A long-running salmon enhancement program credited with supporting commercial and recreational fishing opportunities in the Lower Columbia River could soon face a major financial setback, prompting calls from Oregon leaders for the Bonneville Power Administration to reconsider its decision to end decades of federal support.
State Representative Cyrus Javadi, D-Tillamook, is urging BPA to reverse its planned withdrawal of funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement Program, better known as SAFE, warning that the decision could have far-reaching consequences for hatchery salmon production, commercial fishing, and coastal communities that depend on the fishery for jobs and economic activity.
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, BPA’s funding is scheduled to end on Sept. 30, creating a projected $2.4 million funding gap shared among Oregon, Washington, and Clatsop County. State officials say the loss of that funding could also place more than seven million hatchery salmon currently being raised for future release at risk.
For more than three decades, the SAFE Program has served as an important part of fisheries management in the Lower Columbia River. The program supports hatchery production and operates terminal fisheries that create fishing opportunities for both commercial and recreational anglers while directing harvest toward hatchery-raised salmon. That approach helps reduce pressure on naturally spawning wild salmon stocks that remain under conservation protections.
Supporters of the program say it has successfully balanced conservation goals with the economic needs of fishing communities by maintaining harvest opportunities while protecting weaker wild fish populations.
Javadi said the discussion surrounding the SAFE Program should not be viewed simply as another government budget decision but as one that directly affects working families throughout the region.
“This may sound like one more fight over a government program with a long name,” Javadi said. “But for people who live and work along the Lower Columbia, it is much simpler than that. It is about whether there are fish to catch, jobs to work, and paychecks to bring home.”
The economic impact of the program extends well beyond the commercial fishing fleet. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, salmon produced through SAFE account for nearly all spring Chinook and the majority of coho harvested by the Columbia River commercial fishery.
That fishery generates approximately $5 million each year in direct dockside value paid to commercial fishermen before considering the additional economic activity created throughout the region. Seafood processors, restaurants, hotels, marinas, fuel docks, boat builders, marine mechanics, equipment suppliers and numerous other businesses all benefit from a healthy and productive fishing industry.
Javadi said those economic connections are often overlooked when discussions focus only on fishermen.
“People sometimes talk about the fishing economy as though it begins and ends with the person holding the rod or standing on the boat,” Javadi said. “It does not. When the fish disappear, the effects travel quickly.”
The Bonneville Power Administration has helped finance the SAFE Program for more than 30 years as part of its broader responsibility to mitigate the effects of the federal Columbia River hydropower system on fish and wildlife. Those investments have supported hatchery production intended to offset impacts associated with the operation of federal dams throughout the Columbia Basin.
Javadi argued that those long-standing mitigation commitments should continue, saying communities that depend on the river should not bear the financial burden created by federal decisions.
Members of the bipartisan Oregon Coastal Caucus are now working alongside fishery organizations, state agencies, the Governor’s Office and Oregon’s congressional delegation in an effort to persuade BPA to reconsider its decision before funding expires this fall.
While Javadi acknowledged that government programs should be subject to regular review, he said evaluating public spending should not come at the expense of programs that have demonstrated long-term value for both conservation and local economies.
“The SAFE Program has supported fisheries, protected weaker wild salmon populations and helped sustain coastal jobs for decades,” Javadi said. “Those are measurable outcomes that deserve careful consideration before funding is withdrawn.”
With the Sept. 30 deadline approaching, discussions are expected to continue among state and federal officials as they explore options to preserve the program. The outcome could have lasting implications not only for hatchery operations and future salmon returns, but also for the commercial fishing industry and the coastal communities whose economies remain closely tied to the waters of the Lower Columbia River.