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From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Fisheries and Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments -- 6/27/97
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division Congressional
Research Service
New info and changes since 6/20/97 are bracketed {...}. New info
and changes since 6/26/97 are in CAPITAL LETTERS.
Marine Fisheries
Great American Fish Count. From July 1 through July 14, 1997,
volunteer 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]
{SOUTH KOREAN FISH IMPORT QUOTAS. ON JUNE 30, 1997, SOUTH KOREA
WILL TERMINATE ITS FISH IMPORT QUOTA SYSTEM, LEAVING JAPAN AS THE
ONLY DEVELOPED NATION USING QUOTAS TO LIMIT FISH IMPORTS.} [DOW
JONES NEWS]
{Atlantic Herring and Mackerel Fishery Hearing. On June 26,
1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife, and Oceans tentatively scheduled a hearing on H.R.
1855, proposing a moratorium on the use of large fishing vessels
in the Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries.} [personal
communication]
Van Camp Seafood Sale. A June 25, 1997, hearing on the proposed
sale of Van Camp Seafood Co., Inc. to Tri-Union Seafoods LLC for
{approx. $92 million} 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
closing, Tri-Union merges with more than 50% of the securities or
assets of Bumble Bee Seafoods Inc. {On June 18, 1997, Mermaid
Seafood Inc. filed an objection to the proposed sale, alleging
Van Camp with disposing of assets and de facto restructuring of
the debtor-creditor relationship without filing a reorganization
plan. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court continued the June 25, 1997,
hearing on the sale motion until July 9, 1997.} [Dow Jones News]
{MA Sues Over Scup. In late June 1997, the state of MA filed
suit in U.S. District Court against the federal government,
charging that a quota system for scup (porgies) unfairly
penalizes MA fishermen. Although MA fishermen landed an
estimated 3 million pounds of scup in 1996, new quotas for 1997
would limit their harvest to 362,000 pounds. State managers
claim that previous landing data are poor and misleading since
fishermen were not required to report their catch.} [Assoc Press]
{Illegal Russian Seafood Exports. On June 20, 1997, officials of
the Russian Federal Border Service reported losses of more than
$35 billion in illegal seafood exports, occurring when Russian
fishing vessels choose to sell their catch at foreign ports
rather than deliver to Russian processors.} [Interfax]
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, International Home Foods
Inc. for $163 million has been set by the U.S. Bankruptcy
Court, San Diego, CA. [Dow Jones News]
AK Pollock Allocation. On June 18, 1997, the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council heard extensive testimony on Bering
Sea pollock allocation, as the current 65%-35% split between
offshore and onshore processors expires in 1998, and the Council
must decide how to allocate the resource. [Assoc Press]
Oyster Research Funding. On June 18, 1997, the House voted 422-3
to pass H.R. 437, reauthorization of the National Sea Grant
College Program Act, including an amendment providing $3 million
annually for research on oyster diseases and oyster-related human
health risks. [Assoc Press]
Fish and Drugs in Mexico. On June 18, 1997, Baja California
Public Magistrate Jorge Rubio reported that Mexican authorities
detected more than 5.5 tons of marijuana concealed in shipments
of frozen seafood on trucks and ships during the past month,
noting that drug traffickers appear to be increasingly using the
strong odors of shipments of fish and seafood to mask the
characteristic smell of marijuana being smuggled to the United
States. [Assoc Press]
El Nino Conditions. On June 17, 1997, NOAA reported that strong
El Nino conditions are developing in the tropical Pacific Ocean,
similar to the strong event of 1982-83. {In early June 1997,
Canadian scientists reported seeing schools of mackerel riding
warmer El Nino currents northward off British Columbia,
potentially threatening juvenile salmon survival.} [Assoc Press,
NOAA press release]
{Canadian DFO Controversy. In mid-June 1997, the Canadian
Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences was reported to have
published a controversial 12-page paper by 3 Canadian scientists
outlining alleged problems within Canada's Dept. of Fisheries
and Oceans (DFO) on management of Atlantic cod and Pacific
salmon. DFO officials deny article contents and accuse the
authors of selective use of material. An article in the July
1997 issue of Canadian Geographic is reported to allege that the
DFO intervened to prevent Atlantic cod from being considered for
listing as an endangered species.} [Assoc Press]
{Assault and Harassment Lawsuit. On June 13, 1997, U.S.
District Judge Jack Tanner ordered a factory trawler company to
pay $462,000 to a WA state woman who alleged she was assaulted by
a drunken co-worker and harassed by crew on a factory trawler
during the 1994 pollock roe fishery off Alaska. Factory trawler
company officials announced they planned to appeal the decision.}
[Assoc Press]
....
End of Part 1/4
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