| Press Release |
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| March 28, 2006 |
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Governor Kulongoski calls for action to minimize salmon-closure hardships
Audio clip of the Governor: http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/sound/govsalmonsummit.wav
Emergency summit mobilizes government to provide relief for fishers, communities
Salem, OR—Hosting an emergency summit to mobilize the state and federal response to the expected closure of Oregon’s ocean salmon season, Governor Ted Kulongoski called for commitments Tuesday from federal, state and local agencies to help relieve the economic hardships that coastal communities will suffer if the closure takes place.
"I want to hear a commitment from every public entity, agency or branch of government that’s in a position to bring relief to the families, businesses and towns affected by this problem," the Governor told the summit of state and local officials, legislators, federal agencies, fishing industry representatives and staff members of Oregon’s congressional delegation. "I’ll make my own commitment right up front. I’ve already prepared an urgent request to the federal Secretary of Commerce to take the first steps toward a declaration of economic disaster, which will lead to an authorization of federal dollars to help ease the pain. I am also prepared to direct state agencies to do everything they can to help."
If that means issuing an executive order to "start the ball rolling," that’s exactly what he will do, the Governor promised. "Stated simply, you can count on me to use every power I have as Governor to soften the hardship that closing the ocean salmon season would inflict on families, towns, fishers and the businesses who rely on them," the Governor said.
At the close of the meeting, the Governor directed his executive staff to report back to him by April 14 on steps the state can take in response to the economic crisis.
The Governor also said he will press US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne (Commerce Secretary-designate) to visit Oregon this year to participate in a dialogue about the "inseparable connection" between federal management decisions in the Klamath Basin and federal responsibility to manage salmon and marine stocks. That dialogue should examine the question of how many Klamath fall Chinook must return every year to maintain their viability, the Governor said.
"Science has not yet supplied an exact answer to this question," the Governor said "Accordingly, the State of Oregon has asked for an amendment to the salmon management plan that provides more flexibility from year to year, until we have that answer in hand."
The Governor also wants to discuss with Gutierrez and Kempthorne how management decisions in the Klamath Basin directly affect the opportunity to catch salmon in the ocean. And finally, the Governor wants to discuss the amount and types of aid that government should provide to communities, fishers and their families.
"When we say we must obtain meaningful aid for our fishing fleet and coastal communities, we must answer the question, "What do we mean by ‘meaningful?’" the Governor said. "How much aid are we talking about and what forms should it take?"
Media Contacts:
Lonn Hoklin (503.378.6169)
Anna Richter Taylor (503.378.6496)
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