I am pleased to let you know that I have joined Congressman Mike Thompson, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and other Senators and Representatives from California, Oregon and Washington in calling for prompt action in case of a seriously impacted salmon season.

In our letter to the Secretary of Commerce, we urged that, if the coming salmon season nears the deep cuts seen during the salmon fishing season of 2006, when over 90 percent of the catch was off limits, the U.S. Department of Commerce should act quickly to declare a federal fisheries failure.  This action will make it possible for Congress to work quickly to get aid to affected communities.

The preliminary reports on the number of returning juvenile salmon this year is cause for concern.  In order for Congress to act, federal law requires that the Secretary of Commerce must first declare the season a commercial fishery failure.  The delays in declaring a failure in 2006 were significantly detrimental to communities along the coast that depend upon fishing and tourism.  We will need quick action to help these families this year.

You can count on me to continue to work on behalf of coastal families who depend on the salmon run.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator