Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 24, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke requests federal assistance for salmon disaster

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today requested federal disaster assistance to help tribal and non-tribal fishers in Puget Sound counties begin to recover from the results of the recent closure of the sockeye salmon fishing season.

The governor made his request after proclaiming a state of emergency in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Thurston counties. Other reports of economic damages in neighboring counties may expand the governor's request.

Officials in those counties project widespread impacts on the fishing industry, related businesses and individuals and families who depend on those economic resources affected by the Pacific Salmon Commission's cancellation of the 1999 Fraser River sockeye salmon season. The Pacific Salmon Commission canceled the season after the Fraser River sockeye salmon run was estimated to be smallest since 1980 because of the poor sockeye survival rate created by ocean conditions during 1997 El Nino.

Locke's emergency proclamation directs state government to support emergency response activities as needed, allowing state agencies to make extraordinary expenditures and use of resources. If declared a disaster area by President Clinton, the affected counties could receive aid for eligible business losses and adverse economic impacts to individuals and families.

Last week, Locke requested the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to declare an economic injury disaster in the same area because of the salmon season closure. He stated at that time that "the total impact to the Washington state economy, including the losses for the supporting businesses, is conservatively estimated at $36 million, but could reach as high as $63 million." Estimates are that treaty Indian and non-Indian commercial fishers have lost more than $9 million in direct benefits.

Additional information about the program can be obtained from Mark Clemens, Washington Emergency Management Division public information officer, at 1-800-688-8955.

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