By Scott Gordon, Tillamook
When federal budget cuts loom, it is easy for bureaucrats in distant offices to see numbers on a page rather than the people behind them. But on the North Oregon Coast, a line item cut can devastate an entire way of life. That is why State Representative Cyrus Javadi’s fierce defense of our local fisheries management is not just politics—it is a lifeline for our communities.
Recently, the Bonneville Power Administration moved to slash $2.4 million from the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. This critical program fuels the salmon hatcheries that sustain the Lower Columbia River. By stepping up alongside the bipartisan Coastal Caucus, Rep. Javadi has put a national spotlight on a local crisis. He rightly warned that losing this funding puts over 7 million young hatchery salmon at risk of destruction. Furthermore, hatcheries protect wild stocks. Without hatchery-raised salmon to harvest, recreational and commercial pressure would inevitably shift toward fragile, wild salmon stocks protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Proper fishery management means protecting the entire lifecycle of our fish. Rep. Javadi has been deeply responsive to local concerns over safeguarding our bay estuaries. These vital waterways provide critical habitat for out-migrating juvenile salmon and steelhead. He understands that we cannot have healthy adult fish returns without protecting the pristine waters where they grow.
For Tillamook and Clatsop counties, salmon and steelhead are the lifeblood of the economy. Our coastal towns rely on a delicate web of working-class
industries. When fishing boats stay docked, the economic pain ripples inland instantly. It hurts the deckhands, the processing plant workers, the seafood restaurants, the main street hotels, and any other businesses that rely on seasonal tourism. At a time when local businesses are already struggling with high fuel costs and tight regulations, losing these fish would be a knockout blow.
At the end of the day, no matter what your political persuasion is, labels matter far less than results. What truly counts is having a representative who cares enough to listen to local concerns and act to solve real-world, local problems.
My personal experience with Rep. Javadi has proven to me he is that leader. By standing up for our families, our habitat, and our coastal heritage, he has certainly earned our vote this November.
