Gene Buck, Senior Analyst
Congressional Research Service
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-7450
e-mail: <gbuck at crs.loc.gov>
Mr. Buck also makes the following request: "To further assist me in providing
a
broad scope of information resources to Congress, I would appreciate being
added to any mailing lists of publications, news releases, newsletters, etc.
relevant to marine mammals and fisheries. Where there is a subscription
cost, a
sample copy would provide a basis for deciding whether or not a subscription
could be justified. Thanks for your assistance in this matter."
*************************************************************
SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
.
March 1996 Salmon Suit. On Dec. 6, 1996, the ten fishermen's and
environmental groups that filed a Mar. 14, 1996 lawsuit in federal court
charging that NMFS, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of
Reclamation were violating the Endangered Species Act by developing salmon
restoration measures that fell short of what is required for operating 8 dams
along the Columbia and Snake Rivers to meet flow targets, and failing to
follow
even their flawed restoration plan, were scheduled to file a motion for
summary
judgment. These groups are claiming that there was no scientific
justification
for "last minute" changes to the federal biological opinion on measures of
success in salmon recovery, and that such changes were inappropriate. The
groups seek to open new consultation with states and tribes leading to
development of a modified salmon recovery plan. Judge Malcolm Marsh is
hearing this case and the motion. [Assoc Press]
.
Dworshak Dam Drawdown. On Dec. 4, 1996, Army Corps of
Engineers officials announced that they planned to lower Dworshak Reservoir
(Idaho) by 100 feet by mid-September 1997 to seal bedrock cracks beneath
the dam on the Clearwater River. Water levels will start being lowered after
the July 4 holiday, and be lowered 70 feet by Aug. 15. [Assoc Press]
.
New Habitat Conservation Plan Guidelines. On Dec. 3, 1996,
NMFS and FWS officials jointly announced new guidelines to streamline and
expedite the habitat conservation plan (HCP) permit process under the
Endangered Species Act. A new HCP handbook outlines a special
"low-effect" HCP category for small landowners and other minor- or
negligible-impact projects. The new guidelines aim for greater flexibility
in
procedural decisions and target approval deadlines. [FWS press release]
.
Pacific Salmon Treaty. On Dec. 2, 1996, British Columbia scientists
reported that 1996 BC Fraser River sockeye salmon run totalled 4.3 million
fish, significantly higher than the 1.6 million initial forecast. An
excellent run
of 7 million sockeye was reported for the Skeena River. However, coho
salmon returns along the south coast were near record lows. [Assoc Press]
.
Central CA Coho Salmon. Dec. 2, 1996 was the deadline for
comments on NMFS interim forestry guidelines to protect central CA coho
salmon habitat. The interim guidelines are developed to assist landowners in
complying with the Endangered Species Act when the listing of central CA
coho salmon becomes effective on Dec. 30, 1996. [NMFS news release]
.
Gas Bubble Research Meeting. In late November 1996, researchers
met in Portland, OR, to review gas bubble research in the Columbia-Snake
River drainage over the past year. [NW Fishletter]
.
Copper River Salmon. On Nov. 23-24, 1996, the Alaska Board of
Fisheries held hearings in Fairbanks to take public comment on possible
changes in salmon allocation between subsistence, sport, and commercial
users on the Copper River. [Assoc Press]
.
Payette River Council. On Nov. 21, 1996, the Payette Watershed
Council met for its initial meeting. This new public-private group seeks to
resolve water release scheduling concerns in the Payette watershed to provide
water from Cascade Reservoir for Snake River salmon migration in a manner
that is sensitive to other water use and quality concerns in the drainage.
[Assoc Press]
.
WA Salmon Habitat Protection. In mid-November 1996, the WA
Forest Practices Board adopted a stream-protection rule developed as a
compromise by Timber, Fish and Wildlife, an association formed to seek
consensus on controversial habitat issues. The new rule makes it a
presumption that a stream with certain physical characteristics supports
fish,
unless proven otherwise. Such a rule could make it easier to protect fish
habitat from streamside logging. Timber, Fish and Wildlife is coordinating a
long-term, comprehensive study of ways to better protect fish in waterways on
forested land, seeking to forestall additional endangered and threatened
species listings of fish. [Assoc Press, Tacoma News Tribune via Greenwire]
.
Alaska Salmon Waste. On Nov. 12-13, 1996, the AK Dept. of Fish
and Game coordinated an Anchorage meeting of fishing industry
representatives, salmon hatchery operators, state officials, and charity
managers to consider how to better deal with excess salmon that cannot be
marketed. AK Governor Tony Knowles requested this meeting in a September
1996 letter to Earth activists who protested waste during the 1996 salmon
season. On Nov. 13, 1996, an Earth activist filed suit in Alaska Superior
Court
against the state of Alaska seeking to void regulations permitting fish
carcasses to be dumped after roe stripping. [Assoc Press, Reuters]
.
Cook Inlet Salmon. On Nov. 11-18, 1996, the Alaska Board of
Fisheries was scheduled to meet to consider revisions to all 13 upper Cook
Inlet salmon management plans. No oral public testimony will be taken, but
testimony is being sought from various advisory committees. On Nov. 12,
1996, the Alaska Board of Fisheries voted 6-1 to postpone discussion of
controversial Cook Inlet salmon management issues until March 1997. [Assoc
Press]
.
Canadian Salmon Fleet Restructuring. On Nov. 6, 1996, an interim
federal-provincial report was released calling for short-term aid to assist
displaced BC salmon fishery workers hurt by the federal government's 1996
commercial salmon fleet reduction program. Although Fisheries Minister Fred
Mifflin suggested that as much as C$30 million or more could be made
available, officials with the Human Resources Dept. indicated that funding
between C$4 million and C$25 million was more likely. On Nov. 25, 1996,
Canadian government officials confirmed that the assistance announced on
Nov. 6, 1996, was from existing unemployment insurance funds and not any
new funds. [Assoc Press]
.
Dworshak Gas Bubble Research. In early November 1996, ID Dept.
of Fish and Game biologists reported that September 1996 studies of fish in
the Clearwater River below Dworshak Dam indicated few outward signs of gas
bubble disease. Of nearly 6,000 fish observed, only 0.6% (36 fish, of which
27
were kokanee) had any signs of gas bubble disease. [Assoc Press]
.
Harza Northwest Report. In early November 1996, the Army Corps of
Engineers released details of a report completed by Harza Northwest Inc. on
how to operate Columbia River Basin dams. The report concluded that
removing 4 lower Snake River dams, while being the costliest alternative in
the
short-run, may be the only cost-effective way to prevent ID salmon from
becoming extinct. Barging juvenile salmon would become the most
cost-effective alternative if survival of barged juveniles could be increased
88%.
Partial dam drawdown was concluded to be ineffective. [Assoc Press,
Medford, OR Mail Tribune via Greenwire]
.
WA Timberlands Habitat Conservation Plan. On Nov. 5, 1996, the
WA Board of Natural Resources signed an agreement for a habitat
conservation plan with NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for
management of 1.63 million acres of state timberlands as a cohesive
ecosystem of watersheds for at least 70 years. On Nov. 26, 1996, a coalition
of local governments and a school district filed suit with the WA Supreme
Court asking that the state be blocked from entering into the habitat
conservation plan, contending that the Board of Natural Resources failed to
consider important information concerning the state's duty to manage state
timber resources appropriately for generating revenues to finance public
schools and other programs. [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian via Greenwire]
.
CA Water Bond Passes. On Nov. 5, 1996, 63% of CA voters voted to
approve a $995 million water bond, including $390 million to fund habitat
restoration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and $193 million to improve
the Bay-Delta estuary. [Assoc Press]
.
OR Grazing and Water Quality. On Nov. 5, 1996, Oregon voters were
asked to decide on 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.
On Nov. 5, 1996, 64% of Oregon voters voted to defeat Measure 38, which
would have required ranchers to build fences to keep cattle from streams
damaged by overgrazing. On Nov. 18, 1996, Gov. Kitzhaber, ranchers, and
environmental groups announced agreement on a plan to better protect OR
streams from livestock damage and pollution. The OR state legislature could
be asked to provide as much as $40 million to fund this plan. The plan would
provide between $20 million and $35 million to assist farmers and ranchers
better protect water quality with fences and other measures. Another goal of
the plan is to complete the agricultural portions of water quality plans for
all
the state's streams within 4 years. [Assoc Press]
.
Oregon Salmon Plan. On Nov. 5, 1996, NMFS Regional Director Will
Stelle sent Gov. Kitzhaber a letter detailing major shortcomings of the
Governor's draft Coastal Salmon Restoration Initiative, including
insufficient
habitat protection, poor state agency coordination, and uncertain funding.
[Assoc Press]
.
WA Coho Salmon Marking. On Nov. 1, 1996, Judge Rothstein issued
a stipulation that halted fin-clip marking of all Puget Sound hatchery fish,
but
allowed marking to continue for hatchery fish along the Columbia River.
Fishery managers were directed to settle differences before releasing
juvenile
salmon in spring 1997. [Assoc Press, NW Fishletter]
.
MARINE FISHERIES
.
Swordfish and Shark Limited Access. On Jan. 6-23, 1997, NMFS
will conduct a series of 10 public hearings along the Atlantic coast on a
proposed limited access system for Atlantic swordfish and Atlantic sharks.
[personal communication]
.
Bluefin Tuna Conference. On Dec. 13, 1996, the NC Sea Grant
Program has scheduled an Atlantic bluefin tuna conference at Nags Head,
NC. [NC Sea Grant brochure]
.
Highly Migratory Species Management. On Dec. 9-11, 1996, NMFS
will hold 3 public hearings (Silver Spring, MD; St. Petersburg, FL; and
Danvers, MA) on proposed regulations, published in the Federal Register on
Nov. 6, 1996, modifying management of Atlantic bluefin tuna, billfishes, and
sharks. This proposal would consolidate several different sets of
regulations
(50 CFR Parts 285, 644, and 678) into 50 CFR Part 630. The proposed
regulations revise reporting and monitoring requirements, redefine the
"incidental" catch permit category for Atlantic tunas, address enforcement
concerns, and remove inconsistent or outdated language. [personal
communication]
.
Passamaquody Saltwater Fishing Claims. On Dec. 3, 1996,
District Judge John Romei agreed to delay arraignment until February 1997 of
a Passamaquody man charged with taking sea urchins Oct. 12, 1996, during
Maine's fall closed season, after tribal officials claimed aboriginal rights
to
unrestricted saltwater fishing had not been relinquished. The tribe is
negotiating with the state. [Assoc Press]
.
Shark Protection. On Dec. 3, 1996, the fisheries minister of
Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state declared the great white shark to
be a protected species along Australia's east coast. A substantial fine and
jail sentence could be imposed on anyone killing or possessing a great white
shark in NSW waters. This species is already protected in Tasmania state
and from commercial fishing in South Australia state with protection under
consideration by Victoria state. On Dec. 5, 1996, a TRAFFIC Network report
entitled "An Overview of World Trade in Sharks and Other Cartilaginous
Fishes" was released. This report discusses how limited controls and
monitoring of harvest and international trade in shark products threaten
shark
populations worldwide. [Reuters, World Wide Fund for Nature press release]
.
Lower Bering Sea Pollock Quota. On Dec. 2, 1996, North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) biologists announced that a 60,000
metric ton (about 5%) decrease in the 1997 Bering Sea pollock quota will be
recommended at the Dec. 11-15 NPFMC meeting. The new quota would be
1.13 million metric tons. The Council is also expected to consider emergency
measures to better protect seabirds from longline fisheries. [Assoc Press]
.
Texas Shrimper License Buyback. Nov. 30, 1996 is the deadline for
Texas-licensed commercial shrimpers to submit applications to the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Dept. for a voluntary buyback program for shrimping
licenses. The buyback was authorized by 1995 Texas law and potentially
affects 3,300 licensed shrimpers. [Assoc Press]
.
Atlantic Swordfish Drift Gillnet Closure. On Nov. 29, 1996, NMFS
announced a 6-month closure (Dec. 1, 1996 through May 29, 1997) of the drift
gillnet fishery for swordfish in Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
waters
under U.S. jurisdiction to better protect endangered right whales and
loggerhead turtles. [personal communication]
.
Industrial Fishing Concerns. On Nov. 28, 1996, politicians,
lobbyists, and scientists joined in a London news conference announcing the
release of a Unilever-sponsored report critical of industrial fishing
practices and
demanding more restrictions on industrial fishing in the North Sea. Unilever
officials have expressed concern for the sustainability of fish stocks such
as
cod, haddock, and whiting that feed on species caught by industrial fishing.
[Reuters]
.
Coral Reef Damage. On Nov. 27, 1996, Egyptian port authorities
announced that, as of Nov. 22, they had impounded the Ukrainian ferry
Moldova that ran aground and damaged the Woodhouse coral reef in the Strait
of Tiran in October 1996. [Reuters]
.
Sea Turtle Migration Routes. On Nov. 27, 1996, a Cornell Univ.
scientist and colleagues reported in Nature that migrating female leatherback
sea turtles, followed by satellite telemetry for 4 years, appear to follow a
very
narrow path between Costa Rica via the Galapagos Islands into the
mid-Pacific. [Reuters]
.
Japanese-Russian Fishery Negotiations. On Nov. 25, 1996, Japan
and Russia began an anticipated 2 weeks of negotiations under a 1984
bilateral agreement on 1997 quotas for fish harvests within the other's
exclusive economic zone. Japan is expected to discuss that nation's move to
use of a quota system based on total allowable catch. [Dow Jones News]
.
Fishing for Educational and Cultural Purposes. On Nov. 25, 1996,
the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission will begin a series of public
meetings on the Kahoolawe Ocean Management Plan, that proposes to
restrict fishing around the Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe to permit only those
on the island for education or cultural purposes to subsistence fish in
adjacent
waters. [Assoc Press]
.
Coral Reef Protection. The Nov. 25, 1996 issue of U.S. News and
World Report announced the beginning of a $21 million U.S. Agency for
International Development project (Coastal Resources Management Project) in
the Philippines to combat destruction of coral reefs by detonating dynamite
and spraying cyanide to catch fish. The project will attempt to create a
local
coalition for sustainable management to preserve the coastal environment and
defeat forces earning money by destroying it. [U.S News and World Report via
Greenwire]
.
EU Fleet Restructuring. On Nov. 22, 1996, EU Fisheries Council met
in Brussels to discuss a draft Irish compromise suggesting a 20% reduction
over 3 years for most threatened fish stocks (mackerel, herring, hake, and
North Sea cod) and a 15% reduction for less threatened stocks (such as
haddock), with considerable flexibility in how member states choose to reduce
fish harvests through reducing fishing or reducing capacity. France, the
Netherlands, and the United Kingdom requested that the 1992-1996 fleet
reduction program be extended an additional year; Portugal, Spain, and
Denmark claim to be the only nations to have met their capacity reduction
targets under the 1992-1996 program. The meeting concluded without
agreement; EU Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino expressed
disappointment that the Council was unable to come to a decision as the EU
would not be able to continue paying aid to restructure fishing fleets if no
agreement is reached by the end of the year. [Reuters, Agence Europe via
Reuters, Financial Times via Greenwire]
.
EU Satellite Monitoring. On Nov. 22, 1996, the EU Fisheries Council
discussed a generalized system of satellite monitoring of fishing activities
beginning Jan. 1, 1997. The proposal would affect only vessels exceeding 24
meters in length, and would exclude short-term, inshore fishing. Whether or
not to include the driftnet fleet in the initial monitoring scheme was
discussed.
The discussion was concluded without agreement; a decision will be made at
the December 1996 Fisheries Council meeting. The preliminary satellite
tracking system is scheduled to begin June 30, 1998. [Agence Europe via
Reuters]
.
Clinton at the Great Barrier Reef. On Nov. 22, 1996, President
Clinton visited Australia's Great Barrier Reef where he promoted the
International Coral Reef Initiative, commented on Australia's success in reef
protection, and warned of dangers to reefs worldwide from overfishing,
pollution, and sedimentation. [San Francisco Chronicle/Examiner via
Greenwire, Assoc Press, Reuters]
.
Exxon Valdez Compensation. On Nov. 21, 1996, the 9th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals voted 3-0 to uphold a lower court decision that loss of
customers, attributed to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill's impact on
commercial fishing, was not direct physical harm and is not eligible for
compensation. [Assoc Press]
.
Chilean Trawler Protest. On Nov. 21, 1996, Chile's Foreign
Investment Committee rejected an application by a local fishing company to
replace 3 small vessels with the world's largest factory trawler, the
American
Monarch of Norwegian registry. Greenpeace had protested the proposal to
use this vessel to harvest and process as much as 1,000 tons of fish daily
off
southern Chile. [Reuters]
.
Degradable Nets in Mississippi. On Nov. 19, 1996, the MS
Commission on Marine Resources adopted a regulation requiring MS
fishermen to use nets made of degradable material after Jan. 1, 1997.
Fishermen protest that such nets are not made in commercial quantities,
such material is difficult to distinguish from non-degradable materials, and
that
costs are significantly higher than non-degradable nets. [Assoc Press]
.
Canada-Chile Agreement. In Ottawa on Nov. 18, 1996, Canada
signed a trade agreement with Chile, who seeks membership in the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In response to this agreement,
Chilean fishmeal and salmon are among commodities that will enter Canada
without tariff or duties. The agreement must be approved by both Canada and
Chile. [Santiago El Mercurio via Foreign Broadcast Information Service]
.
LA Gillnet Ban Protest. On Nov. 17, 1996, 30 Louisiana chefs held a
benefit to express their concern to the public that the Louisiana gillnet ban
is
decreasing the amount and availability of local fresh fish. Proceeds of the
benefit were to be donated to the Louisiana Seafood Management Council.
[Assoc Press]
.
Russia-Iceland Fishery Concerns. In mid-November 1996, the
Northeast Atlantic Fishing Commission, meeting in London, passed a
resolution increasing Russia's Atlantic deep sea ocean perch (redfish) quota
on the Reykjanes Ridge by 5,000 tons. Quotas for other nations were
unchanged. Russia opposed the quota allocation and was reported to have
exceeded its 1996 quota by July. In response, Iceland closed its ports to
Russian perch trawlers. The deputy chairman of the Russian State Fisheries
Committee stated that Russia would continue to harvest these fish at what
Russia considered its rightful and legal interest. On Nov. 26, 1996, Russia
received an official protest from the Icelandic government after Russia
expressed concerns and increased efforts to exclude Icelandic trawlers from
cod fishing in the international waters (loophole) of the Barents Sea.
Russia is
concerned over Iceland's cod harvests since 1993 from international waters in
the Barents Sea. Russia and Norway have both also asked Iceland to cease
fishing for cod in the Barents Sea loophole in trilateral discussions. In
October 1996, Russia recommended that its fishermen cease delivering cod to
Icelandic processors. [Interfax, personal communication]
.
Alaska Seafood Center. In mid-November 1996, the Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) began reviewing a proposal for a
$100 million seafood processing facility in Anchorage. AIDEA could decide to
sell as much as $50 million in bonds to partially fund the project, which has
attracted $16 million from Taiwanese investors. [Assoc Press]
.
Baltimore Harbor Contamination. In mid-November 1996, Univ. of
Maryland researchers reported, in a study completed for the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation and the Baltimore Urban League, that blue crabs, eels, and catfish
collected from the Baltimore Harbor between 1983 and 1990 were
contaminated with heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and could be harmful if
consumed. MD Dept. of the Environment officials reported that harbor crabs
tested in 1995 contained much less lead. [Assoc Press, Baltimore Sun via
Greenwire]
.
ICCAT Meeting. On Nov. 15, 1996, a U.S. ICCAT Commissioner
indicated that the United States may seek ICCAT approval of trade sanctions
against non-ICCAT Member nations Belize, Honduras, and Panama for
harvesting bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea without regard to ICCAT
guidelines. On Nov. 20, 1996, Panama's Commerce Minister denied any
violations of ICCAT guidelines. He reported that Panamanian vessels were
told in October 1996 that their registry would be canceled if they fished for
Atlantic bluefin tuna. On Nov. 22-29, 1996, the International Commission for
the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) met in San Sebastian, Spain. On
Nov. 29, 1996, NMFS announced that ICCAT had adopted a program for
compliance with bluefin tuna and swordfish catch quotas by member nations.
Nations will be required to repay 100% for any overharvest as an initial
penalty, with repeated overharvesting resulting in quota reductions of 125%
of
the overharvested volume and, as a last resort, import bans. In addition,
ICCAT authorized nations to impose import bans against non-members
Belize, Honduras, and Panama for undermining ICCAT's conservation
measures for bluefin tuna. Belize and Honduras were given 6 months to
respond before sanctions would be imposed; Panama was given until Jan. 1,
1998 to provide proof that actions already taken have been effective in
controlling illegal fishing. Non-member Trinidad and Tobago was to be
notified
of ICCAT concern that its swordfish activities jeopardize ICCAT's
conservation
programs and that continued fishing could lead to an import ban. ICCAT
increased the annual quota for western Atlantic bluefin tuna by 150 metric
tons to 2354 metric tons, with the U.S. share being 1344.4 metric tons. The
1997 quota for north Atlantic swordfish is 11,300 metric tons, with declining
quotas for 1998 and 1999. On Dec. 3, 1996, the Japanese Fishery Agency
announced that, if ICCAT conditions are not met, Japan would ban imports of
Atlantic bluefin tuna from Belize, Honduras, and Panama. Tuna imports from
these 3 nations accounts for about 10% of Japan's annual consumption.
[Assoc Press, Reuters, NOAA press release, Kyodo via Foreign Broadcast
Information Service]
.
Canadian Shellfish Fees. On Nov. 15, 1996, WA Sen. Patty Murray
wrote to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative requesting an
investigation of new fees imposed by Canada on shellfish imports from the
United States. While Canada considers these to be permitted as inspection
fees, Sen. Murray believes they may constitute an unfair trade practice in
violation of NAFTA. [Assoc Press]
.
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END OF PART 1 -- CONTINUE TO PART 2
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