Gov. Kitzhaber Supports Safe for Salmon

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To Members of the Legislature:

I am writing in support of House Bill 2734/Senate Bill 554, the SAFE for Salmon Plan. It is time to end the decades-old acrimonious conflict between the sport and commercial fishing industries; and to replace it with a long term vision for the Lower Columbia fishery.

The decline and volatility of Columbia Basin salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon populations has reached unacceptable levels. Thirteen of eighteen salmon and steelhead species that migrate through the Lower Columbia are now federally listed as threatened or endangered. Commercial gill nets in the lower Columbia main stem kill a high proportion of the wild fish that are unintentionally tangled ("by catch"). The subsequent reduction of endangered wild fish moving into the upstream spawning grounds forces federal regulators to constrain sport and commercial fishing which, in turn, harms communities around Oregon whose economies rely in part on those industries. At the same time the tens of thousands of hatchery fish moving upstream spawn with wild fish hampering the recovery of these native stocks.

HB 2734/SB 554 offers a "win-win" solution by prohibiting gill nets in the main stem of the Columbia but allowing them in "SAFE" areas located in bays and sloughs along the edge of the river. A portion of juvenile salmon hatchery releases would be moved ("directed") from tributaries to the SAFE areas to provide a stable source of fish for commercial harvest by the gill netters. At the same time, the unintended yet indiscriminant killing of wild fish by gill nets would be dramatically reduced; more wild fish would move upstream reducing the pressure on federal agencies to curtail sport and commercial fishing; and this, in turn would help relieve the economic burden on Oregon communities which rely in part on these industries. Furthermore, this approach would enhance recovery efforts of endangered fish by reducing the number of hatchery fish straying onto the wild fish spawning grounds.

Directed commercial fisheries have successfully been taking place in SAFE areas for two decades now. They are effective and non-controversial and provide a much needed product for the seafood industry. The concerns of commercial gill netters that the return of hatchery salmon to safe areas might not be sufficient to maintain their industry can be addressed by phasing this program in over a number of years with way points to access the size of the returning runs of hatchery fish and thus ensure the continued viability of this important part of our natural resource industries.

We have reached a crisis point for Columbia River fisheries and the businesses it supports. Our wild fish runs are disappearing as are thousands of jobs that depend on sustainable fishing seasons for survival. We must craft a solution that will protect and grow our wild fish runs while stimulating economic growth and sustainable job creation in communities throughout our state. I have been deeply involved in salmon recovery issues throughout my career in public service; and the SAFE for Salmon framework offers a way to provide enhanced runs of wild fish; more sport fishing opportunity, a stable supply of fish for commercial harvest, and conservation benefits.

John A. Kitzhaber, M.D.
Oregon Governor
1995-2003