PORTLAND, Ore. -- The federal government has denied a request for financial help for Oregon salmon fishermen hurt by closures of commercial salmon fishing.

AP photo

A school of salmon.

A letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Governor Ted Kulongoski on Friday said the impact of the closure is not large or severe enough to warrant a major disaster declaration.

The federal government closed a 700-mile stretch of the West Coast because of concerns over the health of salmon, damaging the fishing industry and coastal communities.

Jillian Schoene, a spokeswoman for the governor's office said "We are disappointed and plan to work with the Oregon delegation to evaluate how to maximize assistance to our coastal communities. In light of this denial, we are even more grateful that the Congress recently appropriated economic assistance for Oregon fishermen and related businesses."

Oregon's neighbors Washington and California also suffered from the closure, but did not request similar FEMA assistance.