Oregon Public Broadcasting

U.S. Commerce secretary Gary Locke has extended last year’s disaster declaration for the Oregon and California coasts, following a decision to close most coastal salmon fishing this season.

The announcement comes weeks after fishery officials recommended closing the commercial harvest from southern California to the Columbia River, for the second year in a row, because there weren’t enough fish.

The declaration makes $53 million of relief funds available. Most of that will go to California, where the economic harm is greater.

Glen Spain with the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen says the six point seven million dollars for Oregon isn’t enough.

Glen Spain: “It’s only a band-aid - keep in mind that we do need additional disaster funds from the Congress. The same problems that we had last year are going to hit us all again, this year.”

Governor Ted Kulongoski, in a written statement, says the money comes at an important time.

Spain says he’s not surprised that Secretary Locke acted quickly, because as a former Washington governor, he understands the needs of West Coast fishermen.

Locke's home state of Washington isn't affected this year, as it was last year. Fisheries’ experts blame the continued low salmon numbers on poor conditions in the Sacramento Valley and in the ocean.