04/10/2008 GAAS:174:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | Email / Share
Gov. Schwarzenegger Takes Action to Address Impacts of Vote to Close Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took a number of steps to
aid an industry severely impacted by poor ocean conditions and other
environmental factors following today's recommendation by the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (PFMC) that the U.S. Secretary of Commerce close the
commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in California for the 2008 season.
The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a state of
emergency in California and sent a letter to President Bush
asking for his help in obtaining federal disaster assistance. He will also sign
SB
562, currently on his desk, by Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), which
appropriates approximately $5.3 million of the $45 million in Proposition 84
funds to begin coastal salmon and steelhead fishery restoration projects.
"California's salmon runs are a treasured state
resource and provide significant contributions to our economy and our
environment," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Today's decision by the Pacific
Fishery Management Council underscores our responsibility to quickly free up
state and federal resources to help the fishing industry cope with the
devastating economic impacts closing the season will have.
"In addition to our commitment to immediately assist the
salmon fishing industry, the legislation will fund critical coastal salmon and
steelhead fishery restoration projects to address the long-term environmental
challenges resulting from poor ocean conditions and other
factors."
Today, the PFMC, one of eight regional fishery
management councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and
Management Act of 1976, now known as Magnuson-Stevens, responsible for managing
fisheries off the coasts of California,
Oregon and Washington, voted to recommend that the Secretary of
Commerce close the commercial and recreational salmon fisheries in California for the 2008
season.
The recommendations will now go to the California Fish
and Game Commission for a final decision via a process beginning this Tuesday,
April 15. The Commission will work to provide further fishing opportunities to
Californians while ensuring the future of salmon fishing in the state.
At the Governor's request, the California Department of
Fish and Game (DFG) assessed the potential damage from the closure of the salmon
season and determined the loss to be $255 million and 2,263 California jobs.
The Governor's proclamation directs numerous state
agencies and departments to take various actions,
including:
- Directing DFG and Resources Agency to address the long-term restoration and management of salmon in California;
- Directing the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Department of Finance, and Labor and Workforce Development Agency to make grants and loans available to prevent and/or mitigate business insolvencies and employment losses;
- Directing DFG to request continued funding from the federal government under the federal Sport Fish Restoration Act that might be decreased based on the decrease in fishing license sales, and to refund or waive commercial salmon fishing permit fees for the 2008 and 2009 seasons; and
- Directing Department of Finance to make up to $2.7 million in special fund money available to DFG to refund commercial fishing salmon stamps and permits for the 2008 season.
In March, the Governor joined with Oregon
Governor Kulongoski and Washington Governor Gregoire in sending a letter
to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez requesting a fishery resource
disaster declaration if fisheries are closed.
Below is the full text of the Governor's
proclamation:
A
PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS California's salmon runs are a vital component
of our great State's resources and contribute significant environmental,
recreational, commercial, and economic benefits to the people;
and
WHEREAS the Sacramento River Fall Run
Chinook Salmon have been significantly impacted by poor ocean conditions, and
other environmental factors; and
WHEREAS the Sacramento River Fall Run
Chinook Salmon, traditionally a mainstay salmon population for the West Coast,
have declined in abundance to a level where California's and Oregon's recreational and commercial fisheries
are being provisionally closed; and
WHEREAS Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook
Salmon are predicted to have extremely low ocean abundance for 2008 in waters
from Cape Falcon in northern Oregon to the U.S./Mexico Border in San Diego
County, California; and
WHEREAS appropriate management of the
Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon is critical to California's businesses
and local communities that provide goods and services in support of California's
salmon fisheries; and
WHEREAS on March 14, 2008, I requested U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez to use his authority under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to determine that there
has been a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster;
and
WHEREAS on April 10, 2008, the Pacific
Fishery Management Council adopted final regulatory recommendations to close
commercial and recreational salmon fishing, and it is anticipated that the
National Marine Fisheries Service will adopt an emergency rule followed by a
declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, that is consistent with the
Council's action; and
WHEREAS these restrictions will have
significant impacts to California's commercial and recreational ocean salmon and
Central Valley in-river recreation salmon fisheries and will result in severe
economic losses throughout the State, including an estimated $255 million
economic impact and the loss of an estimated 2,263 jobs;
and
WHEREAS the serious circumstances of the
Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon put at risk the livelihoods of families
and businesses dependent upon them.
NOW,
THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of
California, find that conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety
of persons and property exist within California due to the poor ocean conditions
and resulting from the significant restrictions that have been imposed on the
State's salmon fisheries, and the magnitude of this disaster will likely exceed
the capabilities of the services, personnel, and facilities of the counties in
California. Therefore, I find California to be
in a state of emergency, and under the authority of the California Emergency
Services Act, I hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists in California.
In addition, pursuant to this
Proclamation:
I
DIRECT the Director of the California Department of Fish and Game and
the Secretary of the Resources Agency to: (1) report to me immediately upon
final action of the Department of Commerce and the California Fish and Game
Commission on any further actions necessary to ensure the protection of the
resource and of the economic livelihood of the fishery participants and local
communities; and (2) address the long-term restoration and management of the
Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon in ongoing discussions with federal
agencies and representatives from conservation and fishing organizations and
fishing communities.
I FURTHER
DIRECT the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing
Agency, with the cooperation of the Department of Finance, to activate the Small
Business Disaster Assistance Loan Guarantee Program to guarantee loans to
prevent business insolvencies and loss of employment in California as a result of this State of Emergency.
I FURTHER
DIRECT that to ensure that adequate assistance is available to
individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of this emergency, the
Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Director of the
Employment Development Department shall make available additional assistance
grants in those circumstances where the local Dislocated Worker formula
allocation is not adequate to cover the demand for services to individuals who
have lost their jobs as a result of this State of
Emergency.
I FURTHER
DIRECT the Director of the Department of Fish and Game to request
from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, that
California continue to receive the maximum apportionment for federal funds under
the federal Sport Fish Restoration Act allowable for the years 2008 and 2009
through an exemption from the apportionment calculation of other suitable means
since a predicted decrease in fishing license sales may negatively affect the
State's apportionment.
I FURTHER
DIRECT the Director of the Department of Fish and Game to take all
necessary actions to issue refunds for commercial fishing salmon stamps issued
under Fish and Game Code section 7860, and for Commercial Salmon Vessel Permits
issued under Fish and Game Code sections 8235 and 8245, paid for the current
2008 commercial fishing salmon season because retention of such fees would
hinder mitigation of the effects of this emergency.
I FURTHER
DIRECT that no administrative charges, by any State department,
agency, board, commission or office, will be claimed or charged to the
Department of Fish and Game for the processing of these
refunds.
I FURTHER
DIRECT that the Director of Finance make up to $2.7 million in
special fund money available to the Department of Fish and Game for the purposes
of refunding commercial fishing salmon stamps and Commercial Salmon Vessel
Permits for the 2008 season; for increased enforcement activities; and to
increase public awareness of the federal policy and the State's actions.
I FURTHER
DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed
in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice
be given of this proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be
affixed this the 10th day of April 2008.
___________________________________
ARNOLD
SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California
ATTEST:
___________________________________
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State
