Contact: Kathleen McNeilly (202) 546-8500 x128 or Eric Jordan 907-747-6743

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 500 Alaska fishermen have endorsed removing four dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington State, which Alaska Governor Tony Knowles has called a “killing field” for endangered salmon.

The list of 500 fishermen was posted today on the internet at Taxpayers for Common Sense, a national organization that maintains the list. It includes the name, town and boat name for each fisherman, all of whom hold commercial fishing licenses from the State of Alaska.

In early 1999, commercial fishermen in southeast Alaska agreed to substantial harvest cutbacks as part of the renegotiated Pacific Salmon Treaty between Canada and the United States. They were told this sacrifice would protect them from further harvest reductions that could be imposed under the Endangered Species Act.

“Alaska fishermen did our part to save endangered salmon. Now, I’m afraid the Clinton Administration may renege on the deal and demand further harvest cuts. It’s time to shut down these four dams, instead of shutting down the fishermen,” said Sitka fisherman Eric Jordan, the first fisherman to endorse removal of these dams.

Jordan urges fishermen to turn out for two public hearings sponsored by federal agencies in Sitka, March 7 and Juneau, March 8. The hearings are part of a series of 13 hearings in several states sponsored by several federal agencies.

“This week the feds have set up two hearings in Sitka and Juneau to find out how the public feels about these dams and their effect on salmon. The Bonneville Power Administration has suggested shutting down the southeast Alaska salmon troll fishery as one alternative to removing these dams. I disagree, and I’m going to show up at the hearing on March 7, in Sitka to tell them it’s time for bold action,” said Jordan.

Jordan, along with his boat “Igotta” (go fishing), was featured in appeals to join the endorsement list that were mailed to Alaska fishermen in October and December.

The fishermen swell a much larger nationwide list that includes hundreds of national and regional organizations, fishing industry businesses, Native American Tribes, scientists, and others from 49 states and Australia and Japan. The list also includes prominent individuals such as singer-songwriter Carol King, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and actor Adam West.

Currently, all Snake River salmon and steelhead runs are either extinct or on the endangered species list. Scientists largely blame the lower Snake River dams, which cause more than 80% of all human-caused salmon mortality, for declining runs. Proposals calling for retirement of the dams-removal of the dirt portion, which attaches the concrete structure to the river bank-would allow Snake River salmon to swim freely around the dams.

“Federal taxpayers care because there is a potential taxpayer liability of billions or tens of billions of dollars if the salmon go extinct,” said Kathleen McNeilly, Snake River Campaign Director at Taxpayers for Common Sense in Washington, D.C.

TCS led efforts to compile the list along with the conservation organizations Save Our Wild Salmon, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, Idaho Rivers United and Idaho Wildlife Federation. The seven organizations signed a cover letter inviting endorsements that said, “The listed endorsers advocate a variety of policies, but all agree on the need for retirement of the four Lower Snake River dams.”

TCS is a non-partisan advocate for American taxpayers. TCS is dedicated to cutting wasteful spending and subsidies in order to achieve a responsible and efficient government that lives within its means.

The complete list of almost 1,000 endorsers is available on the TCS web site Or call TCS at 202-546-8500 x112 to have the list faxed.