Senator McGuire responds to Governor’s request for federal salmon disaster

Sacramento, CA – California’s iconic salmon fishery, and the thousands of families who depend on the fishery for their livelihood, are in crisis. There has been an unprecedented collapse in California’s salmon population, tribal allocations are at an all-time low, and the proposed closures and minimal open salmon fishing seasons will have significant negative impacts on thousands of California residents.

Senator McGuire released the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown sending a joint letter with Oregon Governor Kate Brown to United States Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross seeking a salmon disaster declaration. Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Wood sent a letter requesting this declaration to the Governor earlier this month.

“California salmon fishermen are facing an unprecedented crisis and we are grateful for the Governor who is standing strong for the hard-working men and women of California’s salmon fleet,” Senator McGuire said. “The California salmon fishery is our state’s oldest and it’s one of the most iconic fisheries in America. Thousands of working families on the North Coast are in crisis and desperately need our help – today’s action by the Governor brings us one step closer to providing that support.”

The drought, poor ocean conditions and federal water management policies caused high mortality and very low survival of juvenile salmon resulting in low adult numbers and devastating closures for the 2017 salmon season.

Read the Governors’ disaster request letter here.

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