Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in California in response to the closure of salmon fishing season along the West Coast. The decision was made Thursday by the Pacific Fishery Management Council .
California Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman says it’s affecting one of the largest and oldest industries in Northern California.
Chrisman : We estimated the loss to the California economy to be about $255 million and a loss of almost 2,300 jobs.
The Council adopted a complete closure of commercial and sport Chinook fisheries off California and most of Oregon. It's because of a sudden unprecedented decline of salmon returning to the Sacramento River this year.
The decision must still be adopted by the National Marine Fisheries Service . In his emergency declaration, the governor directed the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to activate loan programs to help those affected by the shut-down.
He’s also written a letter to the president seeking federal disaster assistance.
