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Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 09:21:08 -0400
From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Red Snapper Peer Review Panels. On Mar. 10, 1997, NMFS
announced that it is seeking nominations for 3 peer review panels
authorized under section 407(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act to review of red snapper stock
management in the Gulf of Mexico. [Federal Register]
Canadian Groundfish Enforcement. On Mar. 10, 1997, Canadian
Fisheries Minister Fred Mifflin reported that the Spanish trawler
Hermanos Gandon IV was fined and had its license revoked by
Spanish authorities after it was reported by Canadian inspectors
on Feb. 27 and confirmed by EU inspectors on Mar. 1 to have
underlogged its catch of Greenland halibut (turbot) in waters off
Canada's east coast. [Reuters]
Russia Seizes Polish Trawler. On Mar. 9, 1997, Russian
authorities in Moscow announced that the Polish vessel seized in
the Sea of Okhotsk had been ordered released. However, Kamchatka
regional authorities ordered the Aquarius to Petropavlovsk, where
the local prosecutor's office was investigating the incident. On
Mar. 20, 1997, Polish officials delivered an official protest to
Russia on detention of the Aquarius and demanding its release.
On Mar. 21, 1997, Kamchatka authorities released the Polish
fishing vessel Aquarius, after Poland agreed to pay $100,000 for
its release. [Warsaw PAP, Warsaw Polskie Radio First Program
Network, and Warsaw Third Program Radio Network via Foreign
Broadcast Information Service, Reuters, Interfax]
Tuna and Consumers. On Mar. 7, 1997, U.S. Food and Drug
Administration officials warned that consumers sensitive to
sulfites should temporarily avoid canned albacore (white) tuna,
after the tuna industry reported on Mar. 6 that, without its
knowledge, sulfites had been added to a vegetable protein raw
material used in canning tuna. Tuna industry officials announced
that special labels would be immediately placed on canned tuna to
provide warning, but that tuna will again be sulfite-free within
a short time. On Mar. 19, 1997, British doctors wrote in the
Journal of Accident and Emergency Medicine that food poisoning
(scombrotoxin poisoning) from tuna and related fish is more
common than formerly believed because the condition is
mis-diagnosed. [Reuters]
Fishing Gear Review. On Mar. 7, 1997, Canada's Fisheries
Resource Conservation Council released a report concluding that
new fishing technology and equipment should be reviewed by a
special panel before being allowed in the fishery, to assure that
new gear is conservation-friendly and does not adversely affect
fishery resources or their habitat. The report also recommends
strategies for each gear type to better protect groundfish
stocks. [Assoc Press]
Illegal Scallop Labeling. On Mar. 7, 1997, a VA seafood company
agreed to pay a $54,272 fine in U.S. District Court for alleged
mislabeling of scallops, switching uninspected seafood into boxes
marked as "FDA approved" and not noting the use of sodium
tripolyphosphate to increase the moisture content in scallops on
labels. U.S. Customs agents indicated that other individuals
and corporations may be charged for similar activities within the
next few months. [Assoc Press]
NC Shrimp Trawl Ban. On Mar. 7, 1997, NC officials announced
that a ban on shrimp trawling south of Cape Hatteras was no
longer necessary, and was being dropped. In response to this
action, the NC Fisheries Assoc. agreed to drop its lawsuit
against the State. [Assoc Press]
SC Shrimping Moratorium? On Mar. 7, 1997, the SC Marine
Advisory Committee voted to support a resolution drafted by the
SC Shrimpers Assoc. calling for a 2-year moratorium on new
shrimping licenses. The proposal would be submitted to the State
Legislature in an effort to forestall an influx of out-of-state
trawlers, make licensed trawlers more profitable, and better
protect sea turtles. [Assoc Press]
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]
{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]
{Alleged NAFTA Violation by BC Hydro. On Apr. 1, 1997, a
coalition of U.S. and Canadian conservation, fishing, and
aboriginal groups announced their intention of filing a complaint
on Apr. 2, 1997, asking that the North American Commission on
Environmental Cooperation (an oversight panel under the North
American Free Trade Agreement) investigate allegations that
Canada has failed to enforce federal regulations on BC Hydro to
benefit salmon and other fish. The coalition claims that, while
U.S. power producers have been forced to alter operations to
protect salmon, Canadian dam operation has not been similarly
modified to benefit salmon. Groups in the coalition include the
Aboriginal Fisheries Commission of British Columbia, the British
Columbia Wildlife Federation, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal
Fisheries Commission, the Sierra Club, the Pacific Coast
Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and Trout Unlimited's
Spokane, WA Chapter. Specific concerns relate to how BC Hydro
stores and releases water -- critics contend that BC Hydro spills
water at times when it should be stored for fish rearing and
stores water when it should be released to assist salmon
migration.} [Assoc Press, Dow Jones News]
1995 Biological Opinion Lawsuit. On Mar. 31, 1997, {Judge
Malcolm Marsh questioned attorneys at a hearing} in U.S.
District Court in Portland, OR, on the 1995 lawsuit by American
Rivers, the Sierra Club, and {8 other groups} against NMFS
challenging implementation of NMFS's 1995 biological opinion on
operation of the Columbia and Snake River hydropower system.
{The groups are seeking to have Judge Marsh order the drawdown of
reservoirs closer to the natural pre-dam state of the river to
assist juvenile salmon migration. ON APR. 3, 1997, JUDGE MARSH
ISSUED A 33-PAGE OPINION UPHOLDING NMFS' BIOLOGICAL OPINION AND
RULING THAT THE FEDERAL SALMON RECOVERY PLAN WAS LEGAL, AND THAT
HE COULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OF NMFS.}
[NW Fishletter No. 30, Assoc Press]
Idaho's 1997 Salmon Plan. On Mar. 27, 1997, ID Governor Phil
Batt released the state's 1997 strategy for salmon management,
relying on heavy spring runoff to carry most juvenile salmon
downstream and minimizing the use of barges. When the flow is at
least 100,000 cubic feet per second at Lower Granite Dam, the
strategy recommends that only one-third of the juveniles be
barged. The strategy recommends against using reservoir water
from the Clearwater River Basin or from the Snake River above
Hell's Canyon to benefit fall chinook salmon. [Assoc Press]
WA Salmon Report. On Mar. 27, 1997, the WA Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife released a draft report on restoration of wild salmon.
The report recommended a separate management of wild and hatchery
salmon, adoption and enforcement of regulations to better control
catastrophic floods that damage spawning areas, enforcement of
laws requiring proper culverts and other potential obstacles to
salmon migration, and giving escapement for spawning priority
over harvest. Ten public hearings are scheduled to be conducted
on the draft during April and May, with a revised version of the
draft to be acted upon by the WA Fish and Wildlife Commission.
[Assoc Press]
Dam Operation Lawsuits. On Mar. 20, 1997, a coalition of 8
fishing and environmental groups (including the Pacific Coast
Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Trout Unlimited, Sierra
Club, American Rivers, and others) notified the Bureau of
Reclamation of their intent to sue the agency for allegedly
failing to take sufficient action to manage irrigation and dam
operations to protect Snake River salmon. These groups also
filed a notice of intent to sue the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) for allegedly failing to ensure that Idaho
Power Co. Dams did not jeopardize migrating salmon. On Mar.
26, 1997, the Columbia River Alliance (representing electric
utilities, barge operators, and irrigators) filed a notice of
intent to sue NMFS, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of
Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration over equitable
consideration for the economic aspects of irrigation and dam
operations. [Assoc Press]
Northwest Forest Plan. On Mar. 18, 1997, NMFS endorsed the
Clinton Administration's Northwest Forest Plan for U.S. Forest
Service and Bureau of Land Management federal lands as an
excellent anchor for salmon recovery efforts in Oregon. This
conclusion will allow NMFS to streamline consultation on federal
projects potentially affecting species protected under the
Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press]
March 1996 Salmon Suit. On Mar. 17, 1997, Federal Judge Malcolm
Marsh is scheduled to hear arguments on the March 1996 lawsuit
wherein tribal and environmental groups allege that federal
managers are too slow and unfocused in pursuing salmon recovery
measures. [Assoc Press]
AK Salmon Marketing Proposals. In mid-March 1997, the State of
Alaska released a report of a January 1997 meeting on proposals
to help market AK salmon. The report stated that the AK Dept.
of Fish and Game would include peak fish quality as a criteria
for timing salmon harvest periods, and that the Dept. of
Commerce and Economic Development would work with the Alaska
Seafood Marketing Institute to develop a quality grading scale.
In addition, state officials would ease the inspection schedule
for major processing plants and streamline reporting
requirements. [Assoc Press]
OR Coho Salmon Recovery Plan. In mid-March 1997, OR state
legislators revised their funding proposal for the Governor's
salmon recovery plan, guaranteeing the first $15 million while
providing the remaining $15 million contingent upon the federal
government not listing central and northern OR coastal coho under
the Endangered Species Act. On Mar. 17, 1997, the OR chapter of
the American Fisheries Society (AFS) wrote a letter to NMFS
expressing concerns that the governor's coho salmon restoration
plan does not provide necessary guidance or strength to recover
coho salmon. AFS questioned the assumptions of the plan's
habitat model, reliance on Oregon logging regulations to protect
salmon habitat, and the absence of changes in agricultural
practices such as grazing. On Mar. 18, 1997, the OR House voted
56-2 to approve the state's coho salmon recovery plan and a $30
million funding program using the state general fund if private
funding is unavailable. [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian via
Greenwire]
Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout. On Mar. 10, 1997, a coalition of
sport and commercial fishing groups filed notice in U.S.
District Court of their intent to sue NMFS for alleged failure to
protect Umpqua River cutthroat trout adequately after they were
listed as endangered. These groups are concerned that NMFS has
not designated critical habitat for this species. By Mar. 25,
1997, NMFS is scheduled to release an opinion on whether
construction of the $43 million Milltown Hill Dam, on Elk Creek
near Yoncalla, OR, could harm the endangered Umpqua River
cutthroat trout. The dam would block fish migration as well as
destroy as much as 18 miles of stream habitat for trout and
salmon. [Assoc Press]
1997 Pacific Salmon Fishery. On Mar. 7, 1997, the Pacific
Fishery Management Council adopted 4 options, including one
providing no non-Indian salmon fishing off the coast of WA and
northern OR, for Mar. 31-Apr. 1 public hearings on managing the
1997 salmon season. 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. The Council will decide among the 4
options at meetings to be held Apr. 7-11, 1997, in Millbrae, CA.
[Assoc Press]
Aquaculture and Aquaria
{Gulf of Maine Aquarium. On Apr. 2, 1997, plans are reportedly
scheduled to be announced to the effect that the $42 million Gulf
of Maine Aquarium will be constructed at the site of the U.S.
Naval Reserve Pier in Portland, ME.} [Assoc Press]
Chinese Crawfish Antidumping Decision. On Mar. 20, 1997, the
U.S. Dept. of Commerce preliminarily ruled that Chinese
crawfish tails are being illegally dumped on the U.S. market for
less than their fair market value.
A preliminary tariff adjustment to raise the price of imported
crawfish on the U.S. market would remain in effect until a final
determination is issued on June 2, 1997. [Assoc Press]
AL Oyster Farmer Assistance. On Mar. 11, 1997, about 380 AL
oyster farmers participated in a waterway trash cleanup program,
developed to provide assistance to oyster farmers whose
livelihood has been disrupted by state harvesting bans. Funds to
pay oyster farmers were provided by a grant from the AL Dept. of
Economic and Community Affairs. [Assoc Press]
Clayoquot Sound Salmon Farm Vandalism. On Mar. 9, 1997, vandals
cuts nets at a Clayoquot Sound salmon farm near Tofino, BC, owned
and operated by Pacific National Group, releasing as many as
50,000 juvenile chinook salmon, which are unlikely to survive in
the wild. The harvest value of these fish was projected at more
than C$1.2 million. Recent protests focused on the salmon farm
company's license extension and fears that salmon farming could
harm wild salmon, but an agreement had been reached in early
March for relocation of the salmon farm. [Dow Jones News, Assoc
Press]
Freshwater Fisheries
{Fishing Access. On Apr. 4, 1997, the Madison County (MT) Board
of Commissioners has scheduled a hearing to consider the repeal
of a 1995 ordinance prohibiting landowners from constructing
fences designed to hinder fisherman access on county
rights-of-way easements near bridges. After the ordinance was
enacted, five landowners filed suit against the County, claiming
the ordinance condemned a portion of their property without
providing compensation. These landowners say they will drop
their lawsuit if the ordinance is repealed.} [Assoc Press]
{Fishing Access Purchase. On Mar. 31, 1997, NY Governor George
Pataki announced that NY will purchase $1 million worth of public
fishing access rights during the next fiscal year. The purchase
would be funded by money approved by voters in the 1996 Clean
Water-Clean Air Bond Act.} [Assoc Press]
Barton Springs Salamander Protection. On Mar. 26, 1997, U.S.
District Judge Lucius Bunton ruled that Interior Secretary
Babbitt violated the Endangered Species Act in 1996 when he
withdrew the proposed listing of Texas' Barton Springs salamander
after state agencies agreed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service on a cooperative conservation plan for the species.
[Assoc Press]
....
end of Part 2/3
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