Fisheries

In answering an interview question for the Hip Fish, I was reminded of the details of a Board action from 2006 that exemplifies what the county can do to promote economic development that builds upon local fishing traditions and diversifies the county’s economic base.

The Clatsop Fisheries Program is an economic development program that secures and administers grant funding for salmon research and production. The program runs three net-pen sites and one hatchery facility to benefit the region’s sport and commercial fisheries. The program has a long record of cooperation with the states of Oregon and Washington in the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) project funded by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) since 1993, with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife since 1975, and with Oregon’s Fish Restoration and Enhancement program since 1988.

Some in the community felt the program could be better operated as a non-profit rather than run by the county. The Board gathered a committee of local fisheries experts to study and review the effectiveness and efficiency of the county run program and to recommend if a non-profit would be a better choice to run the program. The results of the study strongly recommended continuing the program under the county’s management.

The study concluded the program generated an annual gross revenue, region wide, through purchases of everything from fishing bait, fuel, eating out and to motel stays of over $ 3 million and was the source for over 400 jobs. The fact there was no recognition or credit for the success of the program illustrates how important periodic reviews by out side groups of county programs is. In response to the study, the Board established a stabilization fund for the program to ensure its continuation and its continuing contribution to our local economy.