Salmon disaster relief funds update
Dear California Salmon Council Board and Other Interested Individuals,
First, we want to acknowledge the fishery fleet and those who are suffering from two years of no salmon fishing opportunities, and the delay in the Dungeness Crab fishery. In addition, we want to further offer our condolences for the loss of life, property and businesses in Southern California for the recent devastation from the LA fires. These are certainly tough times for our residents and our consumers.
There is a lot of information and rumors as to the timing of the 2023 salmon disaster funds. We’ve tried to report credible information when known. There has been some recent movement in the disaster relief that we need to report. Some may know and most probably don’t so listed below is the latest information from Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) and from a recent telephone call with Frank Lockhart, NOAA.
The 2023 salmon disaster contract from NOAA was received and signed by PSMFC on January 8. This now allows PSMFC to work on the distribution of funds. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife is working on sending the necessary information on fishermen and buyers to Pacific States. Forms will be sent to those eligible for review and signature. A deadline will be set by Pacific States for all the forms to be returned. At that time checks will be sent to the approved parties. It’s too early to know exactly when the deadline will be set, nor checks mailed. It will probably take several months to complete the forms, get them returned, verified and checks mailed. We’ll stay on top of this as the process develops. At least there is a finality to it and the funds will be disbursed as quickly as possible.
The Department of Commerce recently approved the 2024 salmon disaster request. Apparently NOAA requested additional information about economic loss than they had for the 2023 disaster. Nevertheless, the 120 day declaration deadline has the caveat that the clock starts with a completed application. The added questions from NOAA kept the clock from starting, hence it too much longer than expected.
The approval letter from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo is attached for your review. The letter was dated December 12, but this just recently came to our attention in early January. The letter states that disaster funds can be released when Congress funds the agency.
CLICK HERE FOR LETTER
I have not heard if the Disaster Account was funded with the recent Appropriations Bill. HR 9026 Text – H.R.9026 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 and S 4795 Text – S.4795 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025 both appropriate $300,000 for the disaster administration, but have not appropriated funds. We’ll try to see if there was a subsequent appropriation or if Congress is waiting for the new Administration. We do know Congress passed a continuing resolution a few weeks ago to keep the government running.
We hope this information is useful. We’ll stay on top of the situation and continue to report further developments as they become known.
David Goldenberg,
California Salmon Council
P.O. Box 2255
Folsom, CA 95763-2255
Phone (916) 933-7050
FAX (916) 933-7055
info@calkingsalmon.org
