The US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke has declared the Yukon Rivers low salmon run a Commercial fishing disaster. This could be a good thing as it may pave the way for relief funds for the area. The communities along the Yukon river depend on salmon for food and income. They have suffered significant hardship in recent years.
The declaration of a disaster may earmark federal funding for research and payments to the more than 800 fisherman in the area. The last two years has seen historically low salmon returns and 2010 is not predicted to be any better.
The last time a federal fishing disaster was declared was in 2000 in regard the Bering Sea snow crab and the salmon fishery in Norton.
Lets hope the communities along the Yukon get the assistance they need and the salmon return home.
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