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From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Fisheries and Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments 6/13/97
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional
Research Service New info and changes since 6/05/97 are bracketed
{...}. New info and changes since 6/12/97 are in CAPITAL
LETTERS.
Marine Fisheries
Great American Fish Count. From July 1 through July 14, 1997,
volun teer divers and snorkelers will participate in a fish
survey in four National Marine
Sanctuaries -- Flower Garden Banks, TX; FL Keys; Channel Islands,
CA; and Monterey Bay, CA. [NOAA press release]
Van Camp Seafood Sale. A June 25, 1997, hearing on the proposed
sal e of Van Camp Seafood Co., Inc. to Tri-Union Seafoods LLC
for approx. $90 mill ion has been set by the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court, San Diego, CA. The Van Camp sale motion states that
Tri-Union will pay $8.5 million if, within 3 years of sale cl
osing,
Tri-Union merges with more than 50% of the securities or assets
of Bumble Bee Seafoods Inc. [Dow Jones News]
Bumble Bee Seafoods Sale. A June 19, 1997, hearing on the
proposed sale of Bumble Bee Seafoods Inc. by its parent Thai
corporation, Unicord PLC, to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc.
(Dallas, TX) through its subsidiary, Internationa l Home Foods
Inc. for $163 million has been set by the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court, Sa n Diego, CA. [Dow Jones News]
{CITES - MARINE FISHES WORKING GROUP. ON JUNE 13, 1997,
DELEGATES A T THE MEETING OF CITES (CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL
TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA) PARTIES IN
ZIMBABWE VOTED 49-50 BY SECRET BALLOT TO DEFEAT A U.S. PROPOSAL
TO ESTABLISH A MARINE FISHES WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS
IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH PLACING MARINE FISH ON
APPENDIX II.} [ASSOC PRESS]
{BYCATCH REDUCTION DEVICE LAWSUIT. ON JUNE 13, 1997, U.S.
DISTRICT JUDGE ANTHONY A. ALAIMO CONTINUED A PRELIMINARY HEARING
ON A LAWSUIT CHARGING T HAT GEORGIA STATE REGULATIONS REQUIRING
SHRIMPERS TO USE BYCATCH REDUCTION DE VICES TO PROTECT ATLANTIC
COASTAL WEAKFISH (YELLOW TROUT) ARE UNSUPPORTED BY SC IENCE AND
COULD REDUCE SHRIMP HARVEST BY 38%. A FULL HEARING ON THIS CASE
IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 30, 1997.} [ASSOC PRESS]
{Servac Sale. On June 11, 1997, Ira Food Brokers, Inc.
announced th at it had completed the purchase of Servac
International Inc. of North Carolina , a commercial fishing
business with 1996 sales of about $2.2 million.} [Dow Jones News]
{Coast Guard Fishing Vessel Safety. On June 10, 1997, the U.S.
Coas t Guard was scheduled to sink a retired 65-foot trawler 8
miles offshore of Cape Elizabeth, ME, to study a sinking vessel
and learn how better to respond to and prevent future fishing
vessel accidents. The U.S. Navy and NMFS are also participating
in this exercise.} [Assoc Press]
{New Bedford Seafood Cases. On June 9, 1997, U.S. District
Judge Ma rk L. Wolf sentenced the general manager of a New
Bedford, MA, seafood brokerag e to six months in prison, six
months of home detention, and a fine of $20,000 for threatening a
federal grand jury witness in connection with investigation of a
multi-million dollar seafood smuggling operation.
ON JUNE 12, 1997, NOAA OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT A FINAL
SETTLEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED WITH A NEW B EDFORD SEAFOOD COMPANY,
INCLUDING ABOUT $1 MILLION IN FINES FOR 113 COUNTS OF IL LEGALLY
BUYING, SELLING, AND CONCEALING GROUNDFISH AND SCALLOPS. IN
ADDITION, TH E COMPANY'S DEALER PERMIT WAS PERMANENTLY REVOKED,
AND THE COMPANY OWNER'S FISHING PERMITS FOR 3 VESSELS WERE
SUSPENDED FOR AS LONG AS 5 YEARS.} [U.S. Attor ney's Office
press release, ASSOC PRESS]
{Illegal Striped Bass Sale. On June 9, 1997, MD Natural
Resources P olice released details of "Operation Somerset," a
multi-year undercover operati on investigating violations of
federal and state conservation laws. In the course of this
investigation, 1BD tons of illegally taken striped bass was reco
vered.} [Assoc Press]
{Coral Protection. At a ceremony in Tulum, Mexico, on June 5,
1997, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras signed an agreement
to protect Ca ribbean coral reefs.} [Reuters]
Portuguese Fishery Protest. On June 5, 1997, shipping in the
harbor at Lisbon, Portugal, was disrupted by a protest of more
than 50 fishing vess els against a new law prohibiting fishing
{further than 12 miles offshore} on Sundays. Although fishermen
fear this law will hurt their profits and ma ke them less
competitive with Spanish fishermen, the new requirement was
enacted as a means to help restore depleted fish populations.
{The blockade was lifte d after 12 hours, when the Portuguese
government agreed to hold talks on the part ial weekend ban on
fishing.} [Dow Jones News, Reuters]
{Bering Sea Illegal Fishing. On June 3, 1997, a U.S. Coast
Guard ai rcraft detected two Russian fishing vessels fishing in
U.S. waters in the Bering Sea. However, the vessels departed
before a Coast Guard cutter could arrive. On June 6, 1997, after
radar aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sherman detected the
South Korean fishing vessel Cheog Yang Ho fishing one mile inside
U.S. wa ters in the Bering Sea, the vessel was boarded and
seized. On June 7, 1997, Coas t Guard officials announced that
they intend to escort the seized vessel to Kodia k, AK.} [Assoc
Press]
Chesapeake Bay. On June 3, 1997, the state-federal Chesapeake
Bay P rogram released an interjurisdictional crab management plan
for Chesapeake Bay, focusing on restoration of seagrass beds to
provide habitat for juvenile crabs and continued improvement of
water quality by nutrient reduction. The coordinated plan was
developed with assistance from a Bi-State Blue Crab Advisory
Committee. [Assoc Press]
CITES Oversight Hearing. On June 3, 1997, the House Resources
Subco mmittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has
tentatively scheduled an oversight hearing on the biennial
meeting of Parties to CITES (Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Zim babwe later in
June. [personal communication]
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna. On June 2, 1997, NMFS issued a final rule
di viding several Atlantic bluefin tuna {recreational quotas
into} north and south regional subquotas {(53% north and 47%
south)} to deal with changing fish ery patterns; requiring annual
permits; and implementing minimum size require ments. In
addition, the regulations require self-reporting of bluefin tuna
lande d under the Angling category. [NMFS announcement]
Fishing Vessel Manufacturer Liability. On June 2, 1997, the U.S.
Su preme Court decided, by a 6-3 margin, that vessel
manufacturers may have expand ed liability for defects in vessels
they construct to include damages to or loss of equipment added
to the vessel after purchase. [Assoc Press]
Fishing Industry Subsidies. On June 2, 1997, at the conclusion
of a two-day workshop on policy recommendations to ensure
sustainable fisherie s, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the
United Nations Environment Program joi ntly called for a
reduction of more than $50 billion in subsidies estimated to be
expended by nations worldwide annually in excess of fish harvest
revenues 2E The organizations cited this as a major stimulus in
encouraging uncontrolled overcompetitive fishing that depletes
fish stocks. [Dow Jones News, Assoc Press]
Toothfish Overfishing. On May 30, 1997, the parties at the
Antarcti c Treaty consultative meeting in Christchurch, NZ,
called upon China to sig n the 1980 Convention on the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. Recent
information indicates that as much as 100,000 metric tons of
tooth fish may be in storage and the price for this product has
collapsed. [Reuters, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News]
Atlantic Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery Closure Extension. On
May 30, 1997, NMFS announced an extension of the emergency
closure of the Atlanti c swordfish drift gillnet fishery for an
additional 180 days, through Nov. 26, 1997. The emergency
closure was extended after NMFS issued a biological opinion on
May 29, 1997, concluding that Atlantic swordfish, shark, and tuna
drif tnet fisheries were likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of the North Atlantic right whale. [NMFS press
release]
Abalone Sting. On May 29, 1997, three CA residents were arrested
by CA fisheries enforcement officers culminating a year-long
investigation afte r searches revealed 1.25 tons of illegal
processed abalone, valued at more than $230,000. The individuals
were exporting the abalone to East Asian marke ts, and were
charged with felony conspiracy. [Santa Rosa (CA) Press Democrat]
New England Code of Conduct. On May 28, 1997, the New England
Fishe ry Management Council remitted a voluntary, non-binding
Code of Conduct to a Responsible Fishing Committee for further
discussion after the Council ta bled a motion to accept the Code.
The proposed Code urges commercial fishermen to protect the
fishery resource, to ensure high-quality products, to advance
scientific knowledge, to keep abreast of technological
innovations, and t o develop mutual respect and trust. [Assoc
Press]
Horseshoe Crab Harvest Ban. On May 28, 1997, NJ Governor
Christie W hitman authorized the NJ Dept. of Environmental
Protection to impose an immediat e ban on horseshoe crab
harvesting. Gov. Whitman was expected to sign an emerg ency
order prohibiting the harvest of horseshoe crabs for 2 months to
protect migrating shorebirds. [Assoc Press]
Lobster Poaching. On May 28, 1997, the Maine Marine Patrol
confisca ted 25 unmarked, large, offshore lobster traps near
Mount Desert Rock, allegedly set in ME waters illegally by
out-of-state vessels. More than 100 additional il legal traps
were to have been confiscated on May 29. [Assoc Press]
NC Commercial Fishery Moratorium. On May 27, 1997, the package
of f ishery reform measures -- including a cap on the number of
commercial fishing li censes, increased commercial fishing
license fees, a reduction in membership of t he Marine Fisheries
Commission from 17 to 9, strengthened fishery law enforc ement,
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 -- was approved by the NC
House's Finance Committee. On June 3, 1997, the NC House
tentatively approved the package of fishery reform measures by a
vote of 115-1. An amendment to ban trawling and seining in NC
sounds and estuaries was defeated by a vote of 94-21. {On June
10, 1997, the House voted 116-1 on final approval for the package
of fishery reform measures.} [Ass oc Press]
PG&E Lawsuit Settlement. On May 27, 1997, Pacific Gas & Electric
Co 2E officials reached a $14 million settlement with the CA
Attorney General concerning alleged incomplete and misleading
PG&E data involving fish lar vae mortality by their Diablo Canyon
plant's water cooling system, near San L uis Obispo, CA. Of the
settlement, $3.7 million will be used for environment al
protection and enhancement in the Morro Bay area, and $2.5
million will f und San Jose State Univ.'s mussel watch program.
[Assoc Press]
AK Tax Loan Program Terminating. On May 25, 1997, AK's state
loan p rogram to assist commercial fishermen in paying off debts
to the U.S. Internal R evenue Service will terminate, having not
been extended by the State Legislature 2E Under this 3-year
program, about 220 fishermen obtained loans for IRS deb ts.
[Assoc Press]
AK Herring Fishery Vessel Seizures. In late May 1997, AK
fisheries enforcement officials seized 4 out-of-state commercial
herring vessels an d charged their operators with illegally
fishing in a Norton Sound herring fishery. The Norton Sound
fishery is "super-exclusive": vessels fishing there are
ineligible to fish in other AK herring fisheries. The 4 seized
vesse ls are alleged to have participated in the Norton Sound
fishery as well as other AK herring fisheries this spring. AK
officials will seek forfeiture of the 4 fishing vessels in
addition to possible jail sentences and fines for the vessel
operators. [Assoc Press]
Panelists Named for NAS ITQ Study. On May 22, 1997, NOAA
announced the names of appointees to two 15-member panels (east
coast and west coast) t o provide guidance to NMFS on public
input for the National Academy of Scie nces (NAS) study on
individual fishing quotas (ITQs). The panels will assist NMFS in
evaluating the NAS study and in preparing an NMFS response to
that study. [NOAA press release]
Striped Bass. On May 22, 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee
on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans marked-up H.R.
1658, reauthorization and amendment of the Atlantic Striped Bass
Conservation A ct, for full Committee action. [Federal Register]
Alaska Seafood Center. On May 20, 1997, the AK Industrial
Developme nt and Export Authority approved $10 million in initial
financial assistance for Taiwanese development of a $120 million,
184,000 sq. foot AK Seafood Cent er in Anchorage, to produce 100
million pounds of prepared seafood product annu ally from raw
pollock, cod, salmon, halibut, and flatfish. [Reuters]
Whiting Harvest Agreement. On May 20, 1997, the U.S. Dept. of
Justi ce announced its approval for the Whiting Conservation
Cooperative (Alaska O cean Seafood, American Seafoods, Glacier
Fish Co., and Tyson Seafood Group) to divide among themselves the
34% of the annual Pacific whiting harvest allocated to the
catcher-processor fleet as a group rather than compete in
harvesting this quota.[Assoc Press]
Quota Hopping. On May 20, 1997, British and EU officials began
disc ussions on how to address concerns for controlling "quota
hopping" wherein Spanis h, Dutch, and other foreign fishermen
have legally obtained British commerci al fishing licenses and
thus gained shares of British fish quotas. [Reuters]
Shark Cartilage Ineffective as Cancer Treatment. On May 19,
1997, r esults of a study presented at the annual meeting of the
American Society of Cli nical Oncology in Denver, CO, concluded
that shark cartilage was inactive in pa tients with advanced
stages of breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer. [Midwes tern
Regional Medical Center press release]
Chilean Trawler Denial. On May 19, 1997, a Chilean court revoked
th e license of the $65 million, 311-foot, Norwegian
supertrawler, American Mo narch, that had sought access to hoki
and blue whiting stocks in waters off Chil e. The vessel remains
idle in Seattle, WA. [Dow Jones News, Assoc Press]
Carbon Monoxide in Tuna? On May 19, 1997, Japanese Health and
Welfa re Ministry officials announced that they had begun an
inquiry into the alle ged injection of carbon monoxide into
frozen imported raw tuna to redden its flesh, thus potentially
deceiving consumers as to its freshness. [Dow Jones News ]
Canadian Atlantic Groundfish. On May 19, 1997, Canada opened the
se ason for a limited cod fishery off Newfoundland. This is the
first commercial cod fishery in 4 years in this region. About
5,500 fishermen will harvest a 16,000 ton quota. [Assoc Press]
LA Oil Pipeline Spill. On May 16, 1997, an oil pipeline ruptured
ne ar Lake Barre southwest of New Orleans, LA, spilling between
10,500 gallons and 1 6,800 gallons of medium-weight oil. LA
authorities will decide whether or not to permit shrimp trawling
in the area, depending upon how spill cleanup prog resses. On
May 19, 1997, Texaco officials increased the estimate of oil
spilled to as much as 210,000 gallons. Although no areas have
been closed to shrimp tr awling, shrimpers were advised to avoid
the area near the spill. On May 19, 1997 , LA health officials
closed the area to oyster harvesting. Consumers have be en
warned by LA health officials not to eat seafood with a
noticeable petrol eum odor or flavor. [Dow Jones News, Reuters,
Assoc Press]
{Cause of Shrimp Death? TX Parks and Wildlife Dept. biologists
are working to determine the cause of death of 1,174 adult white
shrimp at the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station, Flour Bluff,
TX, between May 14 and May 2 1, 1997. Biologists fear Asian
"white spot" disease may have been responsib le, but are
conducting DNA tests to identify the cause.} [Assoc Press]
....
End of Part 1/3
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