Commerce Dept. Approves Oregon Fishery Disaster Declaration
Federal authorities have approved a fishery disaster for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 at Oregon Chinook salmon ocean commercial fisheries, a decision that makes fishermen eligible to apply for disaster assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Oregon’s congressional delegation, also including five members of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced the determination on Friday, Oct. 13, saying the aid would help the state’s coastal economies recover from years of drought, changing ocean conditions, and critical habitat loss that have harmed salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest.
The delegation said that the U.S. Department of Commerce has fishery disaster assistance funding available and would soon determine the allocation.
“Oregon’s fishin...
