Oregon’s commercial salmon industry calls for federal disaster relief

Since 2018, commercial fishermen’s profits on salmon have been declining.

The value of Oregon’s salmon catch reached $ 14 million in 2014. By 2020, that number has fallen to $ 1.5 million, according to Oregon Representative David Gomberg.

Nancy Fitzpatrick is the Executive Director of the Oregon Salmon Commission. She says without local Oregon fishermen, consumers will have to look to foreign sources of seafood.

“If you import seafood, what guarantees do you have for the durability and quality of seafood? Said Fitzpatrick. “Whereas here in the United States, we are managed to be sustainable and to produce quality. So, it would be a shame if we cannot harvest our own fish and have to import it.

This isn’t the Oregon salmon industry’s first disaster claim; funds were requested in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Oregon salmon populations are at risk due to climate change, drought and water quality issues.

The request for relief funding was initiated by the Oregon Salmon Commission. If approved by the US Department of Commerce and the situation is classified as a disaster, the request will then be forwarded to Congress for appropriate funds.