From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Fisheries and Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments
Congressional Research Service
New info and changes since 5/09/97 are bracketed {...}. New info
and changes since 5/15/97 are in CAPITAL LETTERS.
Marine Fisheries
{AK Tax Loan Program Terminating. On May 25, 1997, AK's state
loan program to assist commercial fishermen in paying off debts
to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will terminate, having not
been extended by the State Legislature. Under this 3-year
program, about 220 fishermen obtained loans for IRS debts.}
[Assoc Press]
{DEVELOPING EL NINO. ON MAY 15, 1997, NOAA ANNOUNCED THAT EARLY
INDICATIONS HAD BEEN DETECTED OF, AND MODELS APPEARED TO CONFIRM,
A DEVELOPING EL NINO CONDITION IN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC.} [NOAA
PRESS RELEASE]
NOAA Environmental Valuation Workshop. On May 14-15, 1997, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has
scheduled a free workshop on environmental valuation for coastal
and marine resource managers, planners, and decision makers, to
be held in Orlando, FL. The workshop will focus on modern
economic methods and tools to address problems of valuing
environmental amenities, such as wetlands, beaches, and
recreational activities. [NOAA announcement]
{MENHADEN RESTRICTIONS. ON MAY 14, 1997, THE NY STATE ASSEMBLY
AND SENATE APPROVED LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT MENHADEN HARVESTING
IN LONG ISLAND SOUND, DUE TO INCREASING CONFLICTS WITH SPORT
FISHING. THE MEASURE POSTPONES THE ANNUAL OPENING OF MENHADEN
SEASON FROM MAY TO JULY 4, AND PROHIBITS MENHADEN FISHING ON
WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS.} [ASSOC PRESS]
{U.S.-Russia Maritime Boundary. In mid-May 1997, U.S. and
Russian negotiators decided to postpone further talks until late
summer or early fall on resolving continuing questions that are
stalling Russian ratification of a 1990 Treaty between the United
States and the former Soviet Union establishing a maritime
boundary in the Arctic Ocean and Bering and Chukchi Seas.} [Assoc
Press]
{UNTREATED SEWAGE FINE. ON MAY 12, 1997, AK SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE
FRED TORRISI FINED A SEATTLE-BASED SEAFOOD PROCESSING COMPANY FOR
DISCHARGING UNTREATED SEWAGE INTO BRISTOL BAY, AK, WATERS, AND
USING UNSANITARY WATER TO PROCESS FISH.} [ASSOC PRESS]
{EU Fishing Fleet Restructuring. On May 12, 1997, new British
Agriculture Minister Jack Cunningham announced that, while
Britain will continue work to eliminate "quota hoppers," it will
not veto a June 1997 review of the EU treaty by an
inter-governmental conference in Amsterdam.} [Reuters]
{Rotten Shrimp Fine. On May 12, 1997, U.S. District Judge Susan
C. Bucklew fined a St. Petersburg, FL, company $1 million and
sentenced two of its executives to prison sentences for treating
imported rotting shrimp with chemicals and distributing it to
U.S. markets.} [Assoc Press, REUTERS]
{Seafood Inspection. On May 12, 1997, officials of the Clinton
Administration proposed that more seafood inspectors be hired, as
part of a broad plan to increase surveillance of imported foods
and improve U.S. food safety.} [Reuters]
{Oil Terminal Blockade. On May 12, 1997, fourteen fishing
vessels began a blockade of the Sullom Voe loading port for Brent
crude oil in the UK's Shetland Islands in protest of a dispute
with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund over
suspension of compensation payments for the 1993 Braer tanker
spill. Compensation payments ceased in October 1995 when the
compensation limit for a single claim was reached. Late on May
12, the Shetland Islands Council issued a special directive
ordering the protesters to leave the harbor or be charged with a
criminal offense. On May 13, 1997, the 14 protesting fishing
vessels dispersed after being informed that they would be charged
by police and could be liable for demurrage costs.} [Dow Jones
News, Reuters]
{EU Troops Clash with Puerto Rican Fishermen. On May 11, 1997,
about 35 Puerto Rican fishermen from the island of Vieques were
reported to have clashed with troops aboard 6 naval vessels from
Belgium and the Netherlands anchored in a popular fishing area
which the fishermen claimed was reserved for civilian activities.
The U.S. Navy owns portions of Vieques and allows other nations
to conduct exercises there.} [Dow Jones News]
Subsistence Halibut Fishery. On May 8, 1997, a resolution
calling on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to reject
a proposal to create a subsistence fishery for halibut in state
and federal waters off AK was approved by the AK Senate. [Assoc
Press]
{ME Herring. In early May 1997, ME Governor Angus King announced
that 6,000 metric tons of herring could be caught by ME fishermen
in the Gulf of Maine and delivered to offshore foreign
"internal-waters" processors, beginning in July 1997.} [Assoc
Press]
Abalone Harvesting Ban. On May 6, 1997, the CA Fish and Game
Commission approved a four-month moratorium on sport and
commercial harvesting of red abalone from San Francisco to the
Mexican border. Biologists report the population has declined
75% in the last two decades. Red abalone retail for as much as
$85 per pound in southern CA. {ON MAY 15, 1997, THE CA STATE
SENATE VOTED 25-6 TO APPROVE A BILL IMPOSING AN INDEFINITE
MORATORIUM ON HARVESTING RED ABALONE SOUTH OF SAN FRANCISCO.}
[Assoc Press]
Coral Reef Hearing. On May 6, 1997, the House Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans held
a hearing on H.Res. 87, expressing the sense of Congress that
the United States and the United Nations condemn harmful coral
reef fisheries and promote sustainable coral reef fishery
practices. [Federal Register]
Chesapeake Bay. On May 5, 1997, NOAA released the results of the
first Bay-wide blue crab stock assessment by 9 state and federal
scientists, concluding that Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population
has remained stable since the 1950s, despite increasing harvest.
While the blue crab stock is providing near maximum sustainable
yield, the fishery is severely overcapitalized and operates at
extremely low levels of economic efficiency. Since 1945, fishing
effort has increased five-fold. {On May 7, 1997, VA Institute of
Marine Science biologists began an experiment transplanting
sterile Japanese oysters at 9 sites (600 oysters per site) to
test their ability to survive and grow in Chesapeake Bay.} [Assoc
Press, NOAA press release]
Shells Seafood Restaurant Expansion. On May 5, 1997, Shells
Seafood Restaurants, Inc. opened its first Shells restaurant
outside FL, in Florence, KY, a Cincinnati, OH, suburb. [Shells
Seafood Restaurants press release]
Tribal Shellfish Harvesting. On May 5, 1997, three U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals judges heard 3 1/2 hours of arguments wherein
the state of WA, coastal property owners, and shellfish growers
are challenging Tribes and the U.S. government, in hopes of
modifying portions of a 1994 ruling by U.S. District Judge
Edward Rafeedie giving 16 Tribes the right to harvest half the
shellfish on Puget Sound, WA, beaches. [Assoc Press]
Vibrio Vulnificus. On May 5, 1997, LA State Univ. researchers
reported, at a meeting of the American Society of Microbiology in
Miami Beach, FL, the discovery of a new cold and low salinity
treatment that kills Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. [Assoc Press]
Kodiak Seafood Plant Fire. In early May 1997, Tyson Seafoods
officials canceled their plans to relocate a floating processor
vessel to Kodiak for the June pollock season, saying their 15
Kodiak-based vessels had found other temporary markets. [Assoc
Press]
Summer Flounder. In early May 1997, the state of CT filed notice
of intent to sue with the Dept. of Commerce over perceived
inequities in the state-by-state commercial harvest quotas for
summer flounder (fluke). [Assoc Press]
Bumble Bee Seafoods Sale. On May 2, 1997, officials of Bumble
Bee Seafoods Inc. announced that the firm had been purchased
from its parent Thai corporation, Unicord PLC, by Hicks, Muse,
Tate & Furst Inc. (Dallas, TX) through its subsidiary,
International Home Foods Inc. for $163 million plus assumption
of liabilities. Bumble Bee filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection to allow operation while the transaction is completed.
[Assoc Press, Reuters]
Non-Profit Fishermen's Associations. On Apr. 30, 1997, the AK
House voted 36-3 to approve a bill allowing dive fishermen to
form non-profit associations that could tax themselves to provide
funds for state management of the fishery. {This measure was
approved by the AK Senate on May 11, 1997.} [Assoc Press]
Toothfish Overfishing. On Apr. 29, 1997, S. African officials
reported that enforcement would be increased to better control
the Patagonia toothfish fishery around Prince Edward Islands,
between S. Africa and the Antarctic. The fishery, initiated in
1995, is thought to be rapidly overfishing this species for Asian
and American markets. This species is reported to sell in Japan
as "mero" for $7,000 per metric ton. In April 1997, French naval
forces intercepted 3 vessels suspected of poaching toothfish in
the vicinity of Crozet Island. Britain was reported to have sent
naval ships to the Antarctic to control overfishing for this
species, and New Zealand has increased aerial surveillance
flights. Reflagged vessels from Spain, Norway, and the United
States, based in Madagascar, Mauritius, and Namibia, are thought
to be among vessels participating in this fishery. On May 8,
1997, New Zealand officials announced that they would query
Chinese officials on a report by the conservation group TRAFFIC
that China was preparing a 200-vessel fleet to harvest toothfish
in the Southern Ocean. Toothfish overfishing is scheduled to be
discussed at an Antarctic Treaty consultative meeting in
Christchurch, NZ, in late May 1997. [Reuters, Assoc Press]
Pfiesteria in NC. On Apr. 28, 1997, researchers at East
Carolina Univ. released preliminary findings in a study of more
than 250 crab fishermen and more than 490 coastal residents,
concluding that Pfiesteria piscicida poses no serious threat to
humans. On Apr. 30, 1997, the NC Dept. of Environment, Health,
and Natural Resources issued guidelines and instructions for
local health officials warning of possible dangers to swimmers
and fishermen associated with Pfiesteria piscicida, a toxic
dinoflagellate linked to heavy fish kills in eastern NC waters.
However, officials acknowledged the absence of scientific proof
that exposure to Pfiesteria poses any serious public health
threat. [Assoc Press]
{Dump Site Cleanup. In late April and early May 1997, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers paid six shrimp trawlers to trawl near
Oak Island and Bald Head Island, NC, to recover and remove
underwater debris originating from a dump site for a Corps
dredging project after shrimpers complained that debris was
damaging their nets. In two weeks' work, the 6 trawlers removed
more than 600 tons of wood and debris.} [Assoc Press]
VA Oyster Lawsuit. In late April 1997, a group of Chesapeake Bay
watermen filed suit in Richmond Circuit Court against the VA
Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), seeking to halt an oyster
growing experiment that would close 3 acres of public oyster
beds. The group charges that VMRC is using state funds from
oyster taxes to illegally benefit a few select individuals and is
closing public oyster beds without a required public hearing.
[Assoc Press]
CITES Proposal - Sharks. On Apr. 25, 1997, Japanese officials
were reported to be opposed to the U.S. proposal to list western
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico populations of requiem sharks and
spiny dogfish on CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora) Appendix II, on
the grounds that it would cause undue pressure on Japan's fishing
industry, and that CITES was an inappropriate forum for
discussion of fishery management. [Tokyo Kyodo via Foreign
Broadcast Information Service]
Russia Ratifies Straddling Stocks Agreement. On Apr. 25, 1997,
the Russian press reported that President Boris Yeltsin had
signed a federal law on ratification of the Agreement for the
Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea Relating to the Conservation and Management
of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.
[ITAR-TASS via Foreign Broadcast Information Service]
Italian Driftnet Reconversion. On Apr. 25, 1997, the European
Parliament approved, with amendments, proposed funding for
reconversion of the Italian swordfish driftnet fleet to
alternative gear. Italy and the EU will co-fund the
reconversion, together contributing as much as 100 million ECUs
during a 3-year period. The Parliament stressed that the problem
is not resolved as certain other countries continue to use drift
nets in the Mediterranean. On May 2, 1997, the EU Council
approved the financing of the Italian plan to reconvert their
swordfish fleet to eliminate driftnet use. However, Greenpeace
is concerned that Italy may simply sell driftnets to other
Mediterranean countries where they would still be used. [Agence
Europe via Reuters]
Herring Roe Price Protest. On Apr. 25, 1997, fishermen decided
not to harvest herring in a 30-minute Lower Cook Inlet sac roe
fishery opening in Kamishak Bay, AK, after Japanese buyers quoted
prices of $300 or less per ton. In 1996, sac roe herring from
this fishery reportedly were sold for $1,800 to $2,000 per ton.
[Assoc Press]
Essential Fish Habitat. On Apr. 23, 1997, NMFS published
proposed regulations for describing and identifying essential
fish habitat in fishery management plans, adverse impacts on
essential fish habitat, and actions to conserve and enhance
essential fish habitat. Proposed regulations also provide a
process for coordination and consultation with federal and state
agencies on activities that may adversely affect essential fish
habitat. Public comment is being accepted through May 23, 1997.
Four public meetings on the proposed regulations are scheduled in
NJ (May 12), LA (May 13), WA (May 20), and AK (May 21). [Federal
Register]
NC Commercial Fishery Moratorium. On Apr. 23, 1997, the NC
House Committee on Environment unanimously passed a package of
fishery reform measures, including a cap on the number of
commercial fishing licenses, increased commercial fishing license
fees, a reduction in membership of the Marine Fisheries
Commission from 17 to 9, strengthened fishery law enforcement,
restrictions on the type of net that could be fished, and a
mechanism for involving various environmental commissions in
drafting plans to improve fish habitat. The proposal does not
include license fees for saltwater sport anglers. {ON MAY 15,
1997, THE NC HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVED THE PACKAGE OF
FISHERY REFORM MEASURES. THIS MEASURE MOVES NEXT TO THE HOUSE'S
FINANCE COMMITTEE.} [Assoc Press]
AK Halibut Charter Boat Fishery. On Apr. 23, 1997, the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to release for public
review a condensed version of a 900-page report on proposals to
regulate the AK halibut charter boat fishery. The proposals will
be discussed at the Council's Sept. 1997 meeting. [Assoc Press]
ICCAT Advisory Meeting. On Apr. 22-24, 1997, the advisory
committee to the U.S. section to the International Convention
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will meet in
Silver Spring, MD, to discuss 1996 ICCAT accomplishments, 1997
management and research activities, trade and compliance issues,
implementation of Sustainable Fisheries Act provisions, and
results of species working group meetings. [Federal Register]
....
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