1000+ US businesses raise their voice for solutions

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Nearly 1,200 American businesses have asked President Obama for decisive change in the government’s failed policy to restore endangered wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake Rivers.  

The request comes in the form of a national letter, following U.S. District Judge James Redden ruling on August 2, 2011 finding the administration’s current salmon plan illegal.  

The letter signers from across 34 states include commercial and recreational fishing businesses; outdoor retailers and equipment makers; food, farm, restaurant and tourism businesses; and clean energy businesses.

Recent media on the national business letter:
Register Guard - Businesses unite for salmon 
Public News Service - NW Businesses to Obama: More Salmon = More Jobs
Juneau Empire - Faulty Columbia Basin salmon plan bad for salmon and jobs

Voices from national business leaders:

“Salmon recovery is a catalyst for job creation and growth in hundreds of outdoor and recreation-based companies, on the west coast and nationwide. The more than 175 outdoor companies of The Conservation Alliance all need healthy habitats and watersheds for their customers to enjoy the products they make and sell, but federal salmon policy is not producing them.  We need President Obama to change this.  It makes no sense to keep spending billions of taxpayers’ dollars on a salmon policy that costs jobs instead of growing them.” 

- John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance

“Wild salmon are a cornerstone for food and restaurant businesses.  Customers expect fresh, nutritious, and sustainable salmon, which federal policies are not producing right now.  If President Obama changes them, food jobs and healthy eating will both benefit.”

- Barton Seaver, chef and National Geographic Fellow

“For those of us lucky to live in the Northwest, sportfishing is literally our second paycheck.  NSIA and many of our businesses signed the business letter to President Obama and Congress because, frankly there is too much at stake.  ESA Listed Columbia River salmon constrain fisheries in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, as well as the Ocean fisheries from N. California to Alaska and off the Coast of Canada.  These fisheries are worth hundreds of millions annually, making this Salmon policy a jobs issue that deeply impacts a diverse set of industries.  We are sick of salmon plans that do not meet the scientific or legal red face test, and we want a new approach to salmon policy NOW.” 

- Liz Hamilton of the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association (NSIA).  

“Commercial fishing businesses, and many other related industry jobs up and down the west coast will keep shrinking or shut down if the government’s 20-year failure to restore endangered Columbia/Snake salmon doesn’t change. We ask President Obama to hear our case, hear the court, and then change his salmon policy so salmon-based jobs stop shrinking and start growing.”

- Zeke Grader, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations 

Also, check out the Salmon Stories video testimonial series from Idaho River United.  Here's an example:  Chris Swersey from Silver Cloud Expeditions of Salmon, Idaho.