to put two children through school, make the loss hurt. He was hoping the state would come through, especially for young fishermen with families that are most vulnerable.

Pellegrini, too, questioned whether the state bill's failure was Schwarzenegger's fault.

”They're just playing the blame game,” he said.

Nuñez's office did not respond to inquiries Friday.

Chesbro said it's often a problem to get legislators from other districts to understand North Coast issues. He thought it was wrong for Nuñez not to let the bill go to a vote, but also felt the governor's office could have done more to leverage the support of the Assembly leadership.

”I think they're both responsible,” Chesbro said.

Chesbro said he will be trying to work with the governor to find administrative solutions to the problem.

Schwarzenegger's spokesman, Bill Maile, said the governor is intent on finding relief for fishermen.

”The governor's office was committed to passing this legislation and fought until the final hours of the legislative session to get it through,” Maile said.

Oregon's bipartisan Legislature has long since passed a relief package for its fishermen. Some were concerned that California's failure to pass its bill would undercut the federal aid effort.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, however, said the failure of the bill shouldn't be overly harmful.

”I don't think it's by any stretch mandatory,” Thompson said, but added, “It'd be a lot better if we could say the state did their part.”

Getting a relief package passed through Congress, Thompson said, will require bipartisan support -- including the governor's office -- to be successful.