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Doug Obegi: Protect the Delta, protect fishing jobs

Posted by: Maven on February 13, 2010 at 8:39 am

From Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog:

“Yesterday, recreational and commercial fishermen issued a press release (see below) warning that California's, and much of Oregon's, salmon fishery will likely be closed again in 2010, because of record low numbers of returning Central Valley salmon. Despite approximately 30 million salmon smolts being released from hatcheries each year, fewer than 40,000 adult salmon returned to the Sacramento River in 2009, far fewer than 2008's record low returns. Only a decade ago, before the state and federal water projects ramped up pumping from the Delta to record levels, more than 700,000 salmon returned.

Yet from most press accounts, you wouldn't know that our salmon : and fishermen and fishing communities — are disappearing.

Instead, the press is filled with farmers and others demonizing “six minnows.”

Instead, every woe in the Central Valley is blamed on the Endangered Species Act. This despite the fact that California had record crops of processing tomatoes and rice last year, despite the fact that the agricultural trade press is reporting that State data shows that less than 1,500 jobs were lost statewide in agriculture, and despite the fact that more than 75% of the water supply impacts last year were due to drought. … “

Continue reading this post from Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.

February 13, 2010 · Filed Under Wildlife & Endangered Species

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