CHARLESTON — This year, charter companies along with commercial fishermen also can qualify for federal salmon disaster money, since the sport Chinook season was closed as well.

But charter owners aren’t happy, either.

Business is down for many charter companies due partially to the salmon closure but also to higher gas prices, the economy and, lately, the weather.

“It’s a dead slow season this year,” Prowler Charters owner Wayne Butler said. “I didn’t expect or foresee this big a drop.”

The Bandon charter business has three boats, Butler said, but only one has left the dock twice since the first of June — and that was over the Fourth of July weekend.

“We’re not getting enough people for two boats, for the most part,” he said.

Charter companies took their cue from the commercial fleet and participated in Oregon Salmon Commission-sponsored meetings in April and May to help design criteria to participate in the federal disaster program.

Butler was hoping for a base pay package for charter businesses — those who have established offices, one or more boats and are considered the core of the charter fleet — of $10,000 a business. Charters are more strictly regulated, he said, and must start off with a $5,000 insurance package payment, in addition to annual moorage fees, life rafts and other mandatory safety measures.

“I have justification for asking for $10,000 base pay,” he said.

Instead, charters who had at least one paying salmon passenger in 2002-04, but not in 2005-07, will receive a $2,000 payment. Those who had a paying salmon passenger in 2005, 2006 or 2007 will receive a minimum $5,000 or the equivalent of its best year, not to exceed a $75,000 cap.

That just doesn’t make sense, Butler said, frustrated with having no say in helping design a fair program beyond the April and May salmon commission meetings.

“We’ve been booted out of the process,” he said. “We’re no longer included in planning for disaster relief.”