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SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
{{Pacific Salmon Treaty. On Mar. 2, 2000, British Columbia's Fisheries
Minister Corky Evans announced that the BC government was dropping its
appeal in U.S. federal court in a September 1997 lawsuit challenging U.S.
implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. BC took this action to signal
an intent to improve cooperation with the United States.}} [Canadian Press,
Assoc Press]
{Theodosia River Dam. On Feb. 28, 2000, British Columbia officials
announced the conclusion of an agreement with Pacifica Papers Inc. to
demolish a 292-foot long dam across the Theodosia River. This would be the
first large Canadian dam to be removed, and would benefit coho, pink, and
chum salmon populations entering Georgia Strait.} [Environment News Service]
{Enloe Dam. In late February 2000, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
rescinded the license for the Enloe Dam project on the Similkameen River in
Okanogan County, WA, after a challenge from NMFS and imposition of a fish
passage requirement.} [Environment News Service]
Salmon Recovery Critique. On Feb. 24, 2000, two retired high-ranking
federal officials (Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service) are
scheduled to speak at a press breakfast at American Rivers, Washington, DC,
to give an "insider's" perspective on why past efforts to save salmon have
failed. [American Rivers press release]
Klamath Fishery. On Feb. 23-25, 2000 (Brookings, OR) and Mar. 5, 2000
(Sacramento, CA), the Klamath Fishery Management Council is scheduled to
meet to develop recommendations for salmon harvest management for year 2000.
Recommendations will be forwarded to the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release]
Water Flow Lawsuit. On Feb. 22, 2000, a coalition of environmental and
commercial fishing interests filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court,
demanding federal agencies to increase water flow in the Snake and Columbia
Rivers to benefit salmon migration. The lawsuit alleges that the Army Corps
of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation have failed to meet minimum flows
necessary for salmon survival set by NMFS. To attain these flows, agencies
would have to use water now allocated to ID farmers for irrigation. [Assoc
Press]
AAAS Symposium. On Feb. 21, 2000, a symposium "Scientific Advice for
Endangered Species Recovery" was held at the annual meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Washington, DC. The
symposium focused on the adequacy of science to address salmon issues.
[Seattle Times]
Salmon Media Briefing. On Feb. 16, 2000, the National Sea Grant College
Program is hosting a 2-hour special media briefing on "Public Choices,
Science, and Salmon: Scientific Efforts to Aid Salmon in the Pacific
Northwest" at the National Press Club, Washington, DC. [National Sea Grant
College Program]
Dam Breaching. On Feb. 15, 2000, representatives of Indian tribes and
commercial gillnetters met in Astoria, OR, to form an alliance to demand
that the federal government remove 4 lower Snake River hydroelectric dams.
In addition, the tribes were reported to be supportive of federal aid to
irrigators, barge operators, and farmers who might be harmed by dam
breaching. On Feb. 17, 2000, the OR Chapter of the American Fisheries
Society, a professional society of fishery scientists, voted 103-0 to adopt
a resolution affirming the necessity for breaching 4 lower Snake River dams
to restore wild salmon populations. In a Feb. 18, 2000 speech at a meeting
of the OR Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in Eugene, OR Governor
John Kitzhaber endorsed breaching the 4 lower Snake River dams as a
responsible and cost-effective option, becoming the first major elected
official to endorse dam breaching. In response on Feb. 22, 2000, WA
Governor Gary Locke announced that he did not support dam breaching. On
Feb. 23, 2000, the Port of Portland released a study by HDR Engineering and
commissioned by the Port and 3 OR state agencies, outlining the potential
cascading negative effects of dam breaching, including the possible loss of
4 of the 6 ocean freight line serving Portland, diversion of export
containers to Puget Sound ports, and removal of marginal agricultural lands
in eastern OR and WA from production. {On Feb. 23, 2000, Presidential
candidate John McCain was reported to have stated in Spokane, WA, that he
would consider dam breaching if scientific evidence indicates it's necessary
to save salmon. On Feb. 28, 2000, Presidential candidate George W. Bush,
speaking in Pasco, WA, promised to forestall breaching of the 4 lower Snake
River dams. Radio advertisements supportive of George W. Bush called
breaching "a big mistake."} {{On Feb. 29, 2000, NM Rep. Tom Udall was
reported to have written a letter to President Clinton, becoming the first
Member of Congress to publically endorse breaching the 4 lower Snake River
dams.}} [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian, MSNBC]
Dredging Lawsuit. On Feb. 14, 2000, a coalition of 5 environmental
organizations filed suit if U.S. District Court (Seattle, WA) against NMFS,
challenging NMFS's December 1999 approval of a Corps of Engineers permit for
a $196 million dredging project to deepen a 100-mile stretch of the Columbia
River shipping channel.. The groups are fearful that this project would
harm endangered salmon. [Environment News Service, Assoc Press]
CA Steelhead Coalition. On Feb. 14, 2000, a coalition of 33 fishing,
surfing, and environmental groups held a news conference to announce the
creation of the Southern California Steelhead Recovery Coalition, an
organization that will lobby to increase protection for steelhead trout.
The Coalition's 10-point action plan includes the removal of Matilija and
Rindge Dams, more funding for steelhead research, Endangered Species Act
protection for all rainbow trout in coastal streams, and NMFS
reclassification of spawning grounds above dams as critical habitat. [Los
Angeles Times]
WA Water Lawsuit. On Feb. 11, 2000, Thurston County (WA) Superior Court
Judge Robert Hicks issued an oral decision, ruling that the WA Dept. of
Ecology should do more monitoring of surface- and ground-water withdrawals,
to protect streamflow and salmon. Judge Hicks also directed the state to
monitor 130,000 existing surface- and ground-water rights in certain
critical fish areas where salmon are in trouble. The Earthjustice Legal
Defense Fund and several other environmental groups had sued the WA Dept. of
Ecology, claiming a 1993 state law required water-use metering. [Assoc
Press]
Elwha River Dams. On Feb. 11, 2000, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and
WA's Congressional delegation met at Glines Canyon Dam to commemorate a
final consensus settlement agreement for federal purchase and removal of the
2 Elwha River dams. {{In early March 2000, titles to the Elwha and Glines
Canyon dams were transferred from the Fort James Paper Co. And Daishowa
America Inc. to the U.S. National Park Service. Pending further review, the
dams are being operated by the Bureau of Reclamation for power production.}}
[Dept. of the Interior press release, Trout Unlimited press release, Assoc
Press]
WA Salmon Management. On Feb. 9, 2000, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell and King
County Executive Ron Sims debated conflicting views on how to manage water
supply demands and meet competing requirements to protect ESA-listed Chinook
salmon. On Feb. 16, 2000, King County Executive Ron Sims announced that, in
response to a joint request from the Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma Mayors, he
was delaying initial steps toward a proposed regional plan to manage water.
On Feb. 22, 2000, the WA Dept. of Ecology held a forum in Mercer Island, to
release a new proposal on revised guidelines for managing development of
shoreline property under the state's Shoreline Management Act. These
revisions are complicated by the fact that WA officials are uncertain about
the effect of building docks and bulkheads might have on ESA-listed salmon;
WA officials are working with NMFS to determine what requirements should be
included to comply with the ESA. These revisions are to be completed by
July 23, 2000, with a series of public hearings scheduled for May 2000.
[Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Times]
FY2001 Salmon Budget Request. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Administration's FY2001
Federal Budget proposal was released, requesting $1.4 billion to continue
the Lands Legacy Initiative that would include $100 million for a Pacific
Northwest Salmon Fund. In addition, NMFS requested $60 million for
implementing the Pacific Salmon Treaty, with $20 million each for the 2
Restoration and Enhancement Funds and $20 million to complete a WA Vessel
License Buyback Program and mitigate AK for lost fishing opportunities.
Also, the budget requests $31 million to start removal of 2 dams on WA's
Elwha River. [White House press release, Assoc Press, NOAA FY2001 budget
request]
{Critical Habitat Designation. On Feb. 7, 2000, NMFS officials signed a
final designation of critical habitat for 19 populations of salmon and
steelhead trout in WA, OR, ID, and CA, in compliance with a court-ordered
stay in a lawsuit by the OR Natural Resources Council. The final rule
designating this habitat was published on Feb. 16, 2000.} [personal
communication]
Salmon 4(d) Rule. On Feb. 7, 2000, NMFS announced that 3 additional
hearings would be scheduled on the NMFS proposed regulations for protecting
14 populations of threatened steelhead trout and salmon under Section 4(d)
of the Endangered Species Act, but declined to extend the public comment
period. [Fed. Register, Assoc Press]
Bristol Bay Salmon Lawsuit. On Feb. 4, 2000, final judgments were signed by
AK Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski and filed, acknowledging an
agreement by 2 Japanese salmon importers and their subsidiaries to pay a
total of $1 million to settle price-fixing claims by more than 5,000
commercial fishermen. A total of about $11 million in settlements has been
paid by 16 groups of defendants so far in this 1995 class action suit, while
10 groups of defendants have not settled. On Feb. 24, 2000, AK fishermen
plan to file an appeal of the Superior Court decision with the AK Supreme
Court. [Anchorage Daily News]
Northern CA Steelhead. On Feb. 4, 2000, NMFS proposed listing northern CA
steelhead trout as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, claiming
that CA state efforts were insufficient to protect these fish. [San
Francisco Chronicle]
Salmon Management Options. From Feb. 3 through Mar. 8, 2000, a total of 13
public hearings are scheduled by Bonneville Power Administration and 8 other
federal agencies across OR, WA, ID, MT, and AK on the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Draft Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon
Migration Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement and the Federal
Caucus Conservation of Columbia Basin Fish "All-H Paper" [
http://www.bpa.gov/Power/PL/FederalCaucus/fcspl.shtml ] presenting options
for altering harvest, hatcheries, habitat, and hydroelectric dams. The
initial hearing on Feb. 3, 2000, in Portland, OR, was attended by at least
1,000 people. [Assoc. Press]
ESA Failure. On Feb. 3, 2000, a coalition of conservation, fishing, and
religious organizations released "Broken Promises of Recovery: The Clinton
Administration's 10-Prong Attack on Endangered Species. This report
discusses how the Clinton Administration has allegedly undermined the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) [
http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/esa_imp2.htm ] and failed to protect
Pacific salmon and other species. [American Lands press release]
Framework Alternatives. On Feb. 1, 2000, the Northwest Power Planning
Council (NPPC) received the preliminary results the Multi-Species Framework
Project, a complex and controversial computer analysis (Ecosystem Diagnosis
and Treatment) of 7 fish recovery alternatives, concluding that all 7
alternatives would produce more fish than exist under current conditions.
Generally alternatives with the highest economic and social risks were
determined to have the lowest biological risks, and vice versa. [NW
Fishletter #96, NPPC Congressional Update]
AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA
{GM Salmon. On Feb. 24, 2000, the Board of Directors of the British
Columbia Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) voted unanimously to strengthen
its policy against use of transgenic or genetically modified (GM) fish in
BC. On Feb. 25, 2000, officials of New Zealand King Salmon Co., Ltd.
announced that the company had killed all its genetically modified fish and
suspended research after succeeding in introducing an additional growth
hormone gene into Chinook salmon and passing this trait through 3
generations of fish. Frozen sperm of GM salmon was retained to continue the
program in the future. The company claimed its GM salmon could grow to 550
pounds.} [Assoc Press, BCSFA press release]
South Carolina Aquarium. On Feb. 23, 2000, the first resident, a 327- pound
green sea turtle, was introduced to the South Carolina Aquarium's
330,000-gallon tank. This $69 million facility is scheduled to open on May
19, 2000. [Assoc Press]
French Shellfish Farmers. On Feb. 16, 2000, about 400 French shellfish
farmers marched on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing in Paris to
demand more public assistance to help their industry recover from storms and
the Erika oil spill. The government has already pledged $45 million to help
the fishing and shellfish farming industries recover. Although the oil
spill harmed the public acceptance of oysters, storms caused extensive
damage to 42,000 acres of shellfish farms along the Atlantic coast. [Assoc
Press, The Guardian]
NJ Aquaculture Bill. On Feb. 7, 2000, the NJ Assembly Committee on
Agriculture and Natural Resources reported A645, a measure that would
provide financial assistance for development, expansion, and modernization
of the NJ aquaculture industry. This measure was sequentially referred to
the Assembly's Committee on Appropriations. [Garden State Seafood Assoc
Weekly Update]
Sustainable Shrimp Farming. In early February 2000, officials of
associations representing Thai shrimp farmers, processors, and exporters
began signing a code of conduct for sustainable shrimp farming, that had
been developed by the Marine Shrimp Culture Research and Development
Institute under a $65,000 World Bank grant. Thai Fisheries Dept. officials
hope most shrimp farmers will comply with the code within 5 years. The code
outlines operational guidelines, certification processes, and market
incentives for compliance. [Bangkok Post]
{Aquaculture Census. On Feb. 1, 2000, the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) released results of the nation's first census of aquaculture
[ http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census97/aquaculture/aquaculture.htm ].
The value of 1998 U.S. aquaculture sales was almost $980 million, with MS
accounting for nearly 30% of the domestic aquaculture production. Other
states among the top 10 producing states (in order) were AR, FL, ME, AL, WA,
LA, CA, ID, and VA. Average sales of foodfish producers was about $387,000
per farm.} [NASS press release]
FRESHWATER FISHERIES
{FWS Budget. On Mar. 2, 2000, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on
Interior and Related Agencies held a hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's FY2001 budget request.} [personal communication]
Golden Trout Treatment. On Feb. 28 and 29, 2000, the CA Dept. of Fish and
Game and the U.S. Forest Service have scheduled public meetings in Lone Pine
and Kernville to consider proposed September 2000 and September 2001
rotenone treatments of 2 miles of Movie Stinger, a tributary of the South
Fork of the Kern River in the Golden Trout Wilderness, Inyo National Forest,
to eliminate non-native fish and hybridized golden trout and protect the
genetic integrity of native golden trout. Public comment is being accepted
through Mar. 15, 2000. [Daily Independent (Ridgecrest)]
{Russian Icefishing Emergency. On Feb. 28, 2000, helicopters rescued as
many as 1,000 Russian icefishermen from an ice floe that had broken loose
the previous day in Lake Ladoga, northeast of St. Petersburg, in response
to warming weather. Six people were reported to have drowned.} [Reuters]
Right to Fish. In late February 2000, the VA Senate was poised to approve
HB 787 and take the last step toward putting a proposed state constitutional
amendment asserting the right to hunt and fish on the November 2000 state
ballot. [Roanoke Times]
Bottled Water and Trout. On Feb. 23, 2000, WI state officials announced
that Perrier Group (Greenwich, CT) was considering abandoning plans to drill
a well at Mecan Springs, that could involve pumping quantities of water that
would threaten trout in the Mecan River. [Assoc Press]
Zebra Mussels. On Feb. 18, 2000, officials of the Michigan State Univ.
Extension Sea Grant program announced that 19 additional inland MI lakes had
become infested with zebra mussels during the past year. Previously, a
total of 100 inland MI lakes were known to have been infested with zebra
mussels. {On Feb. 21, 2000, a marina employee at Lake of the Ozarks, MO,
recognized the threat posed by an arriving cabin cruiser whose hull was
encrusted by thousands of zebra mussels. The vessel was isolated in dry
dock, prevent a possible massive zebra mussel infestation of MO's inland
lakes.} [MO Dept. of Conservation press release, Detroit Free Press]
Bighorn River Tribal Water Rights. On Feb. 17, 2000, water-rights
negotiators for the Crow Tribe, and state of MT, and the federal government
met in Billings, MT, to discuss issues in developing a management plan that
would maintain streamflows and protect trout waters below Yellowtail Dam on
the Bighorn River. [Billings Gazette]
Alabama Sturgeon. On Feb. 16, 2000, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials
published a new conservation plan for the Alabama sturgeon, based upon an
agreement signed Feb. 9, 2000, by state and federal agencies and interested
groups. The primary feature of the agreement is an expanded collection
effort to find more sturgeon for captive breeding. Public comment on the
plan will be accepted through Mar. 17, 2000. [Mobile Register, Fed.
Register]
Dam Failure. In mid-February 2000, the Natural Resources Conservation
Service released a report, concluding that the Silver Lake dam (Cowlitz
County, WA) failed in May 1999 because of problems with a fish retention
screen. The report concludes that the screen, installed in 1992 to prevent
grass carp from leaving Silver Lake, damaged a clay layer that protected the
dam's foundation. After the screen became clogged with weeds, it increased
water flow and pressure on the dam's foundation, causing a hole under the
dam. [Assoc Press]
MN Fishing Season Extension. On Feb. 9 and 10, 2000, MN House and Senate
Committees expedited legislation that would extend the end of the MN sport
fishing season from Feb. 20 to Feb. 29, to assist resorts and businesses
suffering from a winter season delayed by unseasonable warm temperatures.
On Feb. 14, 2000, both the MN House and Senate passed the measure that would
extend the MN fishing season until Feb. 29. [Minneapolis Star Tribune]
Lake Davis Pike. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Save Lake Davis Task Force and the CA
Dept. of Fish and Game were scheduled to release a 49-page report [
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/northernpike/index.html ] outlining a $1 million
program based on 13 recommendations for controlling, containing, and killing
northern pike in Lake Davis. No fish-killing chemicals would be used.
[Sacramento Bee]
Grass Carp. After a contentious public hearing on Feb. 7, 2000, the Board
of Commissioners of McLennan County, TX, voted to spend $10,000 to purchase
300 to 400 sterile, triploid grass carp to help control hydrilla plant
growth on Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir. [Waco Tribune Herald]
Destruction of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. On Feb. 3, 2000, biologists at the
Lahontan National Fish Hatchery, NV, destroyed about 300,000 Lahontan
cutthroat trout, infected with furunculosis, a bacterial disease. About
80,000 Lahontan cutthroat trout died of this disease at the hatchery prior
to the current action, and the disease outbreak could not be controlled with
medication. Lahontan cutthroat trout are listed as threatened under the
Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press]
Atlantic Salmon. On Feb. 3, 2000, a coalition of conservation, fishing, and
religious organizations released "Broken Promises of Recovery: The Clinton
Administration's 10-Prong Attack on Endangered Species. This report
discusses how the Clinton Administration has allegedly undermined the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) [
http://www.americanlands.org/forestweb/esa_imp2.htm ] and failed to protect
Atlantic salmon and other species. {{In late February 2000, Dept. of the
Interior officials delivered requested genetic information on Atlantic
salmon to ME officials for independent analysis. The State of ME had filed
a lawsuit against the federal government, seeking access to the genetic data
and an extension of the Mar. 15, 2000 deadline for public comment on the
proposed listing of Atlantic salmon under the ESA.}} [American Lands press
release, Assoc Press]
European Cyanide Spill. On Jan. 30, 2000, a dam overflowed at a gold mine
owned by the Australian company Esmeralda Exploration in northwest Romania,
causing 22 million gallons of cyanide-contaminated water to enter the Tisa
River. The Tisa River flows through Hungary into Yugoslavia. Millions of
fish (80% of all fish in the Tisa River) are alleged to have been killed by
some sources, while other say the effects have been exaggerated. Hungarian
officials reported removing 75 metric tons of dead fish from the Tisa River.
The cyanide-polluted waters reached the Danube River on Feb. 13, 2000, where
cyanide concentration were diluted to sub-lethal levels. [Assoc Press, Daily
Telegraph]
MARINE MAMMALS
MMPA Hearing. On Mar. 30, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled an oversight
hearing on the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [personal communication]
{{Mexican Salt Works Project. On Mar. 2, 2000, Mexican President Ernesto
Zedillo and officials of Mitsubishi Corp. announced that the government of
Mexico and Mitsubishi Corp. would not continue to pursue construction of a
salt works project adjacent to San Ignacio lagoon.}} [Embassy of Mexico
press release, Reuters, International Fund for Animal Welfare press release]
{Whale Research Irregularities? On Feb. 29, 2000, the Pacific Whale
Foundation is scheduled for arraignment and plea hearing in 2nd Circuit
District Court (Maui) on 91 misdemeanor charges for allegedly conducting
whale research in HI waters before a state permit was issued in February
1998. The federal government has also charged the foundation with 7 civil
violations under the MMPA and Endangered Species Act. A hearing on the
federal charges is scheduled for late March 2000.} [Maui News]
CA Sea Otters. On Feb. 22, 2000, officials of the Monterey Bay Aquarium
announced that a sea otter, raised in captivity, rehabilitated, and then
released to the wild, had given birth in the wild in November 1999 and
appeared to be successfully raising this pup. This was reportedly a first
for the Aquarium's 16-year sea otter pup rescue program. [San Jose Mercury]
Keiko. On Feb. 23, 2000, Ocean Futures announced a postponement, at least
until early March 2000, of the planned release of the orca whale Keiko from
his seapen into the net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay, Iceland, due to tidal surges
and wind loosening anchoring bolts of the barrier net. {On Mar. 3, 2000,
Keiko was released from his pen into the larger net-enclosed Klettsvik Bay
[http://www.oceanfutures.org].} [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Ocean Futures
press release]
French Dolphin Mortality Event. In mid-February 2000, about 400 dead common
and striped dolphins were found from Brittany south along the west coast of
France. Many of the dead dolphins appeared wounded, with some blaming
encounters with {{French and Spanish fishing trawlers pulling massive
pelagic nets after anchovies, hake, herring, and other fish.}} [BBC News,
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society press release, London Times]
Seal Barge? On Feb. 14, 2000, the local Chamber of Commerce and business
owners plan to petition Seal Beach, CA, City Council officials to allow the
anchoring of a barge offshore to provide an artificial attractant habitat
for seals and sea lions as a means of boosting tourism. [Assoc Press, Orange
County Register]
Whale Watch Vessel Fire. On Feb. 14, 2000, a Gloucester, MA, man was
arraigned in Gloucester District Court for allegedly setting fire to a whale
water boat in Gloucester harbor in early February 2000. A hearing on this
case is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2000. [Boston Herald]
VA Beach Dolphins? On Feb. 9, 2000, the Board of the VA Beach Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals voted to hold a public forum in late
February or early March 2000 to discuss the pros and cons of plans by the VA
Marine Science Museum to construct a 1.6 million gallon marine tank and
display live dolphins. [Virginian-Pilot]
Dolphin Conservation Lawsuit. On Feb. 8, 2000, a coalition of environmental
and animal protection groups filed suit in the U.S. Court of International
Trade against the Clinton Administration, claiming the federal government
was not abiding by U.S. laws on dolphin conservation. These groups claim
that NMFS's final rule of Jan. 3, 2000, ignores the requirements of the
International Dolphin Conservation Program Act. [Defenders of Wildlife press
release, Humane Society of the United States press release, American Humane
Assoc press release]
Makah Whaling. On Feb. 8, 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard
arguments on an October 1997 lawsuit (Metcalf et al. v. Daley et al.)
alleging the U.S. government acted improperly in granting a permit to the
Makah to kill gray whales, without anticipating safety and environmental
risks. [personal communication, Seattle Times, Assoc Press]
Northern Right Whale. On Feb. 7, 2000, the Administration's FY2001 Federal
Budget proposal was released, containing a proposed $4.3 million for
endangered right whale research. On Feb. 22-24, 2000, NMFS held a workshop
in Danvers, MA, to determine ways commercial fishing might be modified to
increase protection for northern right whales. {On Mar. 1, 2000, rescue
teams attempted to disentangle a 20-year old male northern right whale found
tangled in fishing gear off Manomet, MA, in Cape Cod Bay. Initial attempts
were unsuccessful, but the whale appeared to be strong and in good health.}
[Assoc Press, Boston Herald]
Mexican Salt Project. On Feb. 3, 2000, the International Fund for Animal
Welfare (IFAW) and Greenpeace released the results of a Japanese public
opinion survey indicating that, of those with an opinion, 75% opposed
Mitsubishi Corp. plans to build a salt evaporation facility at Laguna San
Ignacio, Mexico. [Assoc Press, Los Angeles Times, IFAW press release]
Namibia Seal Cull. In early February 2000, Namibia's Minister of Fisheries
and Marine Resources Abraham Iyambo announced that the quota for the year
2000 seal cull would be drastically increased, claiming large seal
populations threaten fisheries. On Feb. 9, 2000, officials of the Wildlife
Society of Namibia challenged the Minister to release scientific data
justifying the increased cull. [The Namibian]
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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