Oregon OKs aid to fishermen

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Senate has approved $3 million in economic assistance for Oregon commercial fishermen struggling after the collapse of groundfish species on the West Coast, Sen. Ron Wyden announced Friday.

"These folks are on the ropes," Wyden said. "If they can’t fish, they can’t pay their bills. They need some help while they figure out what to do next as almost 3,000 of them try to transition into other lines of work."

In 1999, the Pacific Fishery Management Council imposed sharp cuts ranging from 14 percent to 85 percent in fishing limits on West Coast groundfish, which include ling cod and various species of rockfish sold as snapper. Eight species were declared overfished.

In 2000, a fishery disaster was declared on West Coast groundfish.

The Senate late Thursday adopted a 2002 appropriations bill for the departments of Commerce, Justice and State that included $5 million to deal with the collapse of groundfish species.

The bill must be reconciled with the version that passed the House, which does not include the aid package.

The Senate package includes $2 million for research by the National Marine Fisheries Service using commercial fishermen and their boats to conduct surveys of fish populations.

The $3 million in economic assistance may be used by the Groundfish Disaster Outreach Program, which makes monthly grants of $1,000 to single fishermen and $1,500 to married fishermen for up to nine months. Lump sums may be paid to boat owners who have suffered financial losses due to tighter catch limits.