Anglers’ Campaign Impacts California Salmon Season Decision
by Mary Jane Williamson
April 7, 2006, Alexandria, VA—Due
to the efforts of thousands of anglers and the sportfishing industry,
there will be a 2006 California Pacific Ocean salmon season. In a near
unanimous vote by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) on
April 6, 2006, this year’s sportfishing salmon season will be
similar to that of 2005. The California season will run from May 1
through November 12. The National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) is
expected to ratify the Council’s decision. This is a departure
from its earlier position in which NMFS supported closure of the season.
Sportfishing
in California has a $4.9 billion impact on the state’s
economy and is second only to Florida in total angler expenditures. There are
2.4 million sport fishermen in California. Sportfishing supports 43,000
jobs, pays $1.3 billion in salaries and wages, and pays $456 million annually
in state and federal taxes.
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Coastside
Fishing Club, ASA’s
West Coast members and other angling groups joined efforts to inform the administration
and state and federal policy makers about the issue and its impact on the sportfishing
community. Rallies were held by Coastside and the Small Boat Commercial Fishermen’s
Association in Santa Rosa, Calif. and Sacramento, Calif. each drawing nearly
1,000 supporters. The Coastside Fishing Club collected 22,000 names on petitions
that were delivered to Members of Congress, the Secretary of Commerce and the
White House. ASA coordinated an effort that resulted in over 7,000 letters,
faxes and e-mails sent by individual anglers and industry members to the administration,
Congress and state and federal policy makers. ASA staff also sent letters to
and met with Congressional, administration and federal agency leaders about
the issue.
Gordon Robertson, ASA VP said, “The association is proud
to have played a part in this successful campaign. My congratulations go
to the Coastside Fishing Club and the hundreds of other fishing groups
involved, tackle retailers, ASA’s California members, and the
thousands of fishermen that supported this effort.” Robertson
further said, “Our hope
is that the Secretary of Commerce supports the Council’s decision.”
Bob
Franko, founder and chairman of Coastside Fishing Club praised the quick
action and the dedication of the Coastside members. He said, “We
are obviously very pleased with the Council’s decision. Coastside always
felt the more rational thinkers would ultimately take control of the process.
To even consider putting a multi-million dollar industry out of business is
ill conceived at best, and utterly irresponsible. Franko further said, “I
can’t
thank our members enough for their time and effort on this issue. I also want
to give a special thanks to ASA for helping our collective voice be heard in
Washington.”
Robertson further said, “ASA realizes that the proposed
closure for California and Oregon is only the current crisis for Pacific
salmon. We have written to the Chairman of the White House Council
on Environmental Quality requesting that the administration put its
clout behind a long-term solution for Klamath River
salmon.” Robertson concluded, “There are many factors, including
water withdrawals, structural barriers, pollution and disease organisms
that have lead to the current situation. If these are not adequately
addressed, restrictions on salmon harvest will not be sufficient to reestablish
the salmon resource.”
The American Sportfishing Association
is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, uniting more than 650 members of the sportfishing
and boating industries with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal land and
water management agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups
and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing Association safeguards and
promotes the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing.
