VOL 4, NO. 8 24 AUGUST 2001
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IN THIS ISSUE.....
SNAKE RIVER CLEAN WATER ACT LAWSUIT GETS GO-AHEAD
FROM COURT. SEE 4:08/01.
ALASKA GOVERNOR DECLARES SALMON FISHERY
DISASTER. SEE 4:08/04.
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR
PACIFIC COAST BOCACCIO AND LINGCOD. SEE 4:08/09.
CALIFORNIA FISH & GAME COMMISSION PUTS-OVER
DECISION ON CHANNEL ISLANDS MPAS. SEE 4:08/11.
TURTLE PROTECTIONS CAUSE CLOSURE UNTIL MID-
NOVEMBER OF SWORDFISH/SHARK DRIFTNET
FISHERY. SEE 4:08/17.
AND MORE .....
##########################################################
4:08/01. JUDGE REJECTS CORPS' MOTION, CASE AGAINST
SNAKE RIVER DAMS GOES ON: On 22 August, U.S. Federal
District Court Judge Helen Frye refused a U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (COE) motion to dismiss the Clean Water Act (CWA) case
against the Snake River Dams (National Wildlife Federation et. al. v.
US Army Corps of Engineers, US District Court of Oregon, Civ. No. 99-
442-FR). The Judge allowed the plaintiffs (which include PCFFA and
IFR) leave to amend their complaint in light of the recently issued
Record of Decision (ROD) adopted by the Corps in May 2001 on the
various options available for the four lower Snake River dams. The
Corps has continued to refuse to address CWA violations at the Snake
Dams, maintaining in its ROD that the existence of the dams actually
made the water cooler, not warmer, a conclusion not supported by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State of Washington
and the observed data. The Corps will have to file the complete
administrative record 60 days after the new complaint is filed. The
lower Snake River dams create long reservoirs of hot water that often
reach temperatures that are fatal to salmon and have never met
Washington's Clean Water Act standards since those standards were
adopted. For more information contact: Earthjustice Legal Defense
Fund, Attn: Kristin Boyles, Esq., 705 Second Ave, Suite 203, Seattle,
WA 98104 or call: (206) 343-7340.
4:08/02. WDFW SAYS DROUGHT AND DAM OPERATIONS
HAVE KILLED MILLIONS OF MID-COLUMBIA FALL-RUN
CHINOOK THIS YEAR: The Washington Department of Fish &
Wildlife (WDFW) estimates that as many as 3 million fall-run chinook
died along a 51-mile stretch of the mid-Columbia River this year as the
juvenile salmon tried to migrate their way downstream, reported the
Seattle Post-Intelligencer on 22 August. WDFW found more than 1.6
million dead juvenile salmon alone in a 17-mile stretch of river below
the Priest Rapids Dam, where the fish spawn each year between April
and June. While water fluctuations caused by dam operations were less
than in previous years, low water due to the drought exacerbated their
impact; as the river ebbed and flowed, shrinking pools trapped the fish
and suffocated or cooked them as Eastern Washington temperatures
soared, and additionally they became easy prey for birds, in the biggest
fish kill of the year in the Columbia Basin. The Hanford Reach salmon
that were killed here are the healthiest run of wild fall chinook in the
state. These salmon, which are not listed under the Endangered Species
Act (ESA), are important to Washington's commercial, sport and tribal
fisheries.
This fish kill was the largest loss of fry tabulated in the fall chinook
run since monitoring began three years ago. The number of dead baby
fish along the surveyed stretch of river increased more than 2000 percent
since last year, when 72,000 fry were killed. Nearly 126,000 fry
perished in 1999. However, more fry were hatched this year than in
recent seasons. Approximately 23.8 million fall-chinook were hatched in
2001, up from an estimated 17.9 million fry in 2000.
The average number of fry since 1998 has been approximately 20.9
million in what is the last successful naturally spawning population in
the Basin. Because of the huge loss of fry, fluctuations in flow will need
to be more stringently regulated, according to WDFW, and it will
monitor the number of juveniles hatched this year that return to the river
in coming years. Likewise, the number of wild fall chinook caught by
fishermen may need to be curtailed in the future, said a WDFW
spokesman. To see the full story go to: http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com.
4:08/03. COLUMBIA RIVER WATER SUPPLY IMPROVES,
MORE EMERGENCY SALMON MITIGATION
RECOMMENDED: With the news of the fish kills in the mid-
Columbia, NW Fishletter (#129) reports the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) has begun increasing spill and flows following its
8 August announcement that more water has been found in the
Columbia River system than the forecast model had predicted. Actual
volume at The Dalles was 58.2 MAF though July. The model had
pegged it 3.5 MAF lower. BPA said it already has enough water in
reservoirs to meet winter storage targets and will loosen up a bit, spill a
little more for fish, sell a little more power to California and try to
estimate effects of the price cap, new loads and the rate case on its
financial reliability. Any sign that finances are heading for trouble
would curtail the spill program, the agency said. Meanwhile, the Power
Planning Council has recommended spending more than $7 million for
projects designed to mitigate for emergency power operations during
this drought year. Most of the funding would go to buy up spawning
habitat along a tributary of the John Day River in Oregon, with $1.6
million to pay for irrigation screens in the Yakima River. The $7 million
is in addition to $24 million the council has already recommended to
pay for projects designed to offset the effects of emergency hydro
operations that nearly stopped the spill program at the dams. For more
information:
http://www.newsdata.com/enernet/fishletter/fishltr129.html#1.
4:08/04. ALASKA GOVERNOR DECLARES FISHERIES
DISASTER: On 24 August, Alaska Governor Tony Knowles issued a
Declaration of Economic Disaster for the Western Alaska commercial
fishing industry, citing weak salmon runs and the lowest fish prices in
decades. "Communities throughout Western Alaska are in extreme
economic distress this year due to unprecedented low salmon prices, and
in places, chronic low returns of salmon," Knowles said in his press
release. The Governor blamed a glut of farmed salmon on the market
that has been severely depressing prices for wild salmon. Bristol Bay
sockeye prices dipped to 40 cents a pound this season, about one third of
last year's prices and compared to a peak of over $2 a pound in 1988.
Chilean farmed salmon exports have soared in recent years with
accusations of dumping on US markets (see Sublegals 4:05/03;
3:23/17). Poor returns in many areas also mean fewer fish to harvest.
The declaration will be used to help secure additional federal disaster
relief, and the Governor also directed the State of Alaska to pursue
needed research into changing ocean conditions and to seek ways to
improve marketing opportunities for Alaska wild salmon. The
declaration includes Norton Sound, Yukon, Kuskokwin, Bristol Bay and
the Aleutians East Borough. The Governor's statement is located at:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/PRESS/01193.html.
4:08/05. WYDEN PLEADS KLAMATH FARMERS CASE
WITH BANKERS, BUT CHARGES OF "RURAL CLEANSING"
AND A BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT BY EXTREMISTS
CONTINUE: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has asked bankers to
hold off on foreclosures of Klamath Basin farms while he crafts
legislation to balance the needs of agriculture and endangered fish (e.g.,
coho salmon) and wildlife. Greenlines reports Wyden is supporting
federal funding to increase water storage, improve water delivery
efficiency, a local process for restoring reservation land to the Klamath
Tribes in exchange for water rights, and a buyout of farmland to
decrease irrigation demand. In the meantime, some of the extreme
elements in the Klamath Basin and a number of outside far-right fringe
groups are describing the U.S. Government's partial cut-off of irrigation
water to protect some economically important fish resources from
extinction during the worst drought in 75 years as "rural cleansing." For
more information, go to:
http://www.greensheets.com/publications/newsroom/index.html.
The Associated Press also reported 24 August that Klamath Basin
irrigation districts plan to sue the federal government for "damages"
caused by the water cutoff this year. The districts have retained the
Washington D.C. property rights firm Marzulla & Marzulla to file the
lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Claims. The Klamath claim will not specify
a specific dollar amount in initial filings but it estimates it will seek
$250 million to $1 billion, based on alleged declines in land values
supposedly caused by the water cutoff. The Marzullas are prominent in
various national property rights groups. Roger Marzulla worked with
Interior Secretary Gale Norton at the Mountain States Legal Foundation
in Denver and in the Reagan Administration. Norton remains "a close
personal friend" of the Marzullas say several sources.
Two recent articles on the Klamath have appeared in west coast
fishing industry trade publications. "Klamath Water Wars Tap
Fishermen's Hopes, Fears" is the title of the first of a two-part series by
Eric Swenson and Brad Warren in the September issue of Pacific
Fishing (pp.47-50, 69). It can be seen at: www.pfmag.com. "Why the
Klamath Basin Matters" is the title of the article appearing in the August
issue of The Fishermen's News (pp. 20-22). For more information, go
to: www.fishermensnews.com, or the article can be viewed on PCFFA's
Fishermen's News archive from its website at: www.pcffa.org.
4:08/06. LOGGING FOR FISH?: A federal appeals court has
rejected a lawsuit brought by the Mountain States Legal Foundation
(MSLF), which called for more logging in Wyoming's Medicine Bow
National Forest to "improve the watershed and help endangered
species." The lawsuit had claimed that a lack of logging "decreased the
amount of water runoff into the Platte River," harming endangered fish
and birds, including whooping cranes. The case, Coalition for
Sustainable Resources v. U.S. Forest Service, was heard on 7 August in
the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Mountain States Legal
Foundation site for their case is:
http://www.mountainstateslegal.com/legal_cases.cfm?legalcaseid=40.
4:08/07. CALIFORNIA WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED ON FISH
PASSAGE: Six workshops are scheduled between October and
December in California to introduce both technical and non-technical
participants to road-related fish passage issues, inventory methods, and
design remedies. Fishermen, local watershed organization members and
staff, natural resource professionals, federal, state and local agency staff,
and landowners are encouraged to attend. Workshop dates are locations
are as follows: Fortuna (3-5 October); Ukiah (9-11 October); Petaluma
(17-19 October); Santa Cruz (22-24 October); Arroyo Grande (28-30
November); and Ventura (3-5 December). Workshops are expected to
fill fast and attendance is limited. The fee is $75 for course materials and
lunch. For details and registration, e-mail: info at 4sos.org.
4:08/08. BUSH ADMINISTRATION PRESSURES EUROPE TO
DROP RESTRICTIONS ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD,
NFI COMES OUT WITH ITS GUIDEBOOK: Greenlines reports
that the Administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is pressing
the European Union (EU) to drop new restrictions on genetically
modified food. Administration officials claim the rules could cost U.S.
companies $4 billion a year, and that they violate World Trade
Organization (WTO) rules. PCFFA and a number of other U.S.
fishermen's organizations, conservation and consumer groups have
raised concerns regarding the spread of genetically-modified (GMO)
foods, including plans to use genetically modified salmon in fish farm
operations (see Sublegals, 4:02/06; 3:19/03; 3:15/19; 3:12/09; 3:09/12;
3:07/15; 3:05/15; 2:16/11).
There has been a growing reaction in Europe to U.S. fast food chains,
foods coming from large corporate food processors, foods treated with
chemicals and, now, opposition to genetically modified foods. The
movement is also growing in the U.S. with increased consumer demand
among high-end buyers for, among other items, wild fish in season that
are sustainably harvested (e.g., wild Pacific salmon, albacore,
Dungeness crab, Pacific halibut). The 20 August issue of The Nation
(pp.11-16) features an article by Alexander Stille "Slow Food An
Italian Answer to Globalization" on the movement. It can be seen at:
www.thenation.com or go directly to the organization's website at:
www.slowfood.com.
In the meantime, WorldCatch New Network reported 21 August that
the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is offering free fact sheets to help
chefs, retailers and consumers in making seafood choices. "The fact
sheets describe the various seafood species, and explain the regulations
that govern their harvesting, growing or importation." There are now 28
fact sheets published by NFI, presently the only U.S. national fishery
lobbying organization which represents, among others, major fish and
food processing companies, restaurant chains (e.g., Red Lobster) and
seafood importers (e.g., farmed shrimp, salmon). The fact sheets are in
response to a number of seafood guides that have been published over
the past year and to the Seafood Choices Alliance (see Sublegals,
3:26/04). For more information, go to: www.seafoodchoices.com. For
more information on the NFI fact sheets, go to: www.worldcatch.com.
4:08/09. FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS ADDITIONAL PROTECTION
FOR BOCACCIO, LINGCOD: On 22 August, U.S. District Judge
James Larson (Northern District for California), ruled that the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery
management plan (FMP) "has not observed its duty to obtain accurate
bycatch data. Nor has the agency bothered to explain its decision
to ignore these factors and not adjust bocaccio and lingcod bycatch
percentages in the face of evidence that it should."
In addition to his stern criticism of NMFS on bycatch (many hook-
and-line groundfish fishermen have also been critical of NMFS and the
Pacific Fishery Management Council regarding the bycatch issue),
Judge Larson held the federal fishery agency had: violated federal laws
by not providing prior public notice or allowing for comment on the
2001 rules for the fishery; authorized inadequate rebuilding plans for
overfished species; and failed to consider a reasonable range of
alternatives and environmental consequences in setting rules for
catching bocaccio and lingcod. Since 1999, NMFS has declared seven
of the 16 groundfish species it has studied as overfished. Representing
the conservation and fishing plaintiffs in the case, Natural Resources
Defense Council v. Evans, Case Nos. C 01-0421 JL and C 01-0637 JL,
was NRDC's Drew Caputo.
"This ruling is part of the solution to the West Coast fisheries crisis,"
said Peter Huhtala of the Pacific Marine Conservation Council (PMCC),
one of the plaintiff groups in the lawsuit. "This can help managers make
positive changes leading towards sustainable fishing now and in the
future." For more information on the lawsuit, contact Drew Caputo at:
dcaputo at nrdc.org.
4:08/10. NEW RECORDKEEPING, REPORTING RULES
ISSUED FOR ALASKAN GROUNDFISH FISHERY: The National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published in the 20 August Federal
Register (Vol. 66, No. 161, pp.43524) its final rule, to take effect 19
September, amending portions of the regulations implementing the
recordkeeping and reporting requirements for groundfish fisheries in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to require groundfish motherships and
catcher/processors to submit annually to Alaska's Department of Fish &
Game (ADF&G) a Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR).
According to NMFS, the action is necessary to gather information on
ex-vessel and first wholesale values for state-wide finfish and shellfish
products from catcher/processors and motherships at sea. These data
together with the information already gathered from shoreside
processors and stationary floating processors will provide a means to
compare value information (in dollars) of different types of species and
products from all processors of fish harvested from Alaska State and
Federal waters within a year, and comparisons of several years through
consistent yearly collection of information. This action is intended to
further the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation & Management Act with respect to the collection and
analysis of economic data. For more information,
contact:patsy.bearden at noaa.gov.
4:08/11. FISH & GAME COMMISSION PUTS-OVER DECISION
ON MPA OPTION FOR CHANNEL ISLANDS; ATLANTIC MPA
WORKSHOPS: Following hours of testimony at its 24 August meeting in
Santa Barbara (see Sublegals, 4:06/14), the California Fish & Game
Commission decided to put over a decision on adoption of a regulation for
the imposition of marine protected areas (MPAs) around the Channel
Islands. An agency proposal put forward by the National Park Service
for extensive closures of traditional fishing grounds around the islands
was supported by busloads of environmental groups, while sportfishing
groups argued against any closures being applied to their fisheries.
Lobster fisherman Chris Miller, who was a member of the Channel
Islands' Marine Reserves Working Group (MRWG), presented the
Commission with an alternative proposal to that of the agencies,
identifying areas for special protection and some no-take zones. Miller
and some of the other commercial fishing representatives have recognized
the value of some MPAs within this national marine sanctuary, including
some areas where there would be no fishing, but feel the agency
proposals, drafted by individuals with little at-sea experience, are overkill
that would provide very little actual conservation (over that proposed by
the commercial fishermen) but cause extensive and unnecessary financial
harm to local fishermen. For information on the fishermen's alternative,
contact Chris Miller at: cmlobster at earthlink.net. For information on the
Fish & Game Commission action, go to:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fg_comm .
In addition to consideration by the Fish & Game Commission of
MPA proposals for the Channel Islands, and the current process under
California's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) of identifying sites for
MPAs along the state's coast, there is a government/non-government
initiative, called "Baja to Bering" to establish MPAs along the entire
west coast of North America. The newest version of the Baja California
to Bering Sea Marine Conservation Initiative's strategic plan can be seen
at: http://www.orchestrabycrossdraw.com/30/Posting.cfm. Comments or
questions on the strategic plan should be directed to: b2b at cpawsbc.org.
On the Atlantic seaboard, the New England Aquarium and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Sea Grant Program have
scheduled two MPA public forums: the first is at the New England
Aquarium Conference Center in Boston, Massachusetts on 11
September, 1600-1900 HRS; and the second will be held at College of
the Atlantic, Gates Center in Bar Harbor, Maine on 12 September, 1600-
1900 HRS. For more information, go to:
www.neaq.org/special/mpaforum.
4:08/12. FARM POLLUTION CREATING MASSIVE DEAD
ZONES: Throughout the nation agricultural fertilizers and farm
chemicals washing into estuaries are creating massive biological 'dead
zones,' according to scientists quoted in a 24 August Associated Press
article, which is why almost half of America's bays are too polluted to
swim or fish in. Only the worst example is the Mississippi River Delta
(see Sublegals, 4:04/02; 4:01/08), but according to the story many of the
nation's 138 bays are also hard hit, including San Francisco and Newport
Bays in California. Meanwhile Congress has cut funding to or poorly
funded such programs as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
which provides money to farmers to voluntarily reduce or eliminate their
major sources of farm pollution. For more see:
http://www.registerguard.com/news/20010824/
3a.nat.farmpollution.0824.html.
4:08/13. FEDERAL OCEAN COMMISSION SCHEDULES
FIRST MEETING, ADVERTISES FOR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) has announced the first meeting for the recently appointed
federal Commission on Ocean Policy, scheduled for 17-18 September at
the U.S. Department of Commerce Auditorium, Herbert C. Hoover
Building in Washington, DC. The meeting is being held pursuant to
requirements under the Oceans Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-256,
Section 3(e)(1)(E)). The agenda will include welcoming remarks, an
overview of the Oceans Act,discussion of the Commission's
responsibilities, and organizing the efforts of the Commission. Further
information is available at the preliminary website,
http://oceancommission.gov, which will be availableon or before 7
September. NOAA is providing this notice at the request of the Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and under legislation providing
FY1998 appropriations for NOAA, H.R. 2267 (Public Law 105-119),
and the accompanying conference report (105-405). The report specifies
that funding has been appropriated to NOAA's National Ocean Service
``to provide support for the Commission on Ocean Policy, a commission
which will examine both Federal and non-Federal ocean and coastal
activities, and report to the Congress and the President.'' For more
information on the Commission meeting, contact Glenn Boledovich at:
Glenn.Boledovich at noaa.gov.
Concurrent with the meeting announcement is the advertisement for
an Executive Director of the Ocean Commission. According to the
notice issued by CEQ, the Executive Director job "is an executive,
senior management position requiring expertise in budget oversight,
fiscal responsibility, management of staff, contract oversight, and oral
and written communication. Expertise managing major projects
involving large quantities of information and production of timely
reports is required. Specific knowledge of national ocean law, policy,
administration, program organization, natural resource management, and
oceanography and marine sciences is desirable. This is a temporary
position lasting about 18 to 24 months. The Executive Director will
work in the Commission's offices in the Washington, DC,
area. Applicants should be prepared to begin work this October. Salary
is negotiable depending on experience." Applications must be
postmarked by Friday, 7 September. Resumes or curriculum vitae,
along with a statement of interest and qualifications of no more than 750
words, should be sent to: Philip A. Cooney, Council on Environmental
Quality, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 360,
Washington, DC, or by fax to: (202) 456-2710.
4:08/14. UK FISHING INDUSTRY, WFF JOIN IN
FISHSTOCK RECOVERY STUDY: The 3 August issue of the U.K.
fishing trade publication, Fishing News, reports that the Britain's
National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) is joining
with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) "to set up a major study of the
economic consequences of stock recovery measures." Currently, many
U.K. fish stocks are undergoing recovery plans and the challenge has
been to rebuild stocks as quickly as possible without destroying the
fishing industry in the process. Hannish Morrison, Chief Executive of
the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (a member of the NFFO), said the
"initiative is a new departure, not only in the level of collaboration
between the national federations and WWF but in making a break with
the snail's pace of movement in the adoption of effective conservation
measures." According to the FN article, the initial phase of the study is
being undertaken by environmental consultant, Dr. Malcolm
MacGarvin, and will take to the end of the year to complete. To see the
full article, go to: www.fishingnews.co.uk.
4:08/15. NMFS RELEASES DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
FISHERIES RESEARCH: The National Marine Fisheries Service has
released its draft Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2001) and is
seeking comments on the paper on or before 21 September. The
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act
(MSFCMA) requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop, triennially,
a strategic plan for fisheries research for the subsequent years.
Comments on and requests for copies of the draft Strategic Plan for
Fisheries Research (2001) should be directed to John T. Everett,
Chief,Research, Analysis, & Coordination Division, Office of Science &
Technology, NMFS, NOAA, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910 or by e-mail at: John.Everett at noaa.gov. The NMFS draft
Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research (2001) may be reviewed at:
http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st2/index.html.
4:08/16. STELLER SEA LION BIOP RELEASED FOR NORTH
PACIFIC GROUNDFISH FISHERIES: On 20 August, the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) released its Draft Biological Opinion
(BiOp) on Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska Groundfish
Fisheries for 2002 and the impact of those fisheries on the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) listed Steller sea lion. Large closures have been
mandated in Alaska waters on its groundfish fishery as a result of
measures that have been implemented by the federal fishery agency
aimed at protecting this species of sea lions. To view the draft BiOp, go
to: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/stellers/biop2002/
draft.htm. Comments on the draft are due 21September.
In addition to NMFS' release of the BiOp, WorldCatch News
Network noted 21 August that the Alaska Steller Sea Lion Restoration
Team (ASSLRT) has released its report examining existing and
proposed fishery management actions in light of the population status of
the Steller sea lions in Alaska. The team was appointed by Governor
Tony Knowles last September and is charged with promoting the
recovery of Steller sea lion populations while sustaining viable
commercial fisheries in Alaska. The 106-page report provides a synopsis
of Steller sea lion declines; a review of past and current listing status'
under the Endangered Species Act; considerations of critical habitat; an
overview of ASSLRT comments on the NMFS 2000 BiOp; protective,
adaptive, and experimental management recommendations; research
recommendations; and conclusions. Titled, "A Review of Proposed
Fishery Management Actions and the Decline of Steller Sea Lions
Eumetopias jubatus in Alaska: A Report By the Alaska Steller Sea Lion
Restoration Team" it is available at:
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/pubs/rir/5j01-04/5J01-04.pdf, or
a copy may be requested from the ADFG at:
cfpub at fishgame.state.ak.us.
4:08/17. CALIFORNIA SWORDFISH/SHARK DRIFTNET
FISHERY CLOSED UNTIL MID- NOVEMBER TO PROTECT
LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES: On 24 August, the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published in the Federal Register
(Vol. 66, No. 165, pp. 44549-44552), an interim final rule to prohibit
fishing with drift gillnets in the California/Oregon (CA/OR) drift gillnet
fishery from 15 August through 15 November in state and federal waters
in Monterey Bay, California and vicinity, north to the 45 deg. N lat.
intersect of the Oregon coast. NMFS claims the incidental take level of
leatherback sea turtles by this fishery is dependent on the area and
season being fished. The time and area closure will result in a take level
reduction by the fishery and is necessary to avoid the likelihood of the
California/Oregon drift gillnet incidentally taking one of these
Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed animals. The turtles are hunted in
South Pacific Islands, where their eggs are also eaten. However, to
protect them NMFS has ordered fishery closures to ensure there will be
no accidental take by U.S. fishermen. Comments on this interim final
rule are due on or before 23 November and should be sent to Tim Price,
NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Copies of the Environmental
Assessment (EA) or Biological Opinion (BiOp) may also be obtained
from Tim Price, Tel: (562) 980-4029.
NEWS, COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS: Submit your news items,
comments or any corrections to Natasha Benjamin, Editor at:
ifrfish at aol.com or call the IFR office with the news and a source at
either: (415) 561-FISH (Southwest Office) or (541) 689-2000
(Northwest Office).
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