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From: Kate Wing <[log in to unmask]>
Jamaican Fishing Vessel Interception. On July 8, 1997, the U.S.
Embassy in Jamaica issued a statement accusing the Jamaican
government of provocative behavior relating to the British/United
States interception and questioning of the crew on a Jamaican
fishing vessel, Silver Dollar, about 1.5 miles inside Jamaican
national waters, stating that the Jamaican vessel had not been
detained, boarded, or searched. [Dow Jones News, Assoc Press]
Alien Ocean Premiere. On July 8, 1997, a 30-minute documentary,
Alien Ocean, on the problem of alien species introductions into U.S.
harbors, bays, and estuaries produced by the MD Sea Grant Program
premiered at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. [MD Sea Grant
Program press release]
Ocean International Acquisition. On July 8, 1997, Corsaire
Snowboard Inc. (San Diego, CA) announced that it had signed a
letter of intent to acquire a controlling interest in Ocean
International Production SA de CV (Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico)
for 4 million common shares. Ocean International has exclusive
contracts with 150 fishermen in the Sea of Cortez and processes
crab. On July 15, 1997, Corsaire Snowboard Inc. announced that it
was nearing completion of its acquisition of Ocean International
Products SA de CV. {On July 28, 1997, Corsaire Snowboard Inc.
announced that it had completed its acquisition of Ocean
International Products SA de CV.} [Dow Jones News, Corsaire
Snowboard press release]
Taiwanese Investment in Alaska. On July 7, 1997, Taiwan's
Nationalist Party approved a loan of $16 million by it's Central
Investment Holding Company to be matched by $16 million from the
Alaska Seafood Center to build a seafood packing operation in
Anchorage, AK. The $126 million project will also be funded by a
$50 million low-interest loan from the state of AK, $35 million in
leased equipment, and $9 million in bank loans. Construction of the
$126 million project began in mid-July 1997. [Dow Jones News]
NC Seafood Poisoning. In early July 1997, seven people who ate fish
at a Chapel Hill, NC, restaurant became ill after eating grouper.
On July 21, 1997, 7 new cases of possibly ciguatera fish poisoning
were reported to NC health officials serving Orange and Wake
Counties; the affected individuals reported they had purchased
grouper from a grocery market. Grouper was immediately removed from
grocery shelves. [Assoc Press]
Japan-Taiwan Fishery Accord. On July 4, 1997, Taiwanese officials
announced that Japan and Taiwan had reached a tentative accord on
fishing in disputed waters between the two nations, that would allow
Taiwanese fishermen to fish in waters adjacent to the
Tiaoyutai/Senkaku Islands. [Taipei Chung-Kuo Shih-Pao via Foreign
Broadcast Information Service]
Japan-Russia Fishery Agreement. On July 4, 1997, Russia and Japan
negotiators meeting in Moscow were reported to have concluded a
preliminary fisheries accord on jurisdiction in waters surrounding
four disputed islands lying between the two nations. The accord
seeks to provide for the safety of Japanese boats fishing in this
area. Talks will reconvene in September 1997 in Tokyo to determine
how much Japan will pay Russia for access, what areas can be fished,
and how much fish can be caught. [Tokyo Kyodo via Dow Jones News,
Tokyo Asahi Shimbun via Foreign Broadcast Information Service,
Interfax]
New England Seafood Cases. On July 2, 1997, the Coast Guard boarded
a RI vessel fishing in closed waters 130 miles off Provincetown, MA;
in addition, the vessel was fishing with an illegal net liner. The
vessel's catch was seized and will be sold, with the proceeds held
in escrow until the case is decided. On July 6, 1997, the U.S.
Coast Guard boarded a NY vessel fishing in the Nantucket Lightship
closed area 70 miles south of Cape Cod, MA; the catch of butterfish
and whiting was seized and will be sold, with the proceeds held in
escrow until the case is decided. [U.S. Attorney's Office press
release, Assoc Press]
Japanese Oil Spill. On July 2, 1997, the Panamanian-registered
tanker Diamond Grace ran aground on a shallow reef 22 miles south of
Tokyo, spilling about 390,000 gallons of light crude oil. Japanese
authorities fear oil could reach coastal fishing areas north and
east of the spill site. On July 5-6, 1997, Japanese officials
completed cleanup of the spilled oil, using almost 400 oil-skimming
vessels. On July 5, 1997, fishermen resumed fishing on an
experimental basis. [Assoc Press, Dow Jones News]
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. This activity is
jointly coordinated by NOAA's Marine Sanctuary program, the Marine
Conservation Network, the American Oceans Campaign, and the Reef
Environmental Education Foundation. [NOAA press release, Assoc
Press]
Bumble Bee Seafoods Sale. On July 1, 1997, International Home
Foods, Inc. announced completion of the purchase of the canned
seafood business of Bumble Bee Seafoods, Inc. for $163 million cash
and assumption of certain liabilities. [Dow Jones News]
High Seas Driftnet Fishing. On July 1, 1997, the Guam-based U.S.
Coast Guard cutter Basswood intercepted a 130-foot fishing vessel,
reportedly claiming Chinese registry, and has been following the
vessel while checking to verify its port of registry. Although
refuted by China on July 3, 1997, the vessel claimed it was
registered to China and appeared headed for its claimed homeport at
Zhoushan Dao Island. With registry refuted, the vessel was
considered "stateless" and subject to U.S. law. On July 7, 1997,
the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Basswood continued to pursue the
140-foot Cao Yu 6025. On July 9, 1997, the U.S. Coast Guard seized
and boarded the Cao Yu 6025 70 miles southwest of Kyushu Island,
Japan in the East China Sea; the vessel and crew are being taken to
Guam for prosecution, with arrival estimated on July 20. Aboard the
vessel were 12 miles of driftnet and 120 tons of fish, including
tuna, swordfish, and sharkfin. [Assoc Press, U.S. Coast Guard
information release]
Canadian DFO Controversy. 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]
Salmon Along the Pacific Coast
{AK Pink Salmon Price. On July 30, 1997, commercial salmon seiners
from False Pass to Cordova, AK, remained in port, refusing to accept
a price as low as $0.05 per pound for pink salmon. Kodiak seiners
initiated the protest earlier in the week, after the United Seiners
Association had little success in obtaining processor commitments to
a minimum price of $0.15 per pound.} [Assoc Press]
{{Salmon/Steelhead at Bonneville Dam? In late July 1997, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers began efforts to release an undetermined
number of salmon and steelhead trout that may have become trapped
beneath the fish ladder near the Bonneville Dam's powerhouse on the
WA side of the river. Debris from heavy spring runoff had ripped
holes in a grating allowing fish to become trapped. Some biologists
estimate as many as 1,000 fish may be trapped. In addition, the
Corps has been asked by federal, state, and tribal managers to shut
down the dam's second powerhouse for several weeks so that debris
can be removed to clear the fish passage system before the peak
steelhead/fall chinook run arrives. However, the Corps contends
that pumping water from the fish passage system and subsequent
debris removal could not be completed in time to benefit this year's
fish.}} [Assoc Press]
{Columbia River Flow Management. In late July 1997, the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation announced that it would begin spilling water
at Grand Coulee Dam, WA, and Hungry House Dam, MT, in order to meet
NMFS flow objectives for the Columbia River.} [Dow Jones News]
NMFS Oversight Hearing. On July 24, 1997, the House Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans {held}
an oversight hearing to review the authority and decision-making
processes {for Columbia River salmon management by NMFS's Northwest
Region. A continuation of this hearing is scheduled on Aug. 15,
1997, in Boise, ID.} [Congr. Record, personal communication]
{Cook Inlet Salmon Fishery. On July 23, 1997, AK Fish and Wildlife
Protection officers began boarding 41 gillnet vessels alleged to
have been fishing for sockeye salmon beyond the legal 3-mile limit
in Cook Inlet. Charges are pending for 15 vessels, while 26 were
charged with misdemeanor counts of fishing in closed waters.} [Assoc
Press]
El Nino. On July 18, 1997, the Peruvian government reinstated a
coastwide ban on anchovy fishing, based on lowered harvests related
to El Nino conditions. In mid-July 1997, Chilean officials
projected a significant increase in anchovy harvest due to
displacement of anchovy southward from Peru by warmer El Nino
currents. [Dow Jones News, Dow Jones News]
ID Hatchery Chinook. On July 17, 1997, the ID Fish and Game
Commission voted to open more areas to fishing for abundant
hatchery-bound chinook salmon and to increase the catch limits in
several areas. [Assoc Press]
Hatchery Impacts. On July 15, 1997, the Independent Scientific
Review Panel reported 35 recommendations to the Northwest Power
Planning Council (NPPC) after reviewing fish and wildlife projects
proposed for FY1998 funding, including one recommendation that the
Council not approve funding for new fish hatcheries in the Columbia
River basin until the impact of such facilities on wild fish and
river ecology is better understood. Other recommendations concerned
measures addressing juvenile salmon migration and resident fish.
Public comment on the Panel's recommendations will be received
through Aug. 26, 1997. [NPPC Congressional Update]
Wild Coho Salmon. On July 14, 1997, NMFS published interim
regulations for protecting wild coho salmon in northern CA and
southwestern OR. Prohibitions against incidental take would be
waived in OR for salmon hatcheries, ocean harvest and freshwater
sport fishing for other species, habitat improvement projects, and
research as long as they comply with the provisions of OR's coho
salmon restoration plan. However, cattle grazing and logging
activities that harm salmon could be punished with fines as high as
$100,000 plus a year in jail. In CA, the waiver from regulations
would apply only to ocean fishing and some research. These
regulations take effect on Aug. 15, 1997, with comments accepted
through Sept. 15, 1997. {{On July 29, 1997, U.S. District Judge
Susan Illston ruled the NMFS acted properly in accepting OR's coho
salmon recovery program, and not immediately listing OR coho salmon
as endangered or threatened. In addition, Judge Illston ordered the
case moved from San Francisco to Portland, where the Portland court
will decide whether OR's recovery plan is sufficient to restore coho
salmon populations.}} [Assoc Press, NMFS press release]
Kuskokwim River Chum Salmon Fishery. On July 9, 1997, AK Dept. of
Fish and Game managers closed the Kuskokwim River to commercial and
sport fishing for chum salmon in response to low numbers of fish;
subsistence fishing will be allowed to continue. [Assoc Press]
Upper Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Plan. On July 9,
1997, officials of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, and other federal agencies have scheduled a meeting at
Boise State Univ. to introduce draft environmental impact
statements for the four-year, $35 million Upper Columbia River Basin
Ecosystem Management Project. [Assoc Press]
Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery. On July 4, 1997, the AK Dept. of Fish
and Game imposed an emergency closure of the Naknek-Kvichak district
fishery for sockeye; catches are poor and spawning escapement is low
since warm, dry weather has kept most of the fish offshore. The
Togiak District fishery was ordered to close early on July 9. In
early July 1997, the Univ. of Washington's Fisheries Research
Institute issued a revised forecast of returning Bristol Bay sockeye
stocks, reducing the estimated catch by about 30% to fewer than 17
million fish. On July 13, 1997, the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly
declared a local emergency in light of weak salmon returns. On July
14, 1997, AK Dept. of Fish and Game officials reported that this
year's Bristol Bay sockeye harvest may be the smallest since 1988.
The sockeye harvest estimate has been reduced from 25 million to 15
million fish. Although the reason for the weak returns is not
clear, decreased marine survival is suspect. On July 16, 1997, the
sockeye harvest estimate was lowered to 13 million fish, which would
be the lowest catch in 19 years. On July 18, 1997, AK governor Tony
Knowles declared the Bristol Bay area an economic disaster due to
the poor salmon harvest, providing for state aid. As of July 18,
slightly less than 12 million sockeye salmon had been harvested.
The estimated lost income totals more than $80 million, reflecting
the poor catch and low salmon prices. {In late July, 1997,
fishermen were reported to have caught just 7.5% of the forecast
harvest for the third worst harvest of the century for this
fishery.} [Assoc Press]
....
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