It is observed that the damaged in the salmon sector is massive which needs extra money and attention. Reacting on that the Bush administration has come through with the remaining $70 million of the disaster relief that Congress appropriated to help salmon fishermen and related business after the West Coast fishery collapsed last summer.
The Congress has appropriated $170 million, but last September the administration started handing out only $100 million. The rest of the amount was said to be use to help cover costs of the census, but would supply the aid to the salmon industry once the fiscal year changed. NOAA Fisheries Regional Director Bob Lohn opined that the money was released after Congress refused to go along with a request from the Office of Management and Budget to redirect it.
It is told that till date the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission has distributed about $75 million, primarily to commercial fishermen and processors, said Executive Director Randy Fisher. He added that about 12 percent is going to Washington, 16 percent to Oregon and 72 percent to California. He exclaimed that this year’s disaster relief is going much further than aid distributed in 2006, when only commercial fishermen and processors got money.
Damage has marred the business in the region as commercial fishermen get $3 a pound for their best year between 2002 and 2007, and charter boat owners get $85 a person for the same period. Initially, businesses will get half the amounts they claimed. The balance will come after all initial claims are made and if there is enough money left.
