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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 2019)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2019 California king salmon rebounds after drought By TERENCE CHEA Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Trolling off the California coast, Sarah Bates leans over the side of her boat and pulls out a long, silvery fi sh prized by anglers and seafood lov- ers: wild king salmon. Reeling in a fi sh “feels good every time,” but this year has been surprisingly good, said Bates, a com- mercial troller based in San Francisco. Bates and other California fi shermen are reporting one of the best salmon fi shing sea- sons in years, thanks to heavy rain and snow that ended the state’s historic drought. It’s a sharp reversal for Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, an iconic species that helps sustain many Pacifi c Coast fi shing communities. Commercial salmon catches have surpassed offi - cial preseason forecasts by about 50 percent, said Kandice Morgenstern, a marine scientist with the Cal- ifornia Department of Fish and Wildlife. Harvests have been particularly strong in Morro Bay, Monterey and San Francisco, but weaker along California’s northern coast. “We’re really surprised to be seeing this many fi sh being landed so far this sea- son,” Morgenstern said. The salmon rebound comes after three years of extremely low catches that resulted from poor ocean conditions and California’s fi ve-year drought, which drained the state’s rivers and reservoirs. AP Photo/Terry Chea The fi shing boat Bounty. AP Photo/Eric Risberg Sarah Bates hauls in a Chinook salmon on the fi shing boat Bounty near Bolinas. Over the past several years, regulators imposed severe fi shing restrictions to protect Chinook salmon, and offi cials declared fed- eral fi shery disasters in 2018 to assist fi shing communi- ties in California, Oregon and Washington. This year’s adult salmon are the fi rst class to benefi t from record rainfall that fi lled California rivers and streams in early 2017, making it eas- ier for juvenile Chinook to migrate to the Pacifi c Ocean, where they grow into full- size fi sh. Chinook salmon are also being helped by improved ocean conditions that have produced an abundance of anchovies, krill and other feed. Several years ago, an El Nino event brought unusu- ally warm water to the Pacifi c Coast and disrupted the marine ecosystem. “For the salmon fi shermen who’ve been dealing with disaster for so long, this is an incredible boon to their live- lihoods,” said Noah Oppen- heim, who heads the Pacifi c Coast Federation of Fisher- men’s Associations. The strong salmon season, which typically runs from May to October, is positive environmental news at a time of growing anxiety about climate change. A United Nations report released this month warns that global warming threatens food sup- plies worldwide. Morgenstern says climate change is creating greater fl uctuations in ocean and river conditions, making chinook fi sheries “less stable, less pre- dictable and more challeng- ing for fi shery managers.” Most of the Chinook salmon now being caught come from the Sacramento River and its tributaries, where they spawn. Many were raised in state-run hatcheries then released into rivers to swim to the ocean. Harvests of chinook from rivers farther north have not been strong. For consumers, the boun- tiful harvest has driven down wild salmon prices to $15 to $20 per pound, compared with $30 to $35 per pound in recent years. Fishermen are making up for the difference by catching more fi sh. “The market is dictating right now that there’s a lot of salmon, so the customers don’t have to pay as much,” said Gordon Drysdale, culi- nary director at Scoma’s, a seafood restaurant at Fish- erman’s Wharf in San Francisco. The wharf is one of many California fi shing communi- ties now benefi ting from the AP Photo/Eric Risberg Chinook salmon at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. salmon boom. Pier 45, where boats unload their fi sh, hasn’t been this busy in many years, said Larry Collins, who runs the San Francisco Commu- nity Fishing Association. “This year started out with a bang, and it’s just kept banging the whole time,” Collins said. “We’re all really excited and happy the fi sh showed up.” On a recent morning, com- mercial fi sherman Brand Lit- tle, who sells to customers in the Lake Tahoe area, returned from four days of fi shing with nearly 200 salmon weighing more than 2,000 pounds. “Best trip of the season,” Little said. “It’s been a long time coming.” The salmon boom is also welcomed by sport fi shermen and the boat operators who take them out to the ocean. “When the fi sh are bit- ing, it’s always good for busi- ness for us,” said Mike Res- cino, who runs a charter boat. “When the people see the big reports, they’re going to come out and go fi shing with us.” Inslee launches bid for 3rd term Drops out of crowded Democratic presidential fi eld By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press SEATTLE — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced his bid for a third term as governor Thursday, saying that while it was an honor to run for president, he wants to continue his work leading the state. “We told the Washing- ton story around the United States,” he told reporters in Seattle following a news conference at Planned Par- enthood regarding the Title X family planning program. “Being able to tell that story led to some good things, even though I won’t be the nomi- nee, including the fact that we have elevated the cli- mate change crisis to where it belongs. I’m very proud to have served for that purpose.” Inslee had sent an email to supporters earlier in the day detailing his plans following his announcement Wednes- day night that he was end- ing his 2020 presidential bid after nearly six months. He had made fi ghting climate change the central theme of his campaign and said he was confi dent that Democrats would select a nominee who would cham- pion climate change issues. When asked if he would consider a Cabinet position like head of the Environmen- tal Protection Agency if it were offered, he said no. “There was one position in Washington, D.C., that I thought I was interested in, and I will not be serving in that capacity,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to serv- ing as governor if people give me this option.” Governors in Washington state aren’t subject to term limits, though most haven’t served more than two terms. The last three-term governor in Washington was Repub- lican Gov. Dan Evans, who served from 1965 until 1977. Three Democrats had already signaled they would run for governor, but only if Inslee didn’t: Attorney Gen- eral Bob Ferguson, Commis- sioner of Public Lands Hil- ary Franz and King County Executive Dow Constantine. The political dominos con- tinued with Democratic can- didates lining up to run for attorney general and lands commissioner if Ferguson and Franz end up not seek- ing reelection to their posts. All have said they wouldn’t challenge incumbents if Ins- lee ran for a third term. Franz said Wednesday night that she’s not disap- pointed that she won’t be entering the governor’s race, saying that she loves her cur- rent job and will seek reelec- tion because she has “a lot of work to do.” Ferguson, who had already said he would seek reelection to a third term as attorney general if Inslee ran again, was at the Seat- tle event Thursday, as was Constantine. Ferguson said he wasn’t disappointed by Inslee’s decision, saying “he’s earned the right to run for a third term.” A few Republicans have already announced plans to run for governor, including Phil Fortunato, a state sen- ator, and Loren Culp, the police chief of Republic, in Eastern Washington. A Republican has not occupied the governor’s offi ce in more than three decades. State Republican Party Chairman Caleb Heim- lich said that he thinks Ins- lee could be vulnerable in a reelection bid. “Getting elected to a third term is a tough task,” he said. “And doing so on the heels of a failed presidential cam- paign where you sent a mes- sage to voters that you want a different job, that doesn’t sit very well.” WANTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Want a fresh new look for summer? Call your local, neighborhood experts! We’re Budget Blinds, and we’re North America’s #1 provider of custom window coverings. We do it all for you; design, measure and install — because we think everyone, at every budget, deserves style, service, and the peace-of-mind of the best warranty in the business. Call now for your free in-home consultation! 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