State Aid For Out-of-Work Fishermen in Oregon Set to Begin

The state received 360 applications from holders of troll salmon permit holders for the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Funds and is distributing funds to 280 fishers.

Newport Oregon fishing boat on Yaquina Bay Photo by: Kevin Hays

(SALEM) - Idled coastal fisherman will begin receiving direct state aid in the next few days, as the state distributes $500,000 of Governor Kulongoski’s Strategic Reserve Fund.

"We’re working hard to help these communities," Governor Kulongoski said. "These out-of-work fisherman need direct aid, not more loans and debt. I hope this help from the state can serve as a bridge to much-needed federal aid, now that our bipartisan effort has led to a declaration of a ‘fishery failure’ from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce."

The Oregon Department of Agriculture expects to disperse all available state funds by the end of the month.

The Department processed applications and awarded the funds, based on eligibility criteria the state established in partnership with the fishing industry.

Earlier this year, the federal government imposed salmon-fishing restrictions on 700 miles of Oregon and California coastline to protect depleted stocks of Klamath River Chinook salmon. The restrictions have caused severe economic hardship to many coastal communities.

Individual payments range from $75 to $7,500, depending on the amount of an applicant’s salmon "landings" and qualified expenses. Applicants who don’t meet the minimum qualifications will not receive help.

The state has targeted funds at Oregon’s fleet infrastructure, in order to help meet related expenses that individual fishers have incurred this year. Eligible expenses include such items as license fees, moorage fees, payments on boat loan, boat insurance, safety equipment, and other related items.

Governor Kulongoski and a bipartisan, bi-state coalition won a federal declaration of "fishery failure" earlier this month, which covers the commercial salmon industry in Oregon and California, and enables Congress to move forward on direct federal aid.