From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Abalone Harvesting Ban. 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]
Sharks. On May 14, 1997, NMFS announced that the commercial
quota for large coastal Atlantic sharks for the season beginning
July 1, 1997, was being reduced from 642 metric tons to 326
metric tons to compensate for overharvesting by 316 metric tons
during the first six months of the year. [NMFS press release,
Assoc Press]
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]
Fine for Untreated Sewage. 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]
Salmon Along the Pacific Coast
{Sacramento River Pumping Station. On June 3, 1997, a dedication
ceremony was scheduled to celebrate the relocated and modernized
M&T Pumping Station on the Sacramento River, south of Chico, CA.
For almost $5 million, the new station was equipped with fish
screens to protect migrating steelhead trout and salmon.} [Ducks
Unlimited and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release]
{Ms. Frizzle Award. On June 2, 1997, Scholastic, Inc.,
announced that a third grade teacher from Portland, OR, was the
recipient of the Ms. Frizzle Award for creative excellence in
science teaching for a project entitled "Salmon in the Sink."
Students will work with the OR Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to
build a simulated river ecosystem and raise salmon fry for
release.} [Scholastic, Inc. press release]
{Drawdown Field Hearing. On May 31, 1997, the House Resources
Subcommittee on Water and Power held a field hearing in Lewiston,
ID, on various proposals for drawing down Columbia and Snake
River hydroelectric dams.} [Assoc Press]
{Sea Bird Protection. On May 30, 1997, the WA Fish and Wildlife
Commission approved regulations designed to better protect diving
sea birds from entanglement in commercial salmon nets.
Commercial fishermen will be required to modify gear and restrict
fishing hours during the Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon
fishery in northern Puget Sound, WA. Regulations include gaps in
the tops of purse seine nets to allow birds to escape, rebuilt
nets with white twine in the upper 20 meshes for better
visibility by birds, night closures when birds are less easily
seen, and season closure when birds are abundant and salmon are
scarce. The regulations were developed through a cooperative
effort by commercial fishermen, environmental groups, fishing
gear suppliers, and state and federal fishery managers.} [Assoc
Press]
Shasta Dam Temperature Control. On May 29, 1997, Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbitt dedicated an $80 million structure at
Shasta Dam to permit better temperature control of water released
from the dam to benefit chinook salmon downstream. Funds for the
structure were provided by the federal government, water users,
and the state of CA. [Reuters]
Columbia River Spring Chinook. By late May 1997, more than
16,000 chinook salmon had been counted passing Lower Granite Dam,
with about 16% being wild (not hatchery) fish. [Assoc Press]
Irrigation Project Blocked. On May 16, 1997, NMFS ordered the
Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit for the withdrawal of as
much as 196 million gallons of water daily from John Day
Reservoir for a consortium of farming families developing a
20,000-acre potato and vegetable operation near Boardman, OR.
This was the first major irrigation project limited by a 1995
NMFS policy of "no net loss of water" to protect threatened and
endangered salmon. [Assoc Press, NMFS press release]
Tribes Abandon Salmon Policy Review Process. On May 15, 1997,
the Yakama, Warm Springs, Umatilla, and Nez Perce Tribes
announced that they no longer would participate in the executive
committee formed to consider dispute resolution concerning
federal salmon restoration policy. The Tribes expressed concerns
that federal policy decisions appeared to give limited
consideration to the tribes' position on the issues. [Assoc
Press]
Clinton Administration Western Land Management Strategy. On May
15, 1997, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on
Forests and Public Land Management held a joint hearing with the
House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health to
review the environmental impact statement for the Interior
Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. Land use
restrictions near streams inhabited by fish on more than 72
million acres of national forest and other public lands would be
broadened, as part of the preferred alternative in this
statement. [Assoc Press, Reuters]
Pacific Salmon Treaty. On May 9, 1997, discussions among
stakeholders broke down amid reports of some progress on
southeast AK seine and gillnet fisheries. Treaty negotiators are
scheduled to meet on May 20-21, 1997, in Seattle, WA. On May 20,
1997, treaty negotiations collapsed after U.S. negotiators
indicated that they could not agree to a swap of a lower U.S.
sockeye harvest from the Fraser River for a lower Canadian coho
salmon harvest off Vancouver Island, without state and tribal
review of the proposal. On May 21, 1997, Canadian officials
advised U.S. fishermen that they would enforce requirements that
U.S. vessels report by radio when entering Canadian waters or
face possible boarding, inspection, detention, and fines. On May
23, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark gave 90 days notice of his intent
to terminate the U.S. Navy's lease on an underwater submarine
and weapons test range at Nanoose Bay, BC. On May 23, 1997, U.S.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke with Canadian Foreign
Minister Lloyd Axworthy about Pacific salmon negotiations; after
these discussions, the Canadian press reported that treaty
negotiations would resume on May 30, 1997. On May 25, 1997, the
Canadian government seized two U.S. vessels, the Janet G. and
the Nautilus, for not reporting by radio and stowing their
fishing gear, and on May 26, 1997, an additional U.S. vessel,
the Four Daughters, was seized. The U.S. operators of these
vessels are to appear in Canadian court on May 27, 1997. On May
27, 1997, BC Provincial Court Judge Brian Saunderson imposed
C$300 fines on the three U.S. vessels seized for not stowing
their fishing gear and not contacting Canadian authorities before
transit of Canadian waters; Canadian prosecutors had asked for
fines of C$1,500 each. On May 27, 1997, Canadian fisheries
enforcement personnel seized a fourth U.S. fishing vessel, the
Christina, for non-compliance with Canadian regulations. Several
hours later, U.S. State Dept. officials notified the Canadian
government that the United States was postponing the resumption
of negotiations, previously scheduled for May 30, 1997. On May
27, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark met with WA Governor Gary Locke,
to discuss concerns with sharing a projected record return of
Fraser River sockeye salmon in 1997. U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy
were reported to have BRIEFLY discussed the salmon situation via
telephone on May 27, 1997, expressing mutual interest in resuming
negotiations. On May 28, 1997, the operator of the fourth U.S.
vessel seized, the Christina, was fined C$300 by the BC
Provincial Court and released. On May 28, 1997, United States'
officials appealed to Canada to resume suspended treaty
negotiations. On May 28, 1997, AK Senator Murkowski was reported
to have asked that the U.S. Coast Guard consider escorting U.S.
fishing vessels through Canadian waters to prevent vessel
seizures. {On May 31, 1997, the Seattle Times reported that the
secret conclusions of early 1996 mediation by New Zealand
Ambassador Christopher Beeby were highly favorable to the
Canadian position on equitable sharing of Pacific salmon
harvests, and the Ambassador Beeby proposed an accounting formula
based on the wholesale value of domestic salmon landings to
establish which nation should curtail fishing or pay
compensation. On June 2, 1997, BC fishing groups, REPORTEDLY
WITH SUPPORT OF AND FUNDING FROM THE BC PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT,
announced the beginning of an advertizing campaign in major U.S.
and Canadian newspapers along the Pacific coast, expressing the
Canadian view of current salmon problems. On June 3, 1997,
Senator Stevens was reported to have stated that he will oppose
$100 MILLION IN U.S. funding FOR environmental cleanups at 4
former military facilities in Canada, including Distant Early
Warning sites, because of Canada's recent actions to revoke the
U.S. Navy lease at Canada's Nanoose Bay facility. BC PREMIER
CLARK RESPONDED BY THREATENING TO CANCEL EXPORT OF WOLVES AND
GRIZZLY BEARS TO THE UNITED STATES FOR SPECIES RESTORATION
PROGRAMS.} [Seattle Times, Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News,
Wall Street Journal]
License Plates for Salmon. On May 9, 1997, the OR House
Transportation Committee approved a license plate design showing
a salmon, with a portion of the funds from plate purchase to be
dedicated to salmon restoration. [Assoc Press]
....
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