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IN THIS ISSUE:
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE SUMMARY OF FISHERIES
NEWS FOR OCTOBER 1996
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TEXT CONTINUED FROM PART ONE:
Magnuson Act. On Oct. 11, 1996, President Clinton signed S. 39, the
Sustainable Fisheries Act, into law as P.L. 104-297. President Clinton's
statement on signing this measure expressed concern for provisions requiring
specific management actions in specific fisheries or areas and that the
conflict
of interest provisions were inadequate. In addition, President Clinton
stated
that provisions directing the negotiation of international bycatch reduction
agreements and prohibiting the Secretary of Commerce from repealing a
fishery management plan without Regional Council approval will be treated as
advisory, rather than mandatory. [White House press release, Greenwire,
Assoc Press, Congr. Record]
.
Iceland Cod Boycott. On Oct. 10, 1996, the Russian Fishing
Committee adopted a resolution recommending that Russian fishing
companies suspend any commercial fishery dealings with Iceland, due to
Iceland's alleged unregulated harvest of cod from international waters in the
central Barents Sea despite Norwegian and Russian protests. [Interfax]
.
European Fishing Fleet Restructuring. On Oct. 10, 1996, the
European Union's Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino held a press
conference to restate recommendations for the next 6-year (1997-2002) phase
of the Multi-Annual Guidance Program (MAGP), emphasizing the need for a
40% reduction in fish catch for the more endangered fish stocks along with
smaller fishing fleets to address concerns for depleted fish stocks.
Commissioner Bonino stated that a 40% reduction in fishing employment is
not being sought and that small inshore fishing vessels -- 70% of the EU
fleet
-- are exempt from the fleet reduction program. On Oct. 14, 1996, Fisheries
Ministers from the 15 EU nations held political debate on the pending
European Commission proposals in Luxembourg. This debate was generally
critical of the proposals. Fisheries Commissioner Bonino stated that fleet
capacity reduction may be set at around 15% over the next 6 years. In a
discussion on satellite surveillance systems for the EU fishing fleet, it was
proposed that such systems be required only on vessels exceeding 24 meters
in total length and taking trips exceeding 72 hours from port. A final
decision
is hoped for at sessions scheduled to begin Nov. 22, 1996. [Agence Europe
via Reuters, Assoc Press]
.
Oil Spill Contingency Lawsuit. On Oct. 10, 1996, the environmental
law firm Trustees for Alaska filed an appeal with Anchorage (Alaska) Superior
Court on behalf of Prince William Sound fishermen concerned that oil spill
contingency plans, developed subsequent to the Exxon Valdez spill, are
inadequate, have failed to protect fishing grounds, and their state approval
should be canceled. The lawsuit further contends that 21 oil shippers have
failed to meet contingency plan standards. [Assoc Press, Reuters]
.
Canadian Lobster Licenses. On Oct. 9, 1996, talks between Nova
Scotia lobstermen and federal fisheries managers were to begin concerning
increased lobster license fees (from $30 last year to $1,890 this year).
[Assoc
Press]
.
Fish Excluder Device Hearing. On Oct. 8, 1996, the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council held a hearing on proposed regulations requiring
shrimpers to use fish excluder or bycatch reduction devices when trawling in
federal offshore waters to minimize capture of immature red snapper and other
finfish species. [Assoc Press]
.
Cephalopod Overfishing. On Oct. 8, 1996, a Moroccan fishery
organization called for urgent measures to protect cephalopods (octopus,
squid, and cuttlefish) from extinction due to alleged overfishing in Moroccan
waters by foreign fleets. The group reported average catch rates were only
about half of what they were a year ago. [Reuters]
.
Shrimp Embargo. On Oct. 8, 1996, Judge Thomas Aquilino of the
U.S. Court of International Trade ordered the U.S. to prohibit shrimp imports
from nations not certified under section 609 of P.L. 101-162, appearing to
reject the argument that shrimp harvested in aquaculture operations or by
methods not harmful to sea turtles should not be embargoed. The Court held
that an import ban short of an embargo on shrimp imports would undermine
the incentive for nations to become certified. On Oct. 8, 1996, four Asian
nations (India, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand) filed a case against the
United States with the World Trade Organization relating to U.S. embargoes of
shrimp. These nations have asked the United States for formal consultations
on the issue; the U.S. has 10 days to reply and must begin consultations
within 30 days. If no solution is reached within 30 days of consultations, a
full WTO dispute panel will convene. [National Fisheries Institute press
release,
Reuters, Earth Island Institute press release]
.
Portland Oil Spill. On Oct. 7, 1996, the ME Dept. of Marine
Resources lifted its 80-sq. mile ban on shellfish harvest; all fishing
continued
to be prohibited in Portland's inner harbor. [Assoc Press]
.
Florida Net Ban. On Oct. 7, 1996, the FL Marine Fisheries
Commission passed a 90-day emergency rule prohibiting use of nets
exceeding 500 sq. feet to catch mullet. This rule attempts to restrict the
use
of plastic tarpaulin and other innovative gear allegedly developed to
circumvent
the intent of the 1995 FL net ban. This emergency rule will be submitted to
FL
Governor Chiles and his Cabinet for consideration on Nov. 7. [Miami Herald
via
Greenwire]
.
Scallop Imports. In early October, the Seafood Market Analyst
reported Jan.-July 1996 (seven month) scallop imports to the U.S. were 16,
487 metric tons -- 28.1% more than for the same period in 1995, with 76% of
the imports from China. The $85 million value of these 1996 imports
increased
38% from the 1995 value. [Seafood Market Analyst]
.
Iceland Seafood Moving to VA. In early October 1996, Iceland
Seafood Corp. announced that it was moving its North American headquarters
from Harrisburg, PA, to Newport News, VA, by late 1997. More than $19
million will be spend to build a headquarters and a manufacturing and
processing plant, to supply seafood to public schools and restaurant chains.
[Assoc Press]
.
Canada's Atlantic Groundfish. On Oct. 4, 1996, Minister Mifflin
announced that surveys indicated a significant increase in Atlantic cod
abundance off southern Newfoundland and that cod were 8% larger, indicating
the stock decline had ceased. Although optimistic, he claimed it was too
early to lift any moratorium on commercial fishing. In late October 1996,
Canada's Fisheries Resource Conservation Council recommended that the
federal government risk reopening cod fisheries off the south coast of
Newfoundland (10,000 ton quota) and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (12,000 ton
quota). [Assoc Press, Toronto Globe & Mail via Greenwire]
.
Invasive Species. On Oct. 3, 1996, the Senate passed H.R. 4283, the
National Invasive Species Act, and sent this measure to the President. This
measure amends and reauthorizes the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance
Prevention and Control Act of 1990. On Oct. 22, 1996, the Nature
Conservancy released a report "America's Least Wanted" calling attention to
concerns for non-native species introductions. The report suggests these
introductions have cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and have
contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. threatened and endangered species.
On Oct. 26, 1996, President Clinton signed the National Invasive Species Act
into law as P.L. 104-332. [The Nature Conservancy press release via
Greenwire, Congr. Record]
.
Canadian Fishery Law Proposal. On Oct. 3, 1996, the Canadian
federal government tabled a proposed new Fisheries Act in the Commons,
including provisions allowing the federal government to delegate
responsibility
for freshwater fish habitat protection to provinces, allowing the fisheries
minister to negotiate with industry for regional fishery management, and
permitting tribunals to be established on each coast to deal with fisheries
violators. [Assoc Press]
.
Beach Protection for Sea Turtles. On Oct. 2, 1996, a U.S. Fish and
Wildlife official indicated that federal approval was likely for a Volusia
County, FL, plan to protect nesting sea turtles. The plan does not address
beach lighting, but would prohibit cars from some beaches and extend
no-driving zones. In areas where driving is permitted, buffer zones would
be reduced from 30 feet to 15 feet around sand dunes where turtles nest.
[Assoc Press]
.
Greek Fuel Tax Protest. On Oct. 2, 1996, about 50 fishing vessels
blocked the Greek port of Piraeus in a protest calling for restoration of a
tax
exemption for fishing vessel fuel. [Reuters]
.
NW Atlantic Research. On Oct. 1, 1996, the Univ. of Massachusetts
announced receipt of $325,000 in federal funds under NOAA's Cooperative
Marine Education and Research Program, for study of the schooling behavior
of bluefin tuna, feeding relationships of fish on Georges Bank, effect of
contaminants on the reproductive success of winter flounder, downstream
movement of Atlantic salmon in the Merrimack River, refined techniques for
detecting trace metals in the marine food chain, detection of irradiated
seafood, possible shifts in NW Atlantic plankton populations, and the
economics of hook, small trawler, and charter boat fisheries. [Assoc Press]
. . .
FRESHWATER FISHERIES
.
OR Measure 38. On Nov. 5, 1996, Oregon voters will be asked to
decide on the initiative Measure 38, requiring landowners to keep cattle and
other livestock from waterways damaged by overgrazing. Landowners who
participate in state-approved water-quality plans would be exempted from
Measure 38 requirements. Gov. Kitzhaber's Healthy Streams Partnership is
seeking to develop water quality plans for more than 900 segments of OR
steams and rivers that currently fail to meet federal water quality
standards.
[Assoc Press]
.
Lake Apopka Restoration. On Oct. 30, 1996, U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture officials announced a $26 million federal program aimed at as
much as 13,000 acres of wetlands along Lake Apopka's north shore as part of
efforts to restore Lake Apopka, FL. This program is funded by the USDA
Wetlands Reserve Program. [Reuters]
.
San Juan River. On Oct. 29, 1996, U.S. District Judge James Parker
ordered U.S. Dept. of the Interior scientists to reduce flow in the San Juan
River below Navajo Dam, NM, to between 300 and 350 cubic feet per second
for a 4-month study beginning Nov. 4. Sport anglers had argued that the
lower
250 cubic feet per second flow sought by federal scientists would make fish
too easy to catch. [Assoc Press]
.
Missouri River Problem. On Oct. 29, 1996, the Missouri River lost as
much as 83% of its flow between Holter Dam and Craig, MT for about four
hours after a power turbine breakdown at the Dam. Brown trout spawning
beds were dewatered and exposed to sub-freezing temperatures. [Assoc
Press]
.
Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative. In late October 1996, the
U.S. Office of Surface Mining's Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative
announced its first efforts to address acid mine drainage problems, with a
grant of $650,000 for stream restoration in Ohio. About half of these funds
will
be used for restoration of Monday Creek, a tributary of the Hocking River.
[Columbus Dispatch via Greenwire]
.
Lake Pend Oreille Kokanee. On Oct. 23, 1996, the Lake Pend
Oreille Idaho Club and the Army Corps of Engineers announced an agreement
to keep the level of Lake Pend Oreille no lower than 2,055 feet through Apr.
29, 1997, to promote spawning of kokanee salmon. The agreement was
reached in response to a Jan. 18, 1996 lawsuit by the Lake Pend Oreille Club
to force the Corps to keep the lake level higher. [Assoc Press]
.
AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA
.
Cincinnati Aquarium. On Oct. 25, 1996, the Cincinnati Enquirer
reported that a $40 million, privately financed, 100,000 sq. foot aquarium
will
be built across the river in Newport, KY. The Newport City Commission is
scheduled to vote Oct. 28, 1996, on project approval. The aquarium would be
completed by the summer of 1999. [Assoc Press]
.
Farmed Salmon Problems. On Oct. 24, 1996, the David Suzuki
Foundation released a report claiming the farmed salmon industry is
jeopardizing British Columbia's wild salmon stocks and posing risks to human
health through unregulated drug use. The report recommends that
open-ocean rearing be replaced with contained systems prohibiting contact
with the ocean, that drug use be much more closely monitored, that the
spread of drug-resistant diseases be monitored, that only native salmon be
reared, that the industry be required to carry insurance covering full
ecological
restoration of catastrophic events, and that sewage from salmon farms not be
discharged into the ocean. This report was prepared for a BC environmental
panel considering a salmon-farming industry request to expand production
6-fold. [Assoc Press, David Suzuki Foundation press release, Toronto Globe
& Mail via Greenwire]
.
Middle Snake River Phosphorus Control. In October 1996, the
state of Idaho released a draft plan to reduce phosphorus concentrations in
the Middle Snake River that contribute to poor water quality. To meet a
specific dissolved total phosphorus goal, 75 affected fish hatcheries will be
required to reduce their total phosphorus discharge by 40%. Individual
hatcheries are apportioned a part of the reduction goal based upon the water
flow through the facility. Other industries and polluters also have specific
goals to meet. Other pollutants will be dealt with in specific plans in
future
years, such as sediment in 1998 and nitrogen compounds in 1999. [Assoc.
Press]
.
Record Catfish Production. In early October 1996, the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture forecast that U.S. catfish production in 1996 would be a record
460
million pounds, due to strong prices and increased pond acreage. Catfish
farmer revenues in 1996 are anticipated to exceed 1995's record $351 million.
[Assoc Press]
.
Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Farm Escapees. On Oct. 1, 1996, the
New York Times reported that Norwegian researchers have discovered that
more than 25% of spawning Atlantic salmon in Norwegian waters are
escapees from fish farms. Concern is growing that aquaculture escapees
threaten wild salmon populations. [NY Times via Greenwire]
Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information
sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible
for the accuracy of the various news items.
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--- Your Editor (Glen Spain)
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