04/21/2009 GAAS:185:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Addresses Impacts of Vote to Close Salmon Season for Second Consecutive Year
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today took action to avoid
harmful impacts to the state's economy following the California Fish and Game
Commission's vote to close the 2009 recreational salmon season. The Pacific
Fishery Management Council (PFMC) voted to close the commercial salmon season
on April 8. This is the second consecutive year that the state's salmon fishery
has been closed.
The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in California
and sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke asking for his
support in obtaining federal disaster assistance.
"California's salmon are a vital resource that contributes
greatly to our economy, our environment and our way of life," said Governor
Schwarzenegger. "Today I am asking the federal government to make the necessary
resources available to help the fishing industry cope with a second year of
economic and recreational impacts.
Today, the Commission voted to conform to standards recommended by the
PFMC to close the ocean recreational salmon fisheries south of Horse Point in
California for the 2009 season. The PFMC voted to close both commercial and
recreational salmon fishing (except for 10 days in the Klamath Management zone)
in federal waters. The state commercial regulations are auto-conforming; the
commission adopts recreational regulations for state waters.
At the Governor's request, the California Department of Fish and Game assessed the
potential damage from the closure of the salmon season and determined the loss
to be $279 million and 2,690 California jobs.
Also today, the Governor joined with Oregon Governor Kulongoski in sending a
letter to Commerce Secretary Locke requesting a fishery resource disaster under
the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986, and a commercial fishery
failure under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of
1976.
Last year, the Governor also declared a
state of emergency in California and directed numerous state agencies and
departments to take various actions to help those affected by the first-ever
salmon season closure. He also helped secure $120 million in federal disaster
assistance for California salmon fishermen and the salmon fishing industry.
Below is the full text of the Governor's proclamation:
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 population 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 low ocean
abundance again in 2009 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 April 21, 2009, I requested U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke 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 8, 2009, the Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted final
regulatory recommendations to close commercial salmon fishing and impose severe
restrictions on 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 $279 million economic impact and the loss of an
estimated 2,690 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 again on the
State's salmon fisheries, and the magnitude of this disaster will likely exceed
the capabilities of the services, personnel, and facilities of any single
county, city and county, or city in California, and require or will likely require
the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat.
Therefore, I find California to be in a state of emergency, and under the
authority of the California Emergency Services Act, I HEREBY PROCLAIM 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 Natural 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 2009 and 2010 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 2009 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 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 21st day of April 2009.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California
ATTEST:
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State
