2006 Salmon Season

Emergency Rule Approved: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Services (NOAA Fisheries) announced April 28, 2006 that it was approving an emergency rule to allow some limited salmon fishing along the Oregon and California coasts. These new regulations will allow the ocean salmon fishery to open as scheduled on May 1. They mirror the recommendations made earlier this month by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) in an effort to protect dwindling numbers of Chinook salmon returning to the Klamath River to spawn. NOAA Decision (pdf)

2006 Salmon Troll Season (pdf)

2006 Recreational Season (pdf)

2006 Synopsis Oregon Commercial Fishing Regulations (pdf)

2006 Disaster Declaration

Oregon Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden introduced a bill (no number at this time) to the Senate, "To direct the Secretary of Commerce to provide emergency disaster assistance to mitigate the economic losses caused by salmon fishery restrictions along the California and Oregon coast, and for other purposes." Senate Bill (pdf)

California Representative Thompson introduced a bill (no number at this time) to the House of Representatives, "To direct the Secretary of Commerce to provide emergency disaster assistance to mitigate the economic losses caused by declining Klamath River salmon and to develop and implement a research and recovery plan for Klamath River salmon, and for other purposes." House of Representatives Bill (pdf)

Governor Ted Kulongoski declared a state of emergency Monday April 24, 2006 for coastal communities that will likely suffer economic stress because of severe federal restrictions on ocean salmon fishing this summer. The declaration came in an executive order that also directs state agencies to respond to the crisis immediately. The Governor also announced that he is creating a webpage for communities affected by the fish closing to connect with various services and actions that state agencies are taking as a result of this executive order. The webpage will link from the Governor's home page (http://governor.oregon.gov)

Disaster Services

Unemployment: The Employment Department has supplied the following information. Some affected fishers may be eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) and can call their nearest UI Center or file through the internet.

For Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), once a disaster has been declared by the President, DUA becomes payable to individuals who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster. When the disaster declaration is signed, the Employment Department will issue a pubilc announcement about the availability of DUA. Once the announcement is made, claimants have a 30-day window to apply for DUA benefits. Information about DUA and instructions for handling DUA claims will be sent to each of the field offices and UI Centers.

Unemployed individuals will be directed to call their nearest UI Center. Claims specialists will determine if the caller qualifies for a regular claim in Oregon or elsewhere. If 'yes,' the claim will be filed according to normal procedures. If claimant does not qualify for a regular claim, the individual will be directed to call the UI Benefits Section in Salem. They will give additional information about DUA and mail a DUA packet which includes instructions, an initial claim application, an earnings affidavit for the self-employed, and 26 weekly claim forms. DUA application packets will only be available through the Benefits Unit in Salem where the staff will evaluate the application, determine eligibility, calculate the weekly benefit amount, and make DUA benefit payments.

Federal regulations require claimants submit proof of earnings to establish a DUA claim. This includes a copy of their income tax forms for 2005.

Contact your local UI office for more information. Remember the DUA is NOT authorized at this time.

Community Action Directors of Oregon (CADO) are community action agencies that work directly with citizens in providing emergency housing, case management, weatherization, and other services. Below are the coastal community action agencies. Other are listed on their website. www.cado-oregon.org

Clatsop & Tillamook Counties - Community Action Team, Inc. (CAT), 310 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens, OR 97051, 503-366-6540, www.columbia-center.org/cat

Lincoln County - Community Services Consortium (CSC), 545 SW 2nd, Suite A, Corvallis, OR 97333, 541-758-2639, www.csc.gen.or.us

Lane County - Lane County Human Services Commission, 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, 541-682-3797, www.lanecounty.org/hsc

Douglas County -Umpqua Community Action Network (UCAN), 2448 W. Harvard Blvd., Roseburg, OR 97470, 541-492-3501, www.ucancap.org

Coos, Curry Counties - Southwestern Oregon Community Action Committee (SWOCAC), 2110 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay, OR 97420, 541-888-7016, www.SWOCAC.org

Oregon Helps website will assist citizens to find out what other state services might be of assistance (food, housing, children and family services, helath care, veterans services, financial services, senior and disabled services) www.oregonhelps.org

Oregon Housing and Community Services programs - for general questions about programs, call the department main line at: 503-986-2000 or website at www.ohcs.oregon.gov/

2005 Salmon Season

The 2005 commercial salmon troll season had closures of up to three months in some areas to protect Klamath River chinook.

Over 2.6 million pounds of salmon were landed with a value of $8.46 million to fishermen for the 2005 season.

2005 Salmon Troll Season (pdf)

2005 Synopsis Oregon Commercial Fishing Regulations (pdf)

2004 Salmon Season

2004 Salmon Seasons (pdf)

Over 2.8 million pounds of salmon were landed with a value of over $9.7 million to fishermen for the 2004 season.

For additional information, contact the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) at 503-326-6352 or NOAA Fisheries at 206-526-6140, or the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Marine Program Office at 541-867-4741. For a recorded message that summarizes in season changes to date, call the ocean salmon telephone hotline at 206-526-6667 or 800-662-9825.  

In Season Changes

As changes occur, they will be available here. Check back regularly to stay current.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read these pdf files and is available free of charge by clicking on the link above.