"In
the Pacific Northwest, salmon are part of
our heritage, our culture and our economy. Salmon are a link to our
past, and if they are going to be part of our future, we'll have to find
solutions that look beyond the next season or the next election. I
am committed to make sure we take the long view when it comes to
saving salmon.
I believe that the ingenuity and
optimism of the people of Washington state will allow us to meet this
challenge. And I'm proud of the tough decisions that people all
across my state -- from farmers and Native Americans to sport
fishermen and the fishing industry -- have made so far."
-- Senator Patty Murray
Throughout the history of the Pacific Northwest, salmon have
played a symbolic and economic role. Today, however, the salmon of our
region are threatened with extinction. Senator Murray has used her
position in the United States Senate to help direct federal resources
towards a cooperative and comprehensive statewide effort to recover
salmon.
Senator Murray understands that saving salmon will require
sacrifices and support from all Washingtonians. Recovering salmon is
not a challenge to just the western or eastern parts of our state. In
fact, 80 percent of Washington state faces Endangered Species Act
issues related to fish. It is a challenge for the entire state and that
is why Senator Murray has worked to unite all interests and regions in
Washington State to help recover salmon.
Senator Murray is:
- Supporting comprehensive solutions that addresses
habitat, hydropower, hatcheries, and harvest levels.
- Securing funding for salmon recovery.
- Protecting salmon habitat like the Northwest
Straits and the Hanford Reach.
- Ensuring sustainable harvest levels and supporting
international agreements to protect salmon.