State Reacts to Plight of Fishing Families

Governor, Legislative Leaders Provide $1 Million in Direct Emergency Help to Oregon's Commercial Fisherman.

Oregon's fishing industry is in crisis...but they are far from sunk. This fishing boat from another era is North of Gold Beach, Oregon Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - Governor Ted Kulongoski, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Karen Minnis announced Thursday the state will provide $1 million in direct cash assistance to coastal commercial salmon fishermen to help them cope with a drastically reduced fishing season this year.

Governor Kulongoski will release $500,000 from his Strategic Reserve Fund to provide immediate help. President Courtney and Speaker Minnis agreed that the Legislature`s Emergency Board will reserve an additional $500,000 to be released in September to help fishermen and their families.

The Governor, President Courtney and Speaker Minnis intend the funds to help maintain the viability of Oregon`s commercial salmon-fishing fleet while Congress and the federal government work toward providing federal emergency assistance.

"This crisis has inflicted financial hardship on fishing families, who as small independent businesses have limited eligibility for social services, such as unemployment compensation," the Governor said. "The salmon fleet and its dependent communities need the assurance that the state of Oregon will help them any way we can."

Administered through the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the assistance program will help qualifying fishers pay bills associated with equipping, maintaining and operating their businesses and boats. While the total number of fishermen who will qualify for the assistance will depend on the eligibility criteria, around 500 commercial salmon permit holders in Oregon could benefit from the program.

"Oregon`s fishing industry is in crisis and there is no more important role for the Oregon legislature than to act when Oregonians are facing an emergency. This has been a great team effort of the Governor and the Legislature to move quickly to help our fellow Oregonians," said Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn).

"I`m glad we`re able to offer assistance to Oregon`s coastal communities," said Speaker Minnis (R-Wood Village). "The impacts of this year`s curtailed salmon season will have economic repercussions beyond this season. We need to do what we can to make sure that fishermen, their families and the industries that support them are not forced out of business."

In addition to the $500,000 from the Governor`s Strategic Reserve Fund, the E-Board approved the allocation of approximately $2.2 million of Measure 66 funds to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) for five projects that will provide employment opportunities for out-of-work fishermen and their immediate families. More than 1,000 people could take advantage of these job programs.

OWEB requested the funds in accordance with an Executive Order the Governor issued earlier this year, directing state agencies to do everything possible to help displaced fishers and coastal communities deal with the current economic crisis. The E-Board`s approval of the request will produce an additional benefit, the Governor said` aiding the salmon recovery along Oregon`s coast.

In a meeting Thursday, the legislative Emergency Board`s General Government Subcommittee approved reserving $500,000 within the state`s Emergency Fund for disbursement at its September meeting. Legislative leaders expect the full E-Board will approve it Friday. Over the next three months, Executive Branch agencies will assess how best to help the fishermen and establish a process for providing them economic aid. In addition, they will report to the September E-Board how the funds will be used before the E-Board releases the reserved $500,000.

Oregon commercial salmon fishermen face financial disaster in the wake of a drastically shortened salmon season announced by the federal government in April. The federal government took the action to protect runs of Chinook salmon returning to the Klamath River in Northern California. According to a May 2006 economic analysis prepared for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the total potential loss to the Oregon fishing industry, individuals, and communities is approximately $32.2 million, along with approximately 700 full-time equivalent jobs.