In recent years the Oregon salmon industry has struggled, leaving commercial fishermen to deal with a steep reduction in profits. In response, Governor Kate Brown has asked the federal government for disaster relief funds.
In her letter to the Department of Commerce, Governor Brown detailed the decline of fishery performance from 2018 to 2020.
According to Oregon Representative David Gomberg, “We’re just struggling to keep this industry alive.” The state’s salmon catch, once as high as $14 million in 2014, was down to $1.5 million dollars as of last year.
A combination of climate change, drought, and issues with water quality have led to increasing threats to Oregon’s salmon populations over recent years.
“The problem here is pretty straightforward,” said Rep. Gomberg. “We got diminished stream flows, we got warming waters, we got ocean acidification and hypoxia. Some of these issues can be addressed in the medium to short term, some of them are going to require long–term solutions. All of them are going to take some time.”
Rural communities, Native American Tribes, and businesses all depend on the salmon population in some way, Gov. Brown explained in her letter.
If approved, most of the aid money would be directed to the fishermen who have been most impacted by the decline in recent years. Those working in salmon processing and sales are also expected to receive some funding.
It is currently unknown when the Department of Commerce will respond to the request.
By Olivia Goodfriend
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