*******
Note to list members: These reports from the U.S. Congressional
Research Service, are generally posted once a week and are made
available by way of friendly staff in congress.
This posting consists of new material from these summaries, obtained
by extracting only the material in {curly brackets}. In some cases,
when new material is inserted into an existing paragraph, the new
material may not make much sense by itself. Hint: if the lines in a
paragraph are very uneven, it is probably because the new material
was added to an existing paragraph, and the old stuff was cut out.
*******
MARINE FISHERIES
Lobster Stock Assessment. On May 8-9, 2000, the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will meet in Warwick, RI, to conduct an
external (independent) peer review of the most recent American lobster
stock
assessment, to examine the quantity and quality of data used in the
models,
to examine the appropriateness of the models chosen to assess the
population, and to evaluate the status of the stock. The final stock
assessment will be presented to the ASMFC at its June 2000 meeting.
[ASMFC
press release]
Long Island Sound Lobsters. In early April 2000, five CT lobstermen's
groups are scheduled to begin participating in studies to determine what
is
killing Long Island Sound lobsters by collecting dead lobsters and
sediment
for testing. The $75,000 to $100,000 cost of the testing will be paid
by a
NY- based fisheries conservation group. Test results are anticipated by
mid-May 2000. [Assoc Press]
Grouper Violations. On Mar. 28-30, 2000, NMFS and the SC Dept. of
Natural
Resources closed a 6-month cooperative undercover investigation
(Operation
Blue Water) with the arrest of 5 commercial fishermen on multiple
violations, including unlawful sale without a dealer's license, unlawful
possession and sale of undersize grouper, and criminal conspiracy.
[Myrtle
Beach Sun News]
Federal Fisheries Financial Assistance. On Mar. 27, 2000, NMFS
announced
the availability of $23.7 million in loans, prioritized for 1) fishing
capacity reduction, 2) supporting the existing FFP credit portfolio
through
loan refinancing, etc., 3) about $10 million in backlogged FY1999
applications, and 4) marine and closed system aquaculture. If the
entire
$23.7 million is not allocated among these priorities by Apr. 17, 2000,
non-priority purposes will be funded (e.g., land-based aquaculture in
open
systems, fisheries shoreside facilities, and fishing vessels). In
addition,
$5 million is available for loans to purchase halibut and sablefish
individual fishing quota (IFQ). However, since the backlog of
application
for IFQ loans exceeds the $5 million available, no new applications for
IFQ
loans will be accepted. [Fed. Register]
Maritime Snow Crab. On Mar. 27, 2000, an internal memorandum of
Canada's
Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans was alleged to have warned that snow crab
stocks between Labrador and the Grand Banks are in serious trouble and
could
be depleted commercially within 3 years. The scheduled Apr. 1 opening
of
the crab fishery may be delayed while federal Fisheries Minister Herb
Dhaliwal makes a decision on whether to reduce harvest quotas. [Canadian
Press]
Mexican Lanchas. On Mar. 25, 2000, a Coast Guard helicopter detected 4
Mexican lanchas illegally fishing in TX waters north of the U.S./Mexican
border. One of the 4 lanchas was seized, with gillnet gear, illegally
harvested fish, and 3 crew turned over to the TX Dept. of Parks and
Wildlife
for prosecution. [personal communication]
Invasive Species. On Mar. 24, 2000, WA Governor Gary Locke signed
Substitute HB2466 into state law, specifying ballast water management
measures for ships operating in WA state waters. [personal
communication]
Geoduck Dumping. On Mar. 24, 2000, officials of 5 WA tribes met to
consider a report by the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife detailing the
illegal
dumping of almost 35 tons of geoduck clams in Hood Canal by members of
the
Skokomish tribe during 1999, in a effort to "high-grade" their harvest
by
dumping lesser-quality clams. Skokomish officials report new monitoring
and
compliance efforts to preclude similar problems this year and have
verbally
agreed to reduce this year's harvest quota as compensation. [Assoc
Press]
King Mackerel Health Warning. On Mar. 23, 2000, NC officials issued a
state health advisory urging consumers to limit or avoid consumption of
large king mackerel, because of possible high mercury concentration.
[Carteret News-Times]
On Mar. 30,
2000, Secretary Daley announced a third delay in implementing fishing
restrictions on spiny dogfish, with a new deadline of Apr. 3, 2000.
[Assoc
Press, Center for Marine Conservation press release]
On
Mar. 24, 2000, U.S. District Court Judge Anne C. Conway ruled that
Volusia
County, FL, cannot be held liable for sea turtle deaths when private
businesses and homeowners violate a county ordinance that restricts
lighting
near beaches. Judge Conway anticipates issuing a separate order on the
validity of an agreement between the county and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife
Service allowing driving on county beaches in exchange for other
protective
measures. On Mar. 29, 2000, five FL aquariums released 30 endangered
Kemp's
ridley sea turtles into the Atlantic Ocean at Canaveral National
Seashore.
These animals were part of the 277 turtles who survived a mass stranding
of
323 turtles on Cape Cod during November and December 1999 and were
rehabilitated by various East Coast aquariums. [Assoc Press, Frontier
Press]
On Mar. 26-27, 2000, personnel
of the Coast Guard Cutters Chinook and Wrangell detected and seized two
fishing vessels for alleged illegal fishing within Closed Area One. The
vessels' catch of more than 30,000 pounds of haddock were auctioned,
with
the auction proceeds held in escrow until NMFS determines possible
prosecution. [Boston Globe, Assoc Press, Boston Herald, personal
communication]
On Mar. 26, 2000, federal officials announced that they would
impose a fishing plan on any of the 34 Native bands that failed to sign
an
interim management agreement with the Canadian federal government. Thus
far, only 3 bands have negotiated agreements. As of Mar. 30, 2000,
another 9 interim agreements had been reached in principle, but were not
yet
signed. Retirement (buyback) offers have been received involving 4,500
licenses, of which Ottawa has purchased 82 packages representing 259
licenses and 27 vessels. [Canadian Press, National Post, Halifax Herald]
SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
Elk Creek Dam. On Mar. 30, 2000, a coalition of 5 environmental and
fishing groups filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, OR), arguing
that the Army Corps of Engineers has violated the Endangered Species Act
by
failing to consult NMFS on Elk Creek Dam (on a tributary of the Rogue
River,
OR) and its impacts on threatened coho salmon. These groups would like
a
judge to order the half-constructed dam to be notched so salmon will not
have to be trapped and hauled around the dam to reach spawning habitat.
[Assoc Press]
Bristol Bay Salmon Lawsuit. On Mar. 28, 2000, lawyers for more than
5,000
Bristol Bay fishermen filed an appeal with the AK Supreme Court, in
their
class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing by salmon processors and
Japanese
buyers. The lawsuit had been dismissed in AK Superior Court in July
1999
for lack of evidence. The appeal seeks to have the lawsuit remanded to
Superior Court for a jury trial. [MSNBC]
Pacific Council Salmon Management. On Mar. 27-28, 2000, the Pacific
Fishery Management Council held a series of hearings on regulatory
options
for the years 2000 ocean salmon season. Additional public comment will
be
taken at the Council's Apr. 3-7, 2000 meeting in Portland, OR. [personal
communication]
AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA
NOAA SAB Meeting. On Apr. 4-7, 2000, NOAA's Scientific Advisory Board
(SAB) is scheduled to meet in Washington, DC. Their agenda includes
presentations and discussions of a "Census of Marine Life" and of NOAA's
Aquaculture Initiative. [Fed. Register]
NOAA Marine Aquaculture Initiative. On Mar. 27, 2000, NOAA's Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research published a request for proposals for
funding under the National Marine Aquaculture Initiative. A total of
$0.5
million is available for five priority areas (in rank order): 1)
improvements to the regulatory framework for marine aquaculture, 2)
definition of elements to be included in a code of conduct for
responsible
marine aquaculture, 3) demonstration of the use of geographic
information
system technology for siting marine aquaculture projects, 4)
environmental
sound technologies and evaluation of impacts associated with grow-out
and
enhancement activities, and 5) regional planning and coordination
efforts
furthering regional or national marine aquaculture goals. Proposals are
due
by May 15, 2000. [Fed. Register]
Federal Fisheries Financial Assistance. On Mar. 27, 2000, NMFS
announced
the availability of $23.7 million in loans, prioritized for 1) fishing
capacity reduction, 2) supporting the existing FFP credit portfolio
through
loan refinancing, etc., 3) about $10 million in backlogged FY1999
applications, and 4) marine and closed system aquaculture. If the
entire
$23.7 million is not allocated among these priorities by Apr. 17, 2000,
non-priority purposes will be funded (e.g., land-based aquaculture in
open
systems, fisheries shoreside facilities, and fishing vessels). In
addition,
$5 million is available for loans to purchase halibut and sablefish
individual fishing quota (IFQ). However, since the backlog of
application
for IFQ loans exceeds the $5 million available, no new applications for
IFQ
loans will be accepted. [Fed. Register]
AK Chum Salmon Production. On Mar. 26, 2000, the AK Board of Fisheries
tabled a request by the Bering Sea Fishermen's Association that hatchery
production of chum salmon in Southeast AK and Prince William Sound be
reduced. The Association was concerned that state-financed hatchery
production depresses the price for wild-caught chum salmon in western
AK.
The Board postponed action for a year because it was unsure it had
authority
to alter hatchery production levels. [Anchorage Daily News]
FRESHWATER FISHERIES
Alberta Fishing Moratorium. From Apr. 1 through May 19, 2000, fishing
will be banned, for the first time ever, in most Alberta lakes, stream,
and
rivers to allow declining populations of walleye, perch, and pike to
reproduce. [Grand Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune]
Wallop-Breaux Funds. On Mar. 27, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
announced that almost $241 million was being distributed among states
under
the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-
Breaux)
Program. [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release]
Coordinated Fishery Survey. On Mar. 26-31, 2000, staff from the
fisheries
departments and fisheries research institutes of Kenya, Uganda, and
Tanzania
will conduct a coordinated survey of fishing boats, fishermen, fishing
gear,
and fish landings at Lake Victoria. Organized by the Lake Victoria
Fisheries Organization, this effort aims to promote regional cooperation
in
fishery management. Funding for this program is provided by the World
Bank
and the European Union. [East African]
Chippewa Spearfishery. On Mar. 24, 2000, two Chippewa bands in northern
WI
began spearfishing for walleye. This was the earliest starting date for
this fishery in the 16 years this modern spearfishing has been conducted
by
the Chippewa. Four other bands will begin fishing when ice conditions
permit. [Assoc Press]
Lake Davis Pike. In mid-March 2000, officials of the American Fisheries
Society sent a letter to the Robert Hight, Director of the CA Dept. of
Fish
and Game, calling the Dept's management plan [
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/northernpike/mgpike.htm ] for northern pike in
Lake
Davis, irresponsible for settling for less than complete eradication.
[San
Francisco Examiner]
MARINE MAMMALS
Steller Sea Lions. On Mar. 30, 2000, plaintiffs in a lawsuit brought by
environmental groups against NMFS filed a motion asking U.S. District
Court
Judge Thomas Zilly to halt all trawling for pollock, Atka mackerel,
Pacific
cod, sole, and rockfish in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the
Bering
Sea and Gulf of Alaska until NMFS finishes a report requested by Judge
Zilly
on whether bottomfishing is harming Steller sea lions. [Anchorage Daily
News]
Zoo Polar Bears Killed. On Mar. 30, 2000, four polar bears, released by
vandels, were shot to death at the Nuremberg, Germany, zoo after zoo
personnel failed in attempts to tranquillize them. [Canadian Press]
Because of the poor ice conditions, seal pups are reportedly being born
in
the water or are drowning before they can be weaned. [Canadian Press,
International Fund for Animal Welfare press release]
-----
Items in this Summary are excerpted from a variety of information
sources.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible for the
accuracy
of the various news items.
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