CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE SUMMARY OF FISHERIES
NEWS FOR AUGUST, 1996
(CONTINUED FROM PART 1)
======================================================
Kahoolawe Island Fishing. On Aug. 14, 1996, the Kahoolawe Island
Reserve Commission, Hawaii, will meet to consider modification of fishing
regulations in nearshore waters. Since control of this Island was return to
the
State by the Navy two years ago, bottom fishing has been banned due to
concerns about unexploded ordnance. The State is expected to propose that
Kahoolawe waters be designated a no-fishing zone, as part of an overall State
plan to ban bottom fishing in 20% of each county's waters to repopulate
certain bottomfish species. [Assoc Press]
.
Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. On Aug. 12-13, 1996, winds forced
oxygen-depleted water from the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone off the mouth of
the Mississippi River close to shore causing a "jubilee" along about 20 miles
of Louisiana coastline, east of the mouth of Bayou Lafourche. This condition
causes shrimp, crabs, and finfish to crowd close to shore to escape the
low-oxygen water and can be easily caught in large quantities. [Assoc Press]
.
Trepang Seizure. In early August 1996, police in the Maritime
Territory, Russian Far East, seized and confiscated a large quantity of fresh
and dried trepang (sea cucumber), valued at as much as $75 per kilogram on
Asian black markets. Poaching is a major concern since trepang harvest has
been prohibited in Russia after the species were believed to be threatened
with
extinction. [Interfax]
.
Federal Fishing Permit Suspension. On Aug. 12, 1996,
Administrative Law Judge Peter Fitzpatrick granted an NMFS request to
suspend federal fishing permits for two scallop dealers, six of their
corporations, and five vessels based in several Cape Cod, MA ports, in what
federal officials call the largest federal fishery fraud case ever filed. In
this
case, the companies and 12 captains have been charged with more than 300
alleged violations of scallop and groundfish regulations between March 1994
and February 1995, with $5.8 million in fines sought. An Oct. 18, 1996
hearing on the case has been scheduled. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Boston
Globe via Greenwire]
.
Turtle-Friendly Lighting. Under pressure from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), the city of Riviera Beach, FL, voted on Aug. 7,
1996, to spend $120,000 on beach lighting design to install low-pressure
sodium vapor lights. After bright beach lights caused some 600 sea turtle
hatchlings to stray in 1995, the USFWS threatened action by the U.S.
Attorney's office for Endangered Species Act violations. [Palm Beach Post via
Greenwire]
.
Louisiana Gillnet Ban. On Aug. 7, 1996, U.S. District Judge Thomas
Porteous deferred action on a class-action suit by the Louisiana Seafood
Management Council to overturn a state ban on gillnet use, until state courts
finish consideration of appeals on the issue. [New Orleans Times-Picayune via
Greenwire]
.
Iceland-Denmark Fishery Dispute. On Aug. 2, 1996, Denmark
requested urgent talks with Iceland to address a fishing rights dispute in
the
4,000 sq. mile "grey zone" in Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland.
Iceland has demanded that Danish fishers cease fishing for capelin in this
area. On Aug. 13-14, 1996, Danish and Icelandic officials met in Reykjavik,
Iceland, for unproductive discussions on disputed fishing in Denmark Strait.
After talks were held Sept. 4-5 in Copenhagen, the parties agreed to
additional consultations in Reykjavik. [Reuters]
.
Magnuson Act. In early August 1996, House and Senate negotiators
were reported to have reached a compromise agreement on Magnuson Act
amendments, agreeing to enact broad conservation provisions, phase-in
community development quotas for Bering Sea crab for western Alaska
communities over 3 years, and impose a moratorium on new individual
transferable quota (ITQ) programs while the National Academy of Sciences
conducts a 3-year study. Senate floor consideration of S. 39 was tentatively
scheduled for Sept. 4, 1996, but was postponed until late September or early
October when Senate consideration of appropriations measures took
precedence. [Greenwire, personal communication, Assoc Press]
.
Cozumel Pier Dispute. On Aug. 1, 1996, ministers of the Commission
for Environmental Cooperation (under the authority of the North American Free
Trade Agreement) agreed to undertake a fact-finding mission to consider a
controversial pier for cruise ships near coral reefs off Cozumel, Mexico.
This
is the first such investigation by this Commission. [Reuters]
.
Canadian Atlantic Groundfish. On Aug. 1, 1996, Canada will
eliminate portions of its Atlantic Groundfish Strategy, which now exceeds its
budget by almost $370 million due to more fishers qualifying for assistance
than anticipated. Changes will include elimination of job training and
reduction
of payments to displaced fishers. Some fishing industry unions threaten
legal
action to force government funding of continued programs. [Toronto Globe &
Mail via Greenwire]
.
NC Fisheries Reorganization Plan. On Aug. 19, 1996, the first in a
series of 19 public meetings to be held across NC through Sept. 25 on the
Fisheries Moratorium Steering Committee's recommendations convened at
Pitt Community College, Greenville. [Assoc Press]
.
Sport Fishing Protests. In early August, 1996, People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA) demonstrators protested at a bass-fishing
tournament in Birmingham, AL. On Aug. 19, 1996, PETA demonstrators
protested at the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 fishing tournament in Cape May, NJ,
claiming that fishing tortures fish, promotes consumption of
sometimes-contaminated food, and teaches children disrespect for animals.
[Assoc Press]
.
New England Groundfish. On Aug. 1, 1996, the House Committee on
Resources' Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans has tentatively
scheduled an oversight hearing on the economic effects of Amendment 7 to
the New England groundfish management plan. On Aug. 8, 1996, U.S.
District Judge D. Brock Hornby agreed to speed the trial on a lawsuit by the
Associated Fisheries of Maine alleging that federal groundfish regulations
are
too restrictive and threaten 22,000 jobs in Maine alone. However, Judge
Hornby denied a request to suspend groundfish regulations pending a decision
on the case. In late August 1996, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Office of Sustainable Development anticipated beginning to
accept applications for a $25 million New England fishing vessel buyback
program. On Aug. 27, 1996, NOAA officials met with fishermen in
Portsmouth, NH, to provide information on how to participate in a $25 million
fishing vessel buyback program. [Assoc Press, personal communication,
Boston Globe via Greenwire]
.
Italian Driftnets. On Aug. 12, 1996, seven Spanish vessels and three
Greenpeace dinghies confronted five Italian fishing vessels allegedly using
5-
to 7-mile long illegal driftnets near the Island of Majorca. [Reuters, Agence
Europe via Reuters]
AQUACULTURE
.
Taura Syndrome Virus. On Sept. 5, 1996, TX Parks and Wildlife
Dept. officials and shrimp farmers announced that the Taura syndrome virus
was detected in August 1996 at six coastal shrimp hatcheries from the Rio
Grande Valley north to Matagorda Bay, although this outbreak appears not to
be as widespread nor as virulent as last year's. Shrimp farmers have been
asked to harvest infected shrimp and hold pond water for at least 10 days
before discharge to minimize any potential threat to wild shrimp. [Assoc
Press]
.
Florida Aquarium Financial Losses. On Sept. 3, 1996, the Florida
Aquarium (Tampa) released financial statements indicating that it lost $2.3
million for the quarter ending July 31, 1996 -- a loss of about twice the
rate of
1995. Attendance declined 40% from this quarter last year, while donations
are only a third of that received for same period in 1995. [Assoc Press]
.
Atlantic Salmon Dumping. On Sept. 2, 1996, the European
Commission announced that it had decided to begin separate anti-dumping
and anti-subsidy investigations of farmed Atlantic salmon from Norway, in
response to July 1996 complaints by the Scottish Salmon Growers' Assoc.
and the Shetland Salmon Farmers' Assoc. [Reuters]
.
Tilapia Pathogen. The Aug. 23, 1996 issue of Science reported that a
bacterium, Streptococcus iniae, causing human meningitis has been
transmitted from Tilapia to humans. Transmission was believed to be through
injuries received while cleaning fish. Six individuals in Ontario were
affected --
one with meningitis and transient arthritis and the other five with skin or
blood
infections. [Science]
.
Diseased Fish Destroyed. On Aug. 19, 1996, Michigan Dept. of
Natural Resources officials announced that 245,000 Kamloops rainbow trout,
obtained from a Montana hatchery as eggs, would be destroyed after learning
that federal officials had detected parasites in fish at the Montana hatchery
that were not present in the Great Lakes basin. [Assoc Press]
.
Northeast Aquaculture Report. In early August 1996, the Univ. of
Rhode Island's Cooperative Extension Service released a survey of 152
commercial aquaculture operations in the northeastern U.S., estimating 1995
production at $162.4 million. The largest industry segment was the
Maine-based pen-reared salmonid operations, with an estimated 1995 product
value of $53.4 million. The oyster industry was second with a value of $49.8
million. [personal communication]
.
Amazon Turtle Farming. On Aug. 8, 1996, officials of Brazil's
Environment Institute announced that two popular Amazonian turtle species
would be removed from endangered status, allowing their farming and trading.
Regulations on farming and trade are scheduled to be issued in late August
1996. The remaining 11 species of Amazon turtles will remain protected as
endangered. The Brazilian government anticipates capturing 10% of the
annual turtle hatch, which will be provided to established turtle farms.
Farmed
turtles may be sold to licensed restaurants. [Reuters]
.
FRESHWATER FISHERIES
.
Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout. On Sept. 8, 1996, a federal ban on
all fishing in the Umpqua River Basin, OR, will be implemented to protect
endangered cutthroat trout. OR fishery managers have requested that NMFS
issue a special incidental take permit to allow limited fishing to continue,
but a
public comment period on the permit application does not end until Sept. 6.
[Assoc Press]
.
Chernobyl Carp Appear Undamaged. On Sept. 2, 1996, Univ. of
Georgia researchers announced that results of studies on carp in ponds near
the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site will be published in the October 1996
issue of Eco-Toxicology, showing no evidence in genetic damage resulting in
changes in appearance. However, blood analysis gave evidence of aneuploidy
-- extra DNA not contributing to the genetic character of the fish. [London
Telegraph via Greenwire]
.
Kolob Reservoir Fish Kill. On Sept. 1, 1996, the Utah Div. of Wildlife
Resources reported that more than 4,000 cutthroat trout had died in Kolob
Reservoir, UT, this summer after the water level was lowered to within 4 feet
of
a 5-foot silt layer on the reservoir bottom to permit work on the dam. [Assoc
Press]
.
Clyde River Dam Removal. On Aug. 28, 1996, Citizens Utilities
workers began three days of blasting on the Newport 11 diversion dam and
adjoining buttress wall, on the Clyde River in Vermont. The dam is to be
totally removed and stream flow restored by Oct. 1 in time for Atlantic
salmon
spawning. [Assoc Press]
.
Lake Pend Oreille Level. On Aug. 20, 1996, the Army Corps of
Engineers announced that it would keep the level of Lake Pend Oreille, ID,
four
feet higher than normal to improve kokanee spawning and survival during a
3-year test. [Assoc Press]
.
Native Fishing in Lake Michigan. On Aug. 16, 1996, U.S. District
Judge Richard Enslen ruled that the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians may license one fisher to take salmon commercially in
Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, waters. This agreement is only for a
specific limited area of the Bay and only for Aug. 1 through Oct. 15, 1996;
the
tribes and state/federal government officials were directed to work out an
agreement for fishing after 1996. [Assoc Press]
.
Bring Back the Natives. On Aug. 20, 1996, the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of
Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and Trout Unlimited, announced
26 projects nationwide to restore native fish species on public lands by
restoring watersheds as part of the "Bring Back the Natives" program. [Assoc
Press]
.
Artificial Lake. On Aug. 15, 1996, a 150-acre artificially constructed
lake was dedicated and wells began pumping to fill the waterbody near
Kennett, MO. The entire lake was constructed above grade with no
excavation, and will be stocked for fishing. [Assoc Press]
.
Boeuf River Fish Kill. On Aug. 12, 1996, the Louisiana Dept. of
Agriculture and Forestry released test results indicating significant levels
of
the pesticide Curecron in fish and water samples taken from the Boeuf River
after about 200,000 fish were killed in the Boeuf River and at nine other
sites in
northeastern LA in early August 1996. Curecron is sprayed on cotton crops to
control boll weevils -- extensive storms may have washed the pesticide into
steams and rivers. [Assoc Press]
.
Mercury Contamination. On Aug. 12, 1996, Louisiana State public
health officials issued a warning for pregnant or nursing women and children
under 7 years of age to avoid or limit consumption of bowfin and bass caught
in the Bogue Chitto River. Bass and bowfin had been found to exceed the
state 0.5 ppm and the federal 1 ppm standards for mercury. [Assoc Press]
.
Edwards Aquifer. On Aug. 8, 1996, TX State Rep. John Shields filed
court documents opposing a Sierra Club lawsuit filed in June 1996 in U.S.
District Court seeking to limit pumping by San Antonio, small towns,
businesses, and military bases from the Edwards Aquifer to protect five fish
and salamander species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act
(ESA). Opponents to the Sierra Club lawsuit allege the ESA is
unconstitutional in the Edwards Aquifer case. On Aug. 19, 1996, U.S.
District
Judge Lucius Bunton ordered the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, by Nov. 1, 1996,
to
review the impact of crop subsidies on endangered species dependent upon
the Edwards Aquifer. On Aug. 21, 1996, Judge Bunton denied TX Rep.
Shields request to intervene in another Sierra Club suit, rejecting the
argument
that the ESA is unconstitutional. [Greenwire]
.
Canadian Sea Lamprey Funding Restored. On Aug. 7, 1996,
Canada's Minister of Fisheries Fred Mifflin announced that Canada will
provide
C$5.145 million for the Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control Program for the
1996-97 and 1997-98 fiscal years. This Program is conducted by the
U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Fishery Commission. [Canadian govt. press
release]
.
Tui Chub in Diamond Lake. On Sept. 20-21, 1996, the Oregon Fish
and Wildlife Commission will meet to consider alternatives for eradicating
introduced tui chub in Diamond Lake. Costs may exceed $1 million if
rotenone is used and an environmental impact statement is required. [Assoc
Press]
.
Chippewa Bands Fishing Rights. On Aug. 16, 1996, seven Chippewa
Bands filed a motion for a preliminary injunction providing for the exercise
of
fishing rights on east-central Minnesota waters while waiting for the case to
be
tried. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Oct. 18, 1996. [Assoc Press]
.
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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