Gluesenkamp Perez Urges Repair of Inoperable Weather Buoys to Support Maritime Safety

Jan 29, 2024
Press
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez and State Senator Jeff Wilson speak with crab fishermen in January in Ilwaco, WA.

Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) sent a letter to NOAA Administrator Richard Spinrad, urging the agency to repair inoperable weather buoys at the mouth of the Columbia River. The buoys are critical to providing up-to-date and accurate weather information that can help fishermen, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Columbia River Bar Pilots operate safely.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez was alerted in late December that two of the three buoys were not functional. Without operational weather buoys, the Columbia River Bar Pilots, who skillfully navigate roughly 3,600 vessels across the dangerous bar each year, have to close the bar more frequently. 

“For industries like crab fishing, where every hour counts, this data gathered from the buoys is integral to safe decision making. … Without the data from the buoys, our local crabbers must decide on whether to miss time during a shorter season or put themselves and their crew at risk,” wrote Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez in the letter. “I’ve seen the impacts that losing fishermen has on a family and the entire community, and I urge NOAA to prioritize replacing these buoys as soon as possible to help ensure that our fishermen, bar pilots, and Coast Guardsmen can return home safely to their families.”

Last week, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez visited Ilwaco to speak with fishermen and community leaders about the devastating fire at a seafood processing facility. With some crabbers working longer hours as a result of the impacts, up-to-date weather information is especially critical for ensuring safety on the water.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Recent Posts


Sep 17, 2024
Press

Gluesenkamp Perez, DelBene Announce $299,250 in Federal Landslide Preparedness Funding for Clark County

Yesterday, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that Clark County will receive $299,250 from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as part of a nearly $1 million federal investment in landslide preparedness and research efforts nationwide that will save lives and better protect communities. This funding was made possible through Rep. […]



Sep 12, 2024
Press

Gluesenkamp Perez Urges IBR Program to Limit Costs to Drivers, Prioritize Traffic Reduction in Final Project Design, After Helping Secure $2.099 Billion in Funding

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) sent a letter to the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program, WSDOT, and ODOT calling for the prioritization of Southwest Washington bridge users’ concerns in the final project design – both through the cost-effective use of resources to limit tolling and increased vehicular capacity to reduce congestion. The effort comes […]



Sep 12, 2024
Press

Gluesenkamp Perez Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Rename Bucoda Post Office in Honor of the Late Mayor Rob Gordon

Last month, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), with the support of the entire Washington House Delegation, introduced bipartisan legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office at 108 N Main St. in Bucoda as the “Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office.” Rob Gordon served as Bucoda’s Mayor and Assistant Fire Chief, was a lifelong resident of Southwest […]