NEWPORT — Of the $170 million in disaster money destined for West Coast salmon fishermen and related businesses last year, about $50 million is left — and Oregon trollers are going after it.

Though the $170 was divvied between Washington, Oregon and California, there’s still a chance Oregon can get some of the leftover money. California and Washington both overestimated how much their fleets would need; Oregon came in much closer to target.

But now, facing another disastrous salmon season due to, again, low stocks on the Sacramento, fishermen are afraid.

Oregon Salmon Commission adviser Paul Heikkila said that as soon as the Pacific Fishery Management Council sets the season, in April, the industry needs to push for another disaster declaration from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, likely former Washington Gov. Gary Locke.

Washington and Oregon trollers fishing north of Cape Falcon, near Manzanita, likely will have a season this year, so Washington shouldn’t require disaster assistance. Oregon’s fleet should demand that the rest of the disaster money be divided evenly between Oregon and California fleets, those most affected by the Sacramento fall Chinook. Sport fishing businesses likely won’t need aid this year, either, he said, because coho are abundant.

Heikkila told the commission Thursday that fishermen should begin lobbying their congressmen for more funds.

“Push again for maybe $20 million to make us whole,” Heikkila said. “It’s not going to be easy to do a third time.”

Members of the fleet were unsure how to proceed.

“We are lucky to have this $50 million leftover,” said salmon commissioner Carl Finley. But he also warned those who thought getting another round of disaster money is a slam dunk:

“You’re dreaming,” Finley said. “We’re not going to get more money.”