In response to the 2006 Klamath River salmon fishery failure, California is disbursing $33 million in Federal Disaster Relief Assistance to affected salmon industry entities. Commercial salmon fishermen, fish buyer/processors, related marine supply businesses, commercial charter boat owners and Klamath In-River guides and associated infrastructure businesses are eligible to apply for assistance. The California Salmon Council, a state mandated marketing entity is coordinating the relief efforts in California on behalf of the commercial salmon industry with oversight from the California Department of Fish and Game and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

In June 2006 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency in 13 counties in response to the fishery failure. In August 2006 US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez followed up with a federal declaration of an "in-season" fishery failure which cleared the way for federal disaster assistance.

The Federal appropriation of $60.4 million is being shared between the commercial salmon industries in California, Oregon and the Indian Tribes that rely upon the salmon fishery for their subsidence and cultural heritage. The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission located in Portland, Oregon is coordinating the tri-lateral relief effort with the Federal government and in particular the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the California Salmon Council, the Oregon Salmon Commission and the Indian Tribal interests.

Congressman Mike Thompson (1CA-D) sponsored H.R. 234 Pacific Salmon Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2007 in cooperation with other California and Oregon legislators. The appropriations bill was signed by President George Bush in May when it was included in the military spending package.

The 2006 salmon fishery failure was brought about by a mixture of problems that began during the 2002 salmon spawning season. During that year there was a drought in the Klamath basin creating reduced flows, higher water temperatures and disease spread by over crowding of fish in the lower river resulting in a salmon die off. Since Klamath Fall Chinook are often the limiting stock in setting salmon fishing seasons, their reduced ocean abundances caused the Federal government to begin to curtail salmon harvest beginning in the 2005 fishing season and with the continued declines in the population, further cut backs in 2006 resulted in the worst salmon fishing season in decades.

The California Salmon Council is now taking applications from affected salmon fishermen, buyers/processors, and related marine businesses. The North Coast Small Business Development Center in Eureka is working with the In-River businesses. The Golden Gate Fishermen's Association is coordinating the commercial charter boat industry.

Any commercial salmon business entity that was negatively affected by the 2006 salmon fishery failure is encouraged to contact the California Salmon Council for further information on the disaster relief effort. The Council will clarify the qualifications and application process.

More information on the disaster relief can be found on the California Salmon Council website at www.calkingsalmon.org.