$53.1 million for salmon fishermen

On Thursday, April 30, 2009, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce announced the release of $53.1 million to compensate for some of the loss to the West Coast salmon fishery caused by continued near-record low runs. Technically, the funds are a continuation of a federal disaster declaration issued in 2008, and although runs are predicted to be up slightly from 2008, they remain at small percentages of historic levels. The Commerce Dept. press release also said: “NOAA will continue to work with the states and our partners in the region on habitat and hatchery issues that may be contributing to the difficult fishery management problems that the Sacramento River system has been experiencing,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator.