McDermott Fights to Protect
Wild Salmon From Extinction
For Immediate Release - May 21, 2004

Washington, DC - At a news conference, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) spoke out strongly against the President’s proposal to count hatchery salmon as wild salmon.

The Seattle Democrat used a can of salmon to dramatize what McDermott called "a lack of credible science and credibility" by the Administration in its efforts to protect wild salmon from extinction. "If the President has his way, he’ll count this can of salmon as wild salmon," McDermott said. "We’ve got to save wild salmon from extinction."

Joining Congressman Jim McDermott at the news conference were representatives from Save Our Wild Salmon, Trout Unlimited, and other congressional leaders from Washington, Oregon and California.

McDermott and his House colleagues pledged to take immediate steps, perhaps including new legislation, to oppose the Administration’s efforts to have the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service implement a new policy that would count hatchery fish as wild salmon.

Over the last half century, wild salmon runs have been decimated to a mere 10% today of their historic levels. Besides the dramatic loss of wild salmon, experts estimate that 25,000 commercial fishing and 10,000 sport fishing jobs have been lost due to the decline in wild salmon runs.