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From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Coral Reefs. 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.
The Subcommittee has tentatively scheduled a markup on this
measure for May 22, 1997. [Federal Register, personal
communication]
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]
Glacier Bay Commercial Fishing. In early May 1997, the AK State
Legislature appropriated $100,000 to the AK Dept. of Fish and
Game for assisting AK commercial fishermen faced with proposed
regulations by the National Park Service that would phase-out
commercial fishing from Glacier Bay National Park waters. [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]
New England Groundfish. On May 3, 1997, the U.S. Coast Guard
seized the catch from 2 vessels found fishing in closed waters
off Cape Cod, MA. [Assoc Press, NOAA press release]
Sharks. On May 2, 1997, a coalition of commercial fishermen
filed suit against the U.S. Dept. of Commerce in federal
District Court, arguing that catch limits for Atlantic sharks are
arbitrary and capricious and contending that NMFS violated its
regulatory procedures. 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]
Italian Driftnet Reconversion. On May 2, 1997, the EU Council
approved 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]
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 certain liabilities and contracts. Bumble Bee filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to allow operation while the
transaction is completed. A June 19, 1997, hearing on the
proposed sale has been set by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, San
Diego, CA. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News]
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]
Salmon Along the Pacific Coast
{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]
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.} [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]
Columbia River Spring Chinook. On May 8, 1997, the ID Fish and
Game Commission approved a sport fishery on hatchery spring
chinook in the Little Salmon (400 fish) and Clearwater (500 fish)
Rivers beginning May 17 to possibly as long as July 6, based upon
increased adult returns. This is the first hatchery spring
chinook fishery in ID since 1993, but it is subject to approval
by NMFS. {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]
Salmon Barging. On May 8, 1997, the Army Corps of Engineers
began a week-long moratorium in collecting and barging juvenile
salmon and steelhead trout from above Lower Monumental and Little
Goose Dams on the Snake River for release below Bonneville Dam on
the Columbia. The moratorium had been requested by the fishery
agencies of WA, OR, and ID. [Assoc Press]
Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout Lawsuit. On May 7, 1997, a
coalition of fishing and environmental groups filed a lawsuit in
U.S. District Court (Portland, OR) against the U.S. Forest
Service, Bureau of Land Management, and NMFS, challenging NMFS's
opinion that the Northwest forest plan was adequate to protect
endangered Umpqua River cutthroat trout. The plaintiffs are
asking for specific measures to better protect this species.
[Assoc Press]
Nitrogen Supersaturation. In early May 1997, nitrogen saturation
levels were reported to have reached 140% below John Day Dam on
the Columbia River and 128% below Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake
River. [Assoc Press]
Canadian Salmon Fishery. On May 2, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark
released a 38-page discussion paper calling for renewed
discussion with the federal government to reduce duplication of
government services and outlining a sport fishing proposal with 3
goals for fisheries -- 1) protection of fish stocks and habitat,
2) creating sustainable fishery jobs and stable communities, and
3) enhancing BC's role in fisheries solutions. On May 5, 1997,
BC Premier Glen Clark announced a C$1.5 million grant to a
Community Fisheries Development Centre to select and manage a
range of community-based fisheries initiatives over 3 years to
support displaced fishery workers and fund salmon habitat
restoration work. [Assoc Press]
Bristol Bay Price-Fixing Suit. On May 2, 1997, two seafood
processors agreed to pay $2 million to settle a 1995 $1 billion
class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing in the Bristol Bay
salmon fishery from 1989 through 1995. Although 14 smaller
processors previously settled for about $500,000, about 40
defendants remain. [Assoc Press]
Salmon Habitat Restoration. The May 1997 issue of Fisheries
published 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 an entire watershed
including modification of upslope and riparian conditions, these
individuals suggest. [Fisheries]
Aquaculture and Aquaria
{NORWEGIAN SALMON DUMPING. ON MAY 29, 1997, THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION DISCUSSED BUT FAILED TO AGREE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO
IMPOSE ANTI-DUMPING AND ANTI-SUBSIDY DUTIES AMOUNTING TO 13.7% ON
FARMED NORWEGIAN ATLANTIC SALMON. ON JUNE 1, 1997, THE EUROPEAN
COMMISSION WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER.} [REUTERS,
AGENCE EUROPE VIA REUTERS]
AK Roe Stripping Lawsuit. On May 21, 1997, AK Superior Court
Judge Dan Hensley heard arguments on whether AK salmon hatcheries
should be allowed to strip roe from returning salmon and dump
their carcasses. A 1996 lawsuit seeks to halt this practice.
[Assoc Press]
{BC SALMON VIRUS. ON MAY 12, 1997, THE FARM MANAGER AT A BC
ATLANTIC SALMON FARM IN JOHNSTONE STRAIT, BETWEEN VANCOUVER
ISLAND AND THE BC MAINLAND, ADMITTED THAT FISH WERE INFECTED WITH
IHNV (INFECTIOUS HEMATOPOIETIC NECROSIS VIRUS). ABOUT 5,000
POSSIBLY VIRUS-INFECTED FISH SUBSEQUENTLY WERE SOLD TO CONSUMERS,
RATHER THAN BEING KILLED AND DISPOSED OF AS REQUIRED BY
DISEASE-CONTROL PROCEDURES. IHNV CAN ATTACK WILD PACIFIC SOCKEYE
SALMON, AND FISHERY INTERESTS FEAR FOR THE FRASER RIVER SOCKEYE
THAT MIGRATE THROUGH THIS AREA.} [ASSOC PRESS]
SC Shrimp Virus. In early May 1997, two SC scientists reported
to the SC Marine Advisory Committee that a virus similar to the
Asian white spot virus is present in many SC marine species and
widespread along the SC coast. Scientists are having difficulty
determining whether mortalities at shrimp farms are caused by the
Asian white spot virus or the similar virus. [Assoc Press]
....
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