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WYDEN, SMITH SECURE $100 MILLION
FOR OREGON
GROUNDFISH, SALMON RECOVERY EFFORTS
Congress approves funds to help West
Coast fisheries, boost economic growth
January 22, 2004
Washington,
DC – U.S.
Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced
final approval of more than $100 million for West Coast groundfish
and salmon recovery efforts. Oregon will receive a significant
portion of this money, which was included in the omnibus spending
measure that will now be signed into law by the president.
"Oregon's fishing communities are part of our heritage
and an important part of our state's economic future," said
Wyden. "This investment will help preserve that heritage
for the years ahead."
"Improving the ability of our fishing families and communities
to better contribute to the state's general economy is essential," said
Smith. "This bill is a great commitment to an integral Oregon
industry."
The omnibus spending measure includes $5 million for management
of the West Coast groundfish fishery, as well as funding for
these additional programs:
• $5,000,000 for the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program – The
West Coast Groundfish Observer Program is an essential effort
to help quantify total catch in the West Coast groundfish fishery.
When West Coast fishers bring in too much bycatch – species
of fish they don't intend to catch – the fishery can be
shut down for a time. These funds will pay for observers to gather
more accurate data on bycatch amounts to prevent premature shutdowns
of the fishery.
• $1,000,000 for West Coast
Groundfish Cooperative Research - Cooperative research on the
West Coast has successfully included
fishers in stock surveys and fishery management. Fishers benefit
from the use of their boats in this research, and the research
is enhanced by the fishers' expertise. These funds will support
cooperative research projects to collect data for stock assessments
and complement the current research being used for West Coast
groundfish fisheries management.
• $90,000,000 for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery
Fund, of which Oregon will receive $13,133,000 - These funds
are used to support habitat restoration, data collection, evaluation
and monitoring at the local watershed level – exercises
critically important to salmon recovery and habitat restoration.
• $1.5 million for the Oregon
Trawl Commission to help West Coast shrimp fishery more aggressively
market their products
and develop new markets.
• $1.5 million for the Oregon
State University Seafood Laboratory.
Columbia River hatcheries will share more than $16.5 million
for facility improvements, monitoring, and evaluation. These
hatchery programs help support a $60 million recreational fishery
in the Northwest. A portion of these funds will also be used
to maintain and install fish screens throughout the Basin.
