October 7, 2008
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
Salmon fishermen looking at available disaster funds
By Azenith Smith
CHARLESTON - Still reeling from the announced salmon closure for this year, commercial and charter fishermen are counting on that state disaster money, and are hopeful federal money will soon come their way.
About 35 stakeholders in the local salmon fishing industry met at the Charleston Marina Monday to discuss the recent news that Governor Ted Kulongoski will give $500,000 to the commercial and charter fleets in the state. Since this is the first time the closure has affected the charter industry, they will have to fill out an application by the end of the month to receive those funds, but not the case for the commercial fishermen. "Commercial fishermen will not be getting applications because they had been previously included in a program and records can be gleaned from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine who would qualify to receive state disaster assistance," says Jeff Reeves of the Oregon Salmon Commission. Another portion of the meeting was devoted to providing input on how to distribute any federal money if they receive it. Previously, the government had helped the commercial industry when a disaster was declared in 2006. "We're trying to improve that program if there was people that would take suggestions," says Reeves. "Later this month, the suggestions gleaned from this meeting will be taken to the Oregon Salmon Commission on a port by port basis." The Oregon Salmon Commission will then make a final recommendation to the Pacific State Marine Fisheries Commission, who is responsible for distributing any federal if awarded. |
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