|
ASTORIA, OR - Today, Congressman David Wu released the statement below in response to the Federal government's decision to declare a fisheries failure disaster on the coasts of Oregon and Northern California. The declaration was announced today by Deputy Secretary of Commerce David Sampson and NOAA Fisheries Director Dr. William Hogarth.
"I am pleased that the Administration finally came to the right decision and will be helping Oregon salmon fishers and coastal communities. This disaster wasn't created by fishermen, but rather by poor Klamath Basin management decisions made back in Washington, DC.
"I sincerely hope that the lessons learned by this disaster will lead to a comprehensive long-term solution for salmon recovery in the Klamath River Basin. Nothing else will ever restore the salmon runs on the Klamath River."
Today's declaration of a fisheries failure disaster authorizes Congress to appropriate much needed disaster relief funds. To date, the federal response has not addressed the needs of Oregon and California's coastal communities devastated by the salmon fishing closure.
### |
