From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Aquaculture and Aquaria
FL Aquarium Cuts. On Apr. 14, 1997, the president of the FL
Aquarium (Tampa, FL) announced the elimination of four top
managers, including himself, to save $260,000 in an effort to
further reduce operating costs. A new general manager will
oversee operations. [Reuters]
Norwegian Salmon Anti-Dumping. On Apr. 14, 1997, the European
Union's Anti-Dumping Committee met in Brussels to continue
consideration of a 13.7% anti-dumping duty proposed by the
European Commission for farmed Norwegian salmon. After
investigation, the Commission concluded that Norwegian salmon had
been sold below production costs and had received unlawful
subsidies, causing injury to EU producers. [Agence Europe via
Reuters]
Freshwater Fisheries
Sikes Act Hearing. On May 22, 1997, the House Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has
tentatively scheduled a joint hearing with the House Committee on
National Security on H.R. 374, proposing to amend the Sikes Act
to enhance fish and wildlife conservation and natural resource
management programs on military installations. [personal
communication]
Red Lakes Commercial Fishery. On Apr. 19, 1997, the Red Lake
Band of Chippewa Fisheries Association voted to cancel its 1997
commercial fishing season on Upper and Lower Red Lakes, MN,
because of declining walleye, perch, and crappie populations.
The Red Lakes fishery is reported to be the only commercial U.S.
walleye fishery and largest Tribal fishery on the continent; this
is the first closure since 1929 when the Band began exercising
Treaty fishing rights. [Assoc Press]
Lake Superior Commercial Fishing Buyout. On Apr. 17, 1997, the
WI Legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules held a
hearing to receive testimony on funding for a 10-year, $1.5
million plan to compensate 11 fishermen for discontinuing
commercial fishing in Lake Superior. The state has contracted
with the fishermen for retirement, but these agreements would
terminate if funds for compensation are not available. [Assoc
Press]
CITES Proposal - Freshwater Mussels. On Apr. 16, 1997, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it had submitted a
proposal to remove three species of freshwater mussels from CITES
(Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wildlife Fauna and Flora) Appendix II. [Federal Register]
CITES Proposal - Sturgeons. On Apr. 16, 1997, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service announced that it would co-sponsor a German
proposal to list all sturgeons on CITES (Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and
Flora) Appendix II. [Federal Register]
Marine Mammals
Norwegian Whaling. A Dutch court hearing on the possible
extradition of Paul Watson to Norway is tentatively scheduled for
May 26, 1997. Lofoten Islands police have announced that legal
proceedings in Lofoten County Court are scheduled against Watson
in Norway on Sept. 1, 1997, relating to alleged negligent
navigation and collision with a Norwegian coast guard vessel in
the summer of 1994. Compensation for damages of $120,000 with
possible interest is sought by the Norwegian Navy for this
collision. {On May 2, 1997, Norway began its 1997 commercial
minke whale hunt for a quota of 580 animals. The season will end
on July 21, 1997. Individual vessels are limited to six weeks of
whaling, when an inspector is aboard.} [Assoc Press, High North
Alliance News]
{Keiko's Recovery. On May 6, 1997, the Free Willy Keiko
Foundation announced that, by spring 1997, Keiko could be in a
fenced-off pen in the North Atlantic as the next step toward
release to the wild. Details of cost and potential sites are
under research and negotiation.} [Assoc Press]
Japanese Scientific Whaling. On May 1, 1997, a fleet of 4
Japanese ships departed for the northwestern Pacific with the
objective of killing as many as 100 minke whales for research
purposes. Research is scheduled to be completed by the end of
July 1997. [Dow Jones News]
Steller Sea Lion Listed as Endangered. On Apr. 30, 1997, NMFS
announced that it will list the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea
population of Steller sea lion as "endangered," as the population
continues to decline between 5% and 7% annually. A second
distinct, but stable, population of Steller sea lions, from
southeast AK through CA remains listed as "threatened." NMFS is
planning a workshop to design an experiment on assessing whether
fishing area closures might benefit Steller sea lions without
unnecessarily restricting commercial fishing. [Reuters, Assoc
Press, NOAA press release]
Polar Bear Trophies. The House Resources Committee held a
hearing on Apr. 30, 1997, on H.J.Res. 59, a joint resolution to
disapprove a rule affecting applications to import polar bear
trophies from Canada issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS). On Apr. 25, 1997, FWS announced that it had
approved 24 permits to import polar bear trophies from Canada.
Five Canadian polar bear populations have been approved from
which trophy bears can be imported. [personal communication, FWS
press release]
Atlantic Large Whale Protection. On Apr. 26, 1997, the Senate
Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries held a field
hearing in Portland, ME, on the proposed regulations. Four
public hearings will be held from Apr. 30-May 3 on fishing gear
modification regulations; additional public comment will be
received until May 15, 1997. {On May 7, 1997, MA Dept. of
Environmental Affairs officials lifted an emergency ban on
fishing gear aimed at protecting northern right whales since
these whales appear to have left MA waters several weeks earlier
than normal this year.} [Assoc Press, Federal Register]
CITES Proposal - Walrus. On Apr. 16, 1997, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service announced that it would not submit a proposal to
list walrus on CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora) Appendix II.
[Federal Register]
Tuna-Dolphin Legislation. On Apr. 16 1997, the House Resources
Committee marked-up H.R. 408 and ordered the bill reported. The
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries postponed a
hearing on S. 39, amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
relating to the International Dolphin Conservation Program,
scheduled for Apr. 17, 1997. {The Senate Commerce Subcommittee
on Oceans and Fisheries has tentatively rescheduled a hearing on
S. 39, amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act relating to
the International Dolphin Conservation Program, for May 14,
1997.} [personal communication, Congressional Record]
Illegal Polar Bear Hide. On Apr. 14, 1997, an OR man was fined
$2,000, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, and
placed on probation for 3 years after pleading guilty in federal
District Court to illegally buying a polar bear hide. The
individual stated that he intended to use the hair to make flies
for fishing. [Assoc Press]
....
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