Oregon’s congressional delegation has asked U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to quickly declare a fishery disaster for the state’s 2024 commercial salmon fishery after another disappointing season.
“This declaration is critical to provide economic relief to Oregon’s fisheries and coastal communities in addition to protecting the sustainability of wild salmon populations. In 2024, Oregon’s troll salmon fishery faced significant challenges due to changing ocean currents, environmental degradation, and poor salmon returns,” the lawmakers stated in their joint letter.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek initially submitted a request to the Department of Commerce for a fishery disaster determination 1 April.
“Environmental and ecological disruptions have severely affected the salmon populations along our coast leading to severe economic impacts on distressed fishing communities and reliant businesses. A disaster declaration will help provide economic relief and ensure that Oregon’s coastal communities remain viable while the State works closely with federal and tribal partners to rebuild and restore this vital fishery,” Kotek said in her letter.
In their joint 11 April letter, legislators representing Oregon in Congress asked Lutnick to move quickly in responding to Kotek’s request.
“We urge you to direct your attention to Governor Kotek’s request for a fishery resource disaster declaration,” they wrote. “We look forward to your timely response, and our offices stand ready to work with you to recover and sustain Oregon’s commercial fisheries.”
Kotek’s letter did not include an estimate of the economic impact of the “significant losses” the commercial troll fishery suffered due to the lower catch limits and shortened season.
Oregon’s commercial salmon fishery has suffered for several years due to declining salmon populations across the West Coast. The Department of Commerce provided USD 7 million (EUR 6.2 million) in federal relief for fishery disasters declared from 2018-2020. The department also declared a disaster took place in 2023, although it has yet to announce how much funding it will allocate in relief for that season.
Earlier this month, the Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended closing part of the Oregon coast to commercial salmon fishing as well as the entire coast of California.
“Ocean salmon fisheries south of Cape Falcon, Oregon are again limited mainly by the low abundance forecasts for both Klamath River and Sacramento River fall Chinook,” PFMC said in its recommendations. “Coho forecasts are mostly greater in 2025 than in 2024, as the Oregon Production Index hatchery stock and the Oregon Coast natural stock have a higher forecast than last year, but the Columbia River natural stock is slightly lower than 2024.”
