|
Fisheries and Marine Mammals: Most Recent Developments
-- 1/23/98 (updated daily)
Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division
Congressional Research Service
New info and changes since 1/16/98 are bracketed {...}
New info and changes since 1/22/98 are double-bracketed {{...}}
Marine Fisheries
.
IFQ Meetings. On Jan. 26-27, 1998, the National Research Council's
Committee to Review Individual Fishing Quotas will be taking public comment
at meetings in New Orleans, LA. [National Research Council press release]
.
{{Japan Withdraws from South Korean Fishery Agreement. On
Jan. 23, 1998, Japanese officials announced their unilateral decision to
terminate a 1965 fishery agreement with South Korea in one year.
Negotiations on a new agreement to accommodate intersecting 200-mile
exclusive economic zones have become stymied by conflicting territorial
claims, with 10 rounds of bilateral talks held since May 1996. Negotiations
are likely to resume after the new South Korean government takes office late
in February 1998.}} [Dow Jones News, Reuters]
.
{{Red Snapper Quota. On Jan. 22, 1998, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council voted 14-2 to maintain the 1997 quota of 9.12 million
pound for the Gulf's red snapper fishery in 1998, after charter boat operators
forecast economic hardship if the quota was reduced. NMFS officials had
suggested that a quota reduction by about one-third was necessary to assure
species recovery from overfishing. The Council approved measures to prohibit
charter boat captains and crew from catching red snapper, and directed
Council staff to develop a plan to avoid unplanned closures of the recreational
red snapper fishery.}} [Assoc Press]
.
{Bans on Japanese Tuna Fishing. On Jan. 22, 1998, Australian
officials announced that Australia would ban Japanese vessels from catching
southern bluefin tuna in Australian waters after the 3 nations (Australia, New
Zealand, and Japan) in the Commission for the Conservation of Southern
Bluefin Tuna could not reach consensus on 1998 harvest quotas.} {{On Jan.
23, 1998, New Zealand officials announced that they would withhold southern
bluefin tuna licenses for Japanese operators. Australia and New Zealand have
announced that they will abide by 1997 quotas until new quotas are
established. Japan sought an increased quota for 1998, and proposed a new
experimental fishing program.}} [Dow Jones News, Reuters]
.
{Swordfish Moratorium. On Jan. 20, 1998, 27 chefs at up-scale
restaurants along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts announced a "Give Swordfish a
Break" campaign -- a voluntary moratorium on preparing and serving swordfish
until a fishery recovery plan is developed as an expression of concern for
overfishing of this species by longline vessels.} [Los Angeles Times]
.
{Seafood Cargo Thefts. On the night of Jan. 18-19, 1998,
well-organized and technologically sophisticated cargo thieves stole trailers
containing 60,000 pounds of shrimp and 40,000 pounds of yellowfin sole filets
in separate incidents in FL. Seafood is often targeted for theft as it has a
high
resale value and is nearly impossible to trace.} [Assoc Press]
.
Summer Flounder Catch Reporting Problem. On Jan. 15, 1998,
NMFS announced that it is seeking a 5-year suspension of a NC seafood
company's dealer permit, after that company failed to report large quantities of
summer flounder deliveries in January 1997 and reported other deliveries
months later than required. NMFS is also seeking $483,000 in fines for the
incidents. [Assoc Press, NOAA press release]
.
New England Groundfish. On Jan. 15, 1998, the New England
Fishery Management Council recommended to NMFS that more stringent
measures restricting cod harvests in the Gulf of Maine be implemented,
including reduced vessel trip limits, a series of rotating month-long closures
of
certain waters, and a year-round closure of an area between Jeffrey's Ledge
and Stellwagen Bank. {On Jan. 20, 1998, NOAA announced the completion of the
Northeast Fisheries Assistance Program's $24 million fishing vessel buyout
program, with 78 vessels (53 MA, 21 ME, 2 NH, 1 RI, 1 NY) purchased
representing 18% of groundfish days-at-sea and 22% of the groundfish landed
value. Of these vessels, 61 were scrapped, 7 were sunk, 6 are being used for
research or education, and 4 are being used for harbor patrol or humanitarian
efforts.} [Assoc Press, Reuters, NOAA press release]
.
{Ciguatera in Hong Kong. By mid-January 1998, a total of 69
suspected ciguatera (fish poisoning) cases had been reported in Hong Kong,
compared to 95 cases for the entire 1997 year. The Hong Kong government
circulated a health warning to call attention to this concern.} [Reuters]
.
{Canadian Restrictions on Bangladeshi Seafood. In mid-January
1998 and following similar action by the European Union, the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency placed Bangladeshi seafood on an "import alert list."
Concerns had been raised after June 1997 EU inspections of Bangladeshi
plants that proper sanitation was questionable for some Bangladeshi products.
The Canadian alert requires that all shipments be subject to evaluation to
detect any improper condition.} [Reuters]
.
{Greek Fishermen Protest VAT. In mid-January 1998, Greek
fishermen began a blockade of island fishing ports in the southeastern Aegean
Sea in protest of new tax regulations that require fishermen to pay a
value-added tax (VAT) on their catches. This revision is part of Greek efforts
to align national laws with the European Community, and places fishermen in
a different tax category from farmers.} [Reuters]
.
Longliner Violations. In mid-January 1998, NMFS announced two
notices of violation against FL west coast commercial longline vessels, for
violating area closures, taking and retaining reef fish, and taking protected
corals. Penalties include fines and permit sanctions. Investigations of other
longline vessels engaging in similar illegal activities are continuing. [NOAA
press release]
.
Dogfish Overfished. On Jan. 14, 1998, NMFS reported to the New
England Fishery Management Council that, although spiny dogfish are
currently one the most abundant fish on Georges Bank, they are being
seriously overfished for a growing export market. [Assoc Press]
.
{EU Tariffs on Ecuadorian Tuna? On Jan. 13, 1998, Spain asked the
European Commission to investigate tuna imported from Ecuador, with the
possibility of ordering a 24% tariff to this product. Such action is provided
to
protect EU production when tuna imports exceed certain limits. Both parties
will provide information to the Commission by mid-February 1998.} [Dow Jones
News, Agence Europe via Reuters]
.
{Nigerian Oil Spill. On Jan. 12, 1998, a ruptured oil pipeline, operated
by Mobil Corp. and serving the Qua Iboe terminal in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria,
released about 40,000 barrels of light crude oil about 3 miles offshore into
Nigerian coastal waters. Several small fishing villages have been affected,
with residents reporting fish mortality and damage to fishing gear.} [Reuters,
London BBC World Service via Foreign Broadcast Information Service]
.
Chemical Fishing Arrest. On Jan. 12, 1998, HI Dept. of Land and
Natural Resources officers arrested two individuals for chemical fishing in
waters off East Oahu. Officers confiscated chemical packets, believed to
contain chlorine compounds. Under a 1955 state law, the state could levy
fines of as much as $2,000 and a year in jail, and could seek forfeiture of 100
pounds of fish caught as well as the boat used and all fishing and diving
equipment used in committing the offense. [Assoc Press]
.
Bycatch Concerns. On Jan. 12, 1998, a coalition of environmental and
sport fishing groups held a press conference in Washington, DC, to urge the
commercial fishing industry and government managers to do more to reduce
incidental bycatch of marine life. [Assoc Press, Reuters]
.
Bluefin Tuna/Billfish Advisory Panel Meetings. On Jan 11-12, 1998
(Atlantic bluefin tuna) and Jan. 12-13, 1998 (billfish), advisory panels will
meet
in Baltimore, MD, to assist NMFS in evaluating options for management of
these fisheries. The bluefin tuna panel will discuss quota allocation and
effort
control issues, while the billfish panel will discuss implementation of the 1997
ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas)
recommendations on blue and white marlin. [NOAA press release]
.
Revised CDQ Agreement. On Jan. 9, 1997, a revised agreement was
signed among AK's Coastal Villages Fishing Cooperative (a group of 17
Kuskokwim Delta villages with harvesting rights to 47 million pounds of pollock
as part of a federal CDQ, community development quota, program), Golden
Age Fisheries (a Seattle company who had contracted to harvest the group's
CDQ quota), and the partnership's two lenders, Christiania Bank of Norway
and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. The new
agreement, subject to AK state approval, would allow Tyson Seafoods of
Seattle to harvest this CDQ quota, in an effort to forestall foreclosure by
lenders and seizure of the quota. [Assoc Press]
.
FL Fisheries Management Consolidation. On Jan. 8, 1998, the FL
Supreme Court ruled by a 4-3 vote that an inadequate ballot summary
disqualified a citizen petition to merge the Game and Freshwater Fish
Commission with the Marine Fisheries Commission to form a new Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission from appearing on the November 1998 state
ballot. The summary was viewed as not sufficiently informing the public that
the merger transfer power by placing marine fishery management in an
independent agency, differing from the current situation where Marine
Fisheries Commission actions can be vetoed by the Governor and Cabinet and the
Legislature can exercise exclusive power to regulate marine fisheries. On
Jan. 12, 1998, the FL Constitution Revision Commission voted 24-0 to place
this issue on the November ballot, which can occur without state Supreme
Court concurrence. [Assoc Press]
.
UAE Oil Spill. On Jan. 7, 1998, a barge ran aground and sank off the
coast of the United Arab Emirates, spilling about 4,000 metric tons of heavy
oil. Fishing has been disrupted, with crabs and sea snakes reported killed, as
limited effort has been reported on spill containment and cleanup. [Reuters]
.
RI Oil Spill Damage. On Jan. 7, 1998, RI Dept. of Environmental
Management officials announced preliminary estimates of mortalities when the
barge North Cape spilled about 828,000 gallons of fuel oil after grounding on
Jan. 19, 1996, on Moonstone Beach, RI. Total kills included more than 12
million lobsters, 82 million crabs, 679 million mussels, and 81 million clams.
However, marine life began returning to affected waters soon after the oil
dissipated. A total of 53 contractual studies costing more than $2 million
were funded by Eklof Marine Corp., the company responsible for the spill. On
Jan. 8, 1998, a plea agreement was announced between Eklof Marine Corp.
and the state and federal governments, with Eklof paying $9.5 million in fines
and damages. However, a Superior Court judge ruled that a $9 million claim
for restitution by RI lobstermen would not be made part of the plea agreement;
lobstermen petitioned the Superior Court for a delay in the imposition of fines
but lost. The plea agreement was approved by U.S. District Judge Mary Lisi
and Providence County (RI) Superior Court Judge Joseph Rodgers on Jan. 9,
1998. [Assoc Press]
.
|
