This is just one post in the Salmon Category

Farm Bill includes $170M in aid for salmon fisheries

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 14, 2008 at 6:24 am

From the Portland Business Journal:

Legislators have added $170 million to the U.S. Farm Bill to aid families and businesses in California, Oregon and Washington affected by the biggest and most devastating Pacific salmon season closure in American history. The House and Senate are expected to pass the final version of the Farm Bill later this week.

“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 North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Calif., in a statement.

In April, a historic drop in juvenile Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River led to a complete closure of the commercial and recreational salmon seasons in California and Oregon. In Washington, the season was also closed because populations of the Columbia River Chinook and Coho salmon are at near-record lows.

In response, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez declared the salmon season a federal fisheries disaster, which authorizes Congress to provide aid to affected communities. Thompson and other members of the California, Oregon and Washington delegations asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi to help find disaster aid so communities could get aid as quickly as possible.

Read the full text of the story from the Portland Business Journal by clicking here.

May 14, 2008 · Filed Under Salmon

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