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The Salmon Restoration Association (SRA), a non-profit corporation, was formed in 1970 by public-spirited people of the Fort Bragg and Mendocino Coast area who had become justifiably concerned at the steady deterioration of salmon runs off our coast and the consequent decline in the catch by both sport and commercial fishermen. Today our Board of Directors consists of anglers, local business people, retirees, biologists, artists, environmentalists, journalists and building contractors.
The goal of the SRA is to restore the once-great salmon runs to the numbers reported at the turn of the century, and to educate the public about the biological, social and economic benefits salmon give to our communities. We maintain a spawning and rearing facility for King (Chinook) salmon on the Eel River at Hollow Tree Creek. The Hollow Tree Creek Hatchery is capable of producing 300,000 fingerling salmon annually, ensuring the natural, native instinct of salmon to “home in” on the Eel River where they were propagated and released and to provide both off-shore and in-river fisheries for the North Coast.
Salmon Restoration Association efforts are funded by public donations, contributions from commercial and sport fishing interests, grants from the California Department of Fish and Game, and the proceeds from our annual fundraiser, the “World’s Largest Salmon BBQ.” The BBQ, a tradition in Fort Bragg for more than thirty years, is put on by service clubs and fraternal organizations, community churches, the Salmon Troller’s Marketing Association, Noyo Women for Fisheries, local fish processors, and many businesses and citizens of the greater Fort Bragg area.
In the last two years the efforts of SRA have been jeopardized. Due to low returns on the Klamath River, the ocean 2006 commercial fishing seasons have been drastically reduced. In the past, local commercial fishermen have donated fish to the BBQ as a way to raise funds for SRA. Since SRA depends on the July BBQ to raise the majority of its funds for the hatchery and public education, any impact on the harvest of salmon will impact us. If we have to buy fish, at perhaps $10/pound to us, that would wipe out our operating funds. Last year’s BBQ only raised enough to get us through half the year. If it were not for the grant from the Fish and Game Dept. we would not have made it. Future grants are in jeopardy because commercial fishermen, as part of their licenses, pay into an account that funds the hatchery and other salmon conservation work. Since more and more commercial fishermen are not fishing, the fund is drying up. It is critical that the SRA receive donated salmon from sport fishermen to supply the BBQ this year, or the fundraiser will not be successful.
We need to get the message out to the fishing community that the Salmon BBQ needs our help! To do so, we have organized the first annual Noyo Harbor Salmon Derby. This month-long ocean salmon derby in June will draw attention to the plight of the salmon fishery, our local efforts to restore salmon populations, and the way sport fishermen can save the day by donating some of their catch for this year’s BBQ.
The Noyo Salmon Derby is open to the public, and there is no entry fee. Simply register at the Fishermen’s Dock, weigh in your fish, and have a chance at raffle and competitive category prizes. Local businesses will donate prizes for weekly drawings, and there will be a grand prize drawing at the end of the month. You don’t need to donate a fish to enter the derby, but we are encouraging all sport fishermen to consider donating some of their catch to keep the Salmon BBQ running and put something back into the fishery we love. Our goal is 400 salmon for the BBQ. Look for the big banner at the Sportsmen’s Dock as you return to Noyo Harbor. Special events will be held on weekends throughout the month of June at the docks. You can donate fish on the spot and volunteers will clean them for the BBQ. You can also drop off fish at any time at Redwood Liquors on Main St. in Fort Bragg.
The BBQ will be held on July 1, and SRA will maintain the same price for tickets as last year, $20.
Media contact: Jim Martin, RFA: (707) 964-8326
Donate Raffle Prizes: Lance McGrath, NCFA: (707) 964-5460
Questions about the Salmon BBQ and SRA: Joe Janisch, Pres: (707) 962-0548
Recreational Fishing Alliance: www.joinrfa.org or www.fishpolitics.com
Salmon Restoration Association: www.salmonrestoration.org