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Here is just the new material from the CRS postings.

SECTION: MARINE FISHERIES

Atlantic Shark Commercial Fishery Closure.  On Mar. 31, 1999, NMFS will
close the Atlantic large coastal shark commercial fishery, estimating
that the first semiannual quota of 642 metric tons will be landed by
that date.[personal communication]

Butyltin Contaminants.  On Mar. 24, 1999, scientists reported at a
meeting of the American Chemical Society that butyltin compounds, used
in anti-fouling paints and other uses, disrupt the functioning of the
human immune system blood cells that destroy tumor cells.  The
International Maritime Organization has scheduled a conference in 2000
to consider a draft protocol to minimize the harmful effects of
anti-fouling paints.[Environment News Service]

On Mar. 23, 1999, the VA Marine Resources Commission voted unanimously
to order an updated report on blue crab populations trends for its Apr.
27, 1999 meeting, concerned with reports of low harvests and declining
populations.[Carteret News-Times, Richmond Times-Dispatch]

NC Inshore Trawling Ban?  On Mar. 22, 1999, the NC Marine Fisheries
Commission received a 118-page report on the impacts of inshore
trawling, in consideration of a possible ban on bottom-dragging shrimp
or blue crab trawls in coastal rivers and sounds.  No action was taken
on the proposed ban.[Jacksonville Daily News, Carteret News-TImes]

On Mar. 22, 1999, South Korean President Kim replaced Minister of
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Kim Sun-kil, for lack of negotiating
prowess and alleged unacceptable concessions to Japan.  Some of the
problem was also attributed to fishermen, where a huge gap in vessel
numbers and harvest reported by fishermen in the past and what was
recently claimed hampered government negotiators* need for accurate
information.[Korean Herald]

SECTION: SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

Scientists on Salmon.  On Mar. 22, 1999, a letter bearing the
signatures of more than 200 scientists was delivered to President
Clinton, calling for consideration of federal dam removal in the
Columbia River Basin to restore salmon and steelhead trout.  These
scientists expressed concern for management focused on technological
solutions rather than returning to normative river conditions.[Portland
Oregonian]

Hatchery Recommendations.  On Mar. 22, 1999, the Northwest Power
Planning Council held a public meeting in Yakima, WA, on its draft
recommendations for Congress on future hatchery operations in the
Columbia River basin.  Additional public meetings will be held through
Apr. 6, 1999, at other ID and OR locations.  The recommendations are
scheduled to be delivered to Congress in May 1999.[Assoc Press]

Hanford Reach Chinook Salmon.  In mid-March 1999, the WA Dept. of Fish
and Wildlife and the Grant County Public Utility District announced an
agreement that would result in increased flows from Priest Rapids Dam,
to protect fall chinook  from becoming stranded by water level
fluctuations in pools in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River.  As
many as 4.5 million juvenile chinook salmon could be saved annually by
this agreement.[Portland Oregonian]

On Mar.  23, 1999, the Canadian Dept. Of Fisheries and Oceans reported
that more than 1,500 commercial salmon licenses had been voluntarily
retired from the BC fishery.  A total of 99 licenses were retired in
fall 1998, and 647 more were retired in the latest round.  Total cost
of this second phase of buyouts is about C$83.5 million, with a total
of about C$187 million spent on voluntary retirements since 1996.
Critics claim the buyback program has destroyed the BC small-boat
fishery.

A third round of buyouts is scheduled for fall 1999.  FERC Lawsuit.  On
Mar. 4, 1999, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit
filed by American Rivers against the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), ruling that jurisdiction was lacking under the
Federal Power Act.  American Rivers filed suit alleging FERC failed to
comply with the Endangered Species Act by initiating formal
consultation with NMFS concerning continuing operation of the Hells
Canyon Project, operated by the Idaho Power Company on the Snake
River.[personal communication]

SECTION: AQUACULTURE

Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Conference.  On Mar. 19, 1999, a conference
on Salmon Aquaculture  - the Consequences for the Environment and
Public Health was held in Dublin, Ireland, focusing on problems of
farmed salmon escaping and interbreeding with wild fish.[Irish Times]

SECTION: FRESHWATER FISHERIES

Great Basin Redband Trout Lawsuit.  On Mar. 22, 1999, a coalition of 10
environmental groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court (Portland,
OR) seeking to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the
Great Basin redband trout and several other species as endangered under
the Endangered Species Act.  The groups claim the federal government
has avoided protecting these species to satisfy special
interests.[Assoc Press]

Reversing Stream Acidity.  On Mar. 20, 1999, the VA Dept. of Game and
Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Forest Service completed a project
dumping limestone sand by helicopter into the St. Mary's River, Augusta
County, VA, to neutralize acidity and promote recovery of fish and
aquatic insect populations.[VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries press
release]

Underwater Camera Ban.  In mid-March 1999, a MN Senate Committee voted
to ban the use of underwater cameras for fishing.[Grand Forks Herald]

On Mar. 24, 1999, the ME Atlantic Salmon Authority voted 3-2 to
discontinue promoting a ban on salmon fishing in 11 ME rivers.  State
biologists were directed to present a new list of rivers or parts
thereof where fishing for salmon should be prohibited, with action on
the new list likely in September 1999 after more public hearings.
Thus, catch and release regulations for Atlantic salmon will remain in
effect for the 1999 season.[Fed. Register, Defenders of Wildlife press
release, Bangor Daily News]

SECTION: MARINE MAMMALS

Southern Sea Otters.  On Mar. 22, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) released a draft report on southern sea otters,
concluding that a relocation plan aimed at translocating a sea otter
population to San Nicolas Island had failed.  The draft report
recommended that no additional effort be expended on this relocation
program, and that other means be found to promote recovery of the
southern sea otter.  The FWS anticipates developing new guidelines for
managing southern sea otters by the end of 1999.[Assoc Press]

MA Dolphin Strandings.  On Mar. 18-23, 1999, a total of 50 white-sided
dolphins stranded on Cape Cod MA, with 46 of them eventually dying.
Cause of the stranding was unknown.[Assoc Press, Boston Herald,
Reuters]

implement emergency conservation strategies for this species, and
implement emergency regulations to regulate Native hunting of the
whales.[Anchorage Daily News, Environmental News Network]

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