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The Coast That Sean Hannity Forgot

Sarah Randall is the Program Director for the  Commercial Fishermen of America, Institute for Fisheries Resources 

by Sarah Randall

October 1, 2009 -- As many of you are aware, Zeke Grader, Executive Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations(http://www.pcffa.org) and the Institute for Fisheries Resources (http://www.ifrfish.org), was on the Sean Hannity Show on September 17 when Hannity broadcast live from the Central Valley to bolster the "fish vs farmers" argument being promoted by agribusiness. 
 
The truth is that the Delta ecosystem is collapsing through years of excessive water withdrawals -too much water has been taken out of the Bay Delta estuary for too many years to support its biological self-cleaning and self-renewal systems. To function, estuaries require fresh water inflow to mix with tidal flows. This mixing creates rich brackish water that is full of nutrients and is so important for many marine and anadromous fish species. The multi-billion dollar west coast salmon fishing industry is now suffering 100% unemployment rate today because of ecological problems in the Delta created by years of water overdrafts and drought. 
 
To watch the video of Zeke on the Sean Hannity Show click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IOf-11wmlY 
 
On September 29, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart covered Hannity's broadcast from the Central Valley. To see what Jon Stewart has to say (starting at the 2 minute mark and completing at 6 minute mark) click here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/99122/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-tue-sep-29-2009 
 
Please go to http://www.salmonawaternow.org to learn more about the CA water crisis. At http://www.salmonwaternow.org, we have a series of videos illustrating the problem that can be shared and embedded on different websites. Salmon Water Now! was founded to raise public awareness of the plight of wild California salmon, fishermen, and coastal communities dependent on healthy freshwater delta flows. Salmon Water Now! sheds light on the inadequacies of the current water allocation regime and champions the restoration of the Bay-Delta’s legacy of strong salmon runs. 
 
 
COMPLETE DETAIL OF MISINFORMATION ON HANNITYʼS CENTRAL VALLEY BROADCAST: 
(courtesy of Bruce Tokers and Salmon Water Now!) 
 
False: Hundreds of laborers appeared in the background, backed up for miles, holding signs and screaming chants in support of Hannity. 
 
Truth: These are the same workers with the same signs that have been hired by large farm growers for the past couple of rallies. On April 14, 2009, the same organization sponsoring Hannityʼs visit held a march that the United Farm Workers called a “grower- sponsored march, a grower-organized march, for water for growers....not a farmworkers' march." The New York Times reported "many of the protesters were paid by their employers to march in lieu of harvesting crops.” 
 
False: The unemployment rate in the San Joaquin Valley is over 40% because farmers cannot grow crops due to a lack of water. 
 
Truth: The State of Californiaʼs most recent employment data reports that Fresno County, the county in which Hannity filmed, has only 15% unemployment, compared to a 12.1% state average. Furthermore, farm jobs increased by 5.3% in the months immediate following the NMFS environmental ruling. Even before the global recession, the Western region of the county historically had the highest unemployment rate in the state. In 2000, before the drought and environmental restrictions, unemployment in the Western region was 32%. 
 
False: The federal government has shut off the water pumps. 
 
Truth: Most water is flowing through the valley. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that nearly 80% of the water from the ailing delta continues to flow directly into the valley. The local water district has a surplus of hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water that it is not distributing. 
 
False: The water restrictions were issued to protect only a 2” smelt. 
 
Truth: A number of species threatened with extinction in this region are being protected by this regulation, including salmon, sole, crab, herring, steelhead, sturgeon, bass, and killer whales. The collapse of one of these fisheries alone is costing the state $5.7 billion and 94,000 jobs. 
 
False: The federal government is choosing fish over people. 
 
Truth: Protecting regional fisheries creates numerous jobs. Both fish and agriculture can prosper if growers adopted simple, cost-effective irrigation techniques. More responsible farming practices would save 18 times the amount of water being diverted for salmon. 
 
False: The price of processed tomato goods and almonds are going to skyrocket across the nation. 
 
Truth: This year is predicted to be a record-breaking harvest of processing tomatoes due to ideal weather conditions. Tomato production is up 15% from last year, with 11% more acres planted. Mike Montna, president and CEO of the California Tomato Growers Association, said this yearʼs processing-tomato harvest — now at the halfway point — is heading toward a record for the state. Almonds are in record-shattering surpluses as well, and a decrease in production would actually save the industry. 
 
False: The NMFS ruling will require us to import more food from China. 
 
Truth: Seafood is already the most imported food product in the United States. The NMFS estimates that 83% of all seafood consumed in America last year was imported from another country. Driving fisheries out of business will only increase food imports. On the other hand, 75% of Californiaʼs almonds are exported out of the United States. 
 
False: This decision was made by a handful of environmentalists. 
 
Truth: Restoring water to fisheries has been ordered for over 15 years, beginning in 1992 with a Congressional law (Central Valley Improvement Act). A recent independent review was “flabbergasted” that the law has been ignored. A team of government scientists in the Bush administration ordered for water to be rerouted to save fisheries as well, although that order was shelved by the Secretary of the Interior. An additional report was recently released and approved by the new administration. 
 
False: Local residents are flocking to food banks and waiting all day for food. 
 
Truth: The local CBS station reported that only ʻdozens of familiesʼ showed up to the food bank. 
 
False: The area of Fresno County in which Hannity reported is a ʻnatural breadbasketʼ where agriculture flourishes. 
 
Truth: Huron, CA receives an average of only 6.7 inches of rain a year, far less than what is 
needed to sustain agriculture. 
 
For stories on the broadcast and more information see: 
 
 
Hannity stumbles upon cause of west side water issues 
Fresno Bee - Fresno,CA,USA: http://www.fresnobee.com/columnists/mcewen/story/1644349.html 
In a fake attempt at balance, Hannity conned Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, to be on the show. ... 
 
Sean Hannity Spreads Misinformation about California Water 
By Dan Bacher, Bay Area Indymedia - San Francisco,CA,USA: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/09/18/18622370.php 
Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, who was interviewed by Hannity last night, extended an on-air invitation to Sean ... 
 
Hannity demagogues about San Joaquin farmers' woes, but is happy ... 
By David Neiwert: http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/hannity-demagogues-about-san-joaquin 
But the Intended Victim, a fellow named Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, actually bit back, pointing out how callous and indifferent Hannity was toward the plight of the people on the coast who ... 
 
Commentary: Environmental groups, water advocates, and fisheries ... 
By Aqua Blog Maven: http://aquafornia.com/archives/11964 
Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association extended an on-air invitation to Sean Hannity to visit the Pacific Northwest and interview the fishermen who have been without a livelihood for 2 years. ... 
 
On the Water Front » And now for the rest of the (Fox News) story ... 
By Spreck Rosekrans 
(He did allow Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations a chance to speak, but did not acknowledge that unemployed fishermen are also part of the story and he repeatedly ignored Zeke's invitation to visit ... 
On the Water Front - http://blogs.edf.org/waterfront 
 
Hannity to Obama: 'Mr. President Turn the Water on Now' 
KMPH Fox 26 - Fresno,CA,USA: http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=11153950 
... we are also talking about Salmon, these salmon are food and provide jobs for people," Federation of Fisherman's Association Zeke Grader said. ... 
 
Sean Hannity Farm Show Attracts Anti-Obama Crowd 
ABC30.com - Fresno,CA,USA: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=7020050 
But the only environmentalist to speak, Zeke Grader, a Salmon Fisherman who addressed the crowd by satellite from Northern California was shouted down as he ... 
 
I hope this sheds more light on the subject for you!