Calif. lawmakers request emergency help for salmon fishery

The state's congressional delegation wants a portion of the $300 million earmarked for fishery disaster declarations in the 2023 appropriations bill.

April 12, 2023

E&E NEWS PM | Members of California's congressional delegation on Tuesday asked the Biden administration to declare a disaster in response to the cancellation of this year’s chinook salmon fishery.

The lawmakers joined Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in requesting relief for people whose livelihoods rely on salmon fishing. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo led by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the House and Senate members said some of the $300 million from the fiscal 2023 omnibus bill dedicated to fishery disaster declarations should go to affected Californians.

“The chinook salmon fishery has a profound economic value, impacting not only fish sales but also related businesses, including restaurants, bait and tackle shops, charter fishing guides, campgrounds, and more,” the letter said.

“Our communities will be hurting from this lack of revenue, and the subsistence users of the fishery will need assistance to feed their families," the letter added. "A federal fishery disaster declaration will not replace this essential cultural resource, but disaster dollars will provide some relief to affected businesses and families.”

...

For complete article, please visit the source link below. 


By:  Alex Hargrave
Source: E&E News