[env-trinity] PRESS RELEASE: Tribal and Commercial Fishing Communities Host Eureka Event in Eureka in Response to Salmon Crisis

[Tom Stokely]

On Wednesday, May 24, 2017 9:28 AM, Regina Chichizola <klamathtrinityriver at gmail.com> wrote:



 Press Release: 5/24/2017  Tribal and Commercial Fishing Communities Host Event in Eureka in Response to Salmon CrisisMay 27th Save Our Salmon Benefit Concert, Seafood Dinner, and Auction will be at Eagle House Inn  For more information contact: Regina Chichizola, Save the Klamath Trinity Salmon 541 951-0126Sammy Gensaw III, Ancestral Guard: 707 954-8667 Dave Bitts, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations 707 498-3512  Commercial and Tribal Fishermen are coming together to host a seafood dinner and concert with Irie Rockers and Digging Dirt this Saturday, May 27. They hope to draw attention to this year’s salmon fisheries disaster and local action to save salmon. Speakers and artists from the Yurok, Karuk and Winnemem Wintu Tribes, the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations and Ancestral Guard will talk about community action to protect salmon, and a seafood dinner will be served. Many of these speakers will have just gotten back from testifying at a disaster relief hearing in Sacramento. Raft and fishing trips, events tickets, resorts stays and more will auctioned.  “We want to engage the North Coast in efforts to protect salmon and the salmon ways of life. Action from tribes, fishermen, and other citizens is the only reason corporate agriculture and dams have not already killed off the salmon,” said Regina Chichizola, from Save the Klamath Trinity Salmon. “Now we are facing a renewed push to build new dams, diversions, and pipelines at the exact moment that salmon need clean water to recover from the last five years of  poor water management.”  Salmon populations, and the fishermen and tribal members who depend on them, are facing the worst salmon returns on the Klamath River in recorded history, which has led to the closure of the commercial season locally and a tribal allotment of about one fish per 10 Tribal members for the Yurok Tribe. This situation was caused by a combination of water diversions, drought, and dams. The looming disaster has salmon fishermen, like the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations’ president Dave Bitts worried.  “Commercial salmon trollers in California and Oregon will have a tough time making ends meet through the summer, given the very limited fishing opportunity available and the poor catch rates reported so far,” Bitts said. “It looks like salmon fishermen are feeling the effects of the just-ended drought far more acutely than did many Central Valley farmers.” Salmon populations in the Sacramento River are also plummeting, and a recent U.C. Davis report states that 45 percent of California salmon and Steelhead populations will be extinct in 50 years if water management in California does not change. While there are causes for hope, such as the proposed Klamath Dam removal project, political threats are mounting. California’s Twin Tunnels plan, new dam proposals, petroleum pipelines, and federal anti-environmental policies continue to threaten North Coast salmon and communities.  “With the threat of California salmon going extinct in the next 50 years, this event is timely and important.” state Amy Cordalis, the attorney for the Yurok Tribe. “ It is time for us to speak for the fish, to protect them, and restore them. They will not go extinct on my generation’s watch.” Despite the threats, salmon demand has never been higher as people realize the value of a healthy food supply and the clean water required to sustain it. This support for wild salmon, along with the decision by PacifiCorp to take down four of its dams on the Klamath, gives hope for the restoration of the salmon to many young native people on the Klamath River. The director of youth organization, Ancestral Guard, Sammy Gensaw III is one of them. “The restorative revolution has slowly developed within communities, villages and cities from all around the world,” Gensaw said. Gensaw’s organization works to provide opportunities for Native American youth. “Now is the time to stand together on common ground and create an opportunity for future generations to continue the work of our ancestors.”  All proceeds from the Save Our Salmon event will go directly to organizing efforts, tribal people and fishermen. More information can be found at ifrfish.org/Eureka, at the Save Our Salmon event page, or Save the Klamath Trinity Salmon on Facebook, or through calling Save the Klamath Trinity Salmon at (541) 951-0126, or emailing klamathtrinityriver at gmail.com 


   
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