$21.3 Million Headed to California Salmon Fisheries After Years-Long Wait

Press release from the Office of Congressman Huffman:

Stock photo: An adult winter run chinook salmon in the American River just below Nimbus Dam on November 28, 2022 in Sacramento County, California. (CDFW Photo/Travis VanZant)

[On June 22], Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced news that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) has allocated $21.3 million in fishery disaster funding for California’s Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook salmon fisheries.

The funding is part of a broader $123.6 million nationwide fishery disaster relief package and will provide critical support to fisherman, Tribes, seafood processors, small businesses and coastal communities that have suffered devasting economic losses following California’s 2023 and 2024 salmon fishery disasters.

“This is welcome news,” said Rep. Huffman. “Finally, we are seeing movement from the administration and a commitment to allocate these desperately needed funds. But let’s be clear: it should not take years of congressional oversight, repeated inquiries, and public pressure for an administration to deliver disaster assistance that was reviewed, approved, and awaiting release. This bureaucratic limbo has dragged on far too long. I will continue fighting until these funds are out the door and in the hands of the fishing communities that have spent years waiting for relief.”

This announcement follows Rep. Huffman’s demands for answers from Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Dr. Timothy Petty, during a June 3rd House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries hearing regarding years-long delays in releasing fishery disaster assistance.

Watch Rep. Huffman Demand CA Fishery Funding Here

Huffman’s Efforts to Secure Disaster Relief

In April 2023, Rep. Huffman called on the Biden administration to declare a federal fishery disaster and provide emergency assistance to Californians impacted by the salmon season closure.

In February 2024, Rep. Huffman welcomed NOAA’s relief funding for California fishing communities while continuing to raise concerns about delays and unmet needs.

In April 2024, Rep. Huffman urged the Biden administration to formally declare the fishery disaster and repeatedly pressed federal officials to expedite assistance for impacted communities.

In 2025, Rep. Huffman continued advocating for fishing communities nationwide by reintroducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen and modernize the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

On June 3, 2026, during a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries hearing, Rep. Huffman challenged Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Timothy Petty on the status of delayed fishery disaster assistance and demanded answers for California fishing communities that had been waiting years for relief.

NOAA Fishery Disaster Allocations

Beyond the $21.3 million allocated to California’s salmon fisheries, NOAA announced a total of $123.6 million in fishery disaster assistance nationwide, including:

• 2023/2024 Bering Sea snow crab fishery in Alaska ($75,186,338)
• 2023 Oregon ocean commercial salmon fishery ($2,386,700)
• 2022 Chignik salmon fishery ($18,489,100)
• 2023 Upper Cook Inlet East Side Setnet salmon fishery ($5,750,019)
• 2024 State of California Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook ocean and inland salmon fisheries ($21,269,842)
• 2023 Squaxin Island Tribe Puget Sound Fall Chum salmon fishery ($496,667)