NOAA Report - Most Of West Coast Closed To Salmon Fishing - ENN

[hatrack]

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Thursday closed almost all of the ocean off the West Coast to salmon fishing, clearing the way for governors of states hard hit by years of declining catches to seek federal relief aid for losses estimated at $290 million.

West Coast salmon populations have declined sharply in the last few years, with experts citing a variety of reasons including climate change and hungry sea lions.

"Today NOAA's Fisheries Service will close most of the West Coast salmon fisheries based on the recommendations of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council," James Balsiger, acting assistant administrator of fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, citing "low returns of fall Chinook salmon to the Sacramento River system."

Balsiger said NOAA has not pinpointed the cause of the "sudden" collapse of the Sacramento River run, but "NOAA scientists are suggesting changes in the ocean conditions." NOAA estimates fewer than 60,000 salmon will make it back to the Sacramento River this year -- about one-third the number needed to sustain a healthy fish population.

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/35713

[eleny]

1. I heard this on the radio in the wee hours tis morning

Watch, when scientists try to study the habits of what the salmon feeds on or other organisms in the waters people like Rush Limbaugh will make it sound like an isolated waste of money. And god forbid if the words "global warming" are uttered.

k&r - edit: woops, too late for me to rec.