November 28, 2007

California releases US$33 million in salmon disaster relief

California released US$33 million to affected salmon industry entities following the 2006 Klamath River salmon fishery failure.

Eligible to apply for assistance are commercial salmon fishermen, fish buyer/processors, related marine supply businesses, commercial charter boat owners and Klamath In-River guides.

The California Salmon Council, a state mandated marketing entity, is coordinating the relief efforts in behalf of the commercial salmon industry.

In June 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency in 13 counties in response to the fishery failure.

In August 2006, US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez followed up with a federal declaration of an "in-season" fishery failure which cleared the way for federal disaster assistance.

The Federal appropriation of US$60.4 million is being shared between the commercial salmon industries in California, Oregon and the Indian Tribes that rely upon the salmon fishery for their subsidence.