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Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 12:14:42 -0400
From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Coral.
On Mar. 26, 1997, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)
released a report on coral reefs citing the potential for coral
extinction due to their vulnerability to harmful effects of
global warming. The report indicates 60 major instances of coral
bleaching occurred between 1979 and 1990, compared to only 3
recorded cases in the previous 103 years. In early April 1997, a
controversial $6.5 million beach restoration project will begin
in Miami Beach, FL, where the Army Corps of Engineers will mine
sand from an offshore area between two coral communities. This
sand will be pumped through an underwater pipeline to replenish
eroded beaches in front of hotels and condos. Opponents of the
project fought it for three years in federal court, fearing
damage to corals. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News]
Louisiana Gillnets. On Mar. 26, 1997, the LA Seafood Management
Council and LA Chefs for LA Seafood released a survey of LA
resident attitudes on gillnet use by commercial fishermen. Sport
fishing groups attacked the validity of the survey, charging that
biased wording of questions influenced the survey outcome.
[Assoc Press]
European Green Crabs Reach OR. In late March 1997, the first
European green crabs were discovered near the Coos Bay, OR,
estuary. This species has steadily migrated northward from San
Francisco Bay, where it was first detected in 1989. Residents
fear damage to oysters, clams, mussels, and native crab species.
[Assoc Press]
Roe Herring Controversy. In late March 1997, controversy arose
over management of a British Columbia commercial roe herring
seine fishery by the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans
(DFO) after harvest in aboriginal Heiltsuk Nation territory was
permitted to exceed an agreed-upon quota by more than 100%.
Heiltsuk Nation officials charged that DFO management was
unacceptable in condoning excessive catches by the seine fleet.
[Dow Jones News]
EU Fleet Restructuring. In late March 1997, the EU's Committee
of Permanent Representatives discussed a new draft compromise on
restructuring EU fishing fleets. The compromise proposes that
catches of endangered fish stocks be reduced by 30% while catches
of overfished stocks be reduced by 20% during the period
1997-1999. Member states could choose to achieve this reduction
through fishing vessel capacity reduction, reduced fishing
activity, or a combination of both. The Council of Fisheries
Ministers will discuss this compromise on Apr. 14, 1997. {On
Apr. 15, 1997, the EU's Fisheries Council approved, by a 13-2
qualified majority vote (Britain and France opposed), a new
5-year program to reduce catches of endangered fish stocks by 30%
while catches of overfished stocks would be reduced 20% by the
end of 2001. Individual EU Members would retain flexibility in
choosing whether to remove fishing vessels from the fleet, reduce
fishing vessel time at sea, or a combination of both. Fishing
vessels less than 10 meters in length are exempt from the new
restrictions.} [Reuters, Agence Europe via Reuters, Assoc Press,
Dow Jones News]
Southern Hemisphere Bluefin Tuna. In late March 1997, Greenpeace
activists announced the launching of a campaign to suspend
fishing for southern hemisphere bluefin tuna, claiming the stock
is only about 2% of its former abundance in the 1960s. Although
a Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna sets
annual catch quotas, non-member nations do not abide by the
quotas. [Reuters]
New England Groundfish. In late March 1997, NMFS identified 3 ME
and 5 MA fishing vessels that will be purchased as part of NMFS's
$23 million buyback of New England fishing vessels. As many as
70 other vessels will be identified for purchase in the next few
weeks. On Apr. 3, 1997, U.S. Administrative Law Judge Peter A.
Fitzpatrick fined two Cape Cod, MA, fishermen and corporations
owned by them a record $4.33 million for more than 300 violations
of federal fishery laws and regulations for New England scallop
and groundfish fisheries between March 1994 and February 1995.
In addition, the two individuals were banned from fishing in
federal waters and had their 5 fishing-vessel and one fish-dealer
permits permanently revoked. Violations included catching more
fish than allowed, spending more days at sea than allowed, using
too many crew on vessels, buying or selling illegal fish, using
illegal gear, and making false statements to federal agents.
Twelve captains who worked for the two fishermen also paid fines
or were grounded for significant time periods. The 2 fishermen
indicate they will appeal the fine. [Assoc Press, NOAA press
release]
Sharks. On Mar. 21-Apr. 28, 1997, NMFS will conduct a series
of 12 public hearings along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in
the Caribbean on an NMFS proposal (Dec. 27. 1996, Federal
Register, p. 68202) to create a two-tiered (direct or incidental
catch) permit and limited access system for 39 species of sharks
in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean. NMFS
determined this fishery to be severely overcapitalized and
proposes to eliminate more than 2,300 of about 2,700 current
permits in this fishery; 134 fishermen regularly fish for and
land sharks. On Mar. 25, 1997, the VA Marine Resources
Commission received proposals to restrict shark fisheries in
Chesapeake Bay waters. A public hearing will be held on Apr.
22, 1997, on the proposals for a minimum length and closure of
state waters to shark fishing after a harvest quota is taken. On
Apr. 2, 1997, NMFS filed a final rule, effective immediately,
reducing the annual commercial quota for large coastal sharks in
the Atlantic by 50% (from 2,570 metric tons to 1,285 metric
tons), establishing a commercial quota of 1,760 metric tons for
small coastal sharks, reducing the recreational bag limits for
all Atlantic sharks to 2 sharks per vessel per trip, prohibiting
all directed fishing for 5 shark species (whale, basking, white,
sand tiger, and bigeye sand tiger), establishing a catch and
release only recreational fishery for white sharks, prohibiting
filleting of sharks at sea, and requiring species-specific
identification of all sharks landed. [CMC press release, NOAA
press releases, personal communication, Assoc Press, Federal
Register]
Russia Seizes Polish Trawler. On Mar. 21, 1997, Kamchatka
authorities released the Polish fishing vessel Aquarius, after
Poland agreed to pay $100,000 for its release. [Warsaw PAP,
Reuters, Interfax]
Salmon Along the Pacific Coast
Salmon Habitat Restoration. The May 1997 issue of Fisheries is
reported to be publishing the results of a study by three Pacific
Northwest fishery scientists concluding that few in-stream
habitat enhancement projects have resulted in any long-term
success for the fish. To succeed, such efforts must be combined
with restoration of ecological processes within the entire
watershed. [Assoc Press]
{SALMON HATCHERY CRITICISM. ON APR. 17, 1997, OFFICIALS OF THE
COLUMBIA RIVER INTER-TRIBAL FISH COMMISSION HELD A NEWS
CONFERENCE COINCIDENT WITH TESTIMONY BEFORE A HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND THE
JUDICIARY HEARING, EXPRESSING CONCERNS THAT MITCHELL ACT HATCHERY
FUNDING IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN HAS BEEN DISCRIMINATORY TO
INDIAN FISHING.} [ASSOC PRESS]
{OR Coho Salmon Recovery Plan. On Apr. 17, 1997, The Oregonian
(Portland, OR) reported that it had obtained a copy of a draft
agreement between OR and the federal government wherein OR would
have the lead in salmon recovery efforts, with NMFS closely
watching OR's efforts to improve logging, grazing, and other
activities affecting water quality. NMFS would propose changes
in OR forestry regulations by Nov. 1, 1997, TO ACHIEVE LARGER
STREAMSIDE BUFFERS AND BETTER LANDSLIDE PREVENTION MEASURES. ESA
LISTING OF COHO SALMON WOULD BE PURSUED IF STATUTORY CHANGES TO
OR LAW ARE NOT MADE BY JUNE 1, 1999.} [Assoc Press]
{Salmon Recovery Appropriations Hearing. On Apr. 15, 1997, the
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development heard testimony from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power
Administration on plans and costs for salmon recovery in the
Columbia and Snake River basins. The Corps presented an estimate
that drawing down the 4 Lower Snake River dams would cost more
than $500 million and would require a specific authorization from
Congress.} [Assoc Press, Congressional Record]
{Canadian Salmon Fishery. On Apr. 15, 1997, British Columbia
Premier Glen Clark reported that an agreement had been reached
between the provincial BC government and the Canadian federal
government on shared management of salmon fisheries. Management
of the salmon fishery had been a federal responsibility; BC
desired a larger role. Details of the agreement were released on
Apr. 16. The agreement provides that both BC provincial and the
federal government will provide C$15 million for salmon habitat
restoration. In addition, a Canada-British Columbia Council of
Ministers will coordinate major salmon resource and habitat
issues, and a fisheries renewal advisory board will include
fishermen, industry groups, and communities to improve habitat.}
[Assoc Press]
1997 Pacific Salmon Fishery. The Pacific Fishery Management
Council was scheduled to decide among 4 options for managing the
1997 salmon season, including one providing no non-Indian salmon
fishing off the coast of WA and northern OR, at meetings to be
held Apr. 7-11, 1997, in Millbrae, CA. Other options would
allow limited commercial and sport fishing for coho and chinook
salmon. For the 3rd consecutive year, no coho salmon fishing
would be allowed off most of OR and all of CA. {On Apr. 11,
1997, the Pacific Fishery Management Council approved the
shortest salmon fishing season with the most severe restrictions
ever. Restrictions include no commercial fishing for coho salmon
anywhere along the coast, month-long closures including no
commercial salmon fishing along the CA coast between June 1 and
June 23 and along the OR coast between June 27 and August 1, no
tribal fishing for coho salmon in rivers, and severe limits on
catch quotas.} [Assoc Press]
{Nez Perce - Idaho Power Lawsuit. In early April 1997, U.S.
District Judge Edward Lodge approved a $16.r million settlement
in a lawsuit brought by the Nez Perce Tribe against Idaho Power
Co. in 1991, seeking $150 million in damages for building 3 dams
that destroyed a run of fall chinook salmon and fishery
guaranteed by a 1855 treaty. As part of the agreement, the Nez
Perce agreed to support relicensing of the 3 dams in 2003.}
[Assoc Press]
Juvenile Salmon Barging. On Apr. 4, 1997, the Salmon Executive
Committee, meeting in Portland, OR, rejected a proposal from ID
and Columbia River Tribes to barge no more than 42% of downstream
migrating juvenile salmon and 54% of juvenile steelhead trout.
As a result, at least half of the downstream migrating juvenile
salmon are likely to be collected at dams and transported
downstream by barge, and as much as 80-85% of juvenile steelhead
trout may be transported by barge. {IN MID-APRIL 1997, MT
GOVERNOR MARC RACICOT INFORMED NMFS THAT MT WAS WITHDRAWING FROM
THE SALMON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, IN THE BELIEF THAT UPSTREAM
INTERESTS ARE NOT RECEIVING SUFFICIENT ATTENTION. MT WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE NORTHWEST POWER PLANNING COUNCIL.}
[Assoc Press]
Hatchery Coho Salmon Lawsuit. On Apr. 2, 1997, Tribal officials
announced an agreement with state and federal officials for the
release of 8.5 million juvenile coho salmon above Bonneville Dam
this spring in compliance with the 1988 Columbia River Fish
Management Plan. [Assoc Press]
Bristol Bay Salmon Price-Fixing Lawsuit. On Apr. 1, 1997,
letters were mailed to 6,000 Bristol Bay salmon fishermen who had
driftnet and setnet permit holders between 1989 and 1995,
explaining the pending $1 billion lawsuit in Alaska Superior
Court charging more than 60 seafood processors and Japanese
trading companies of conspiring to pay fishermen unfair low
prices. [Assoc Press]
....
end of Part 2/3
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