Fishery News

A Coho

The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 5/5/2000 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 5/11/2000 are double-bracketed {{...}}

Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation Tel. 425-670-3584

SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA
FRESHWATER FISHERIES

SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

Salmon Restoration Hearing.

On May 18, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled a hearing on H.R. 2798, proposing to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance to AK, WA, OR, and CA as well as tribal governments for salmon habitat restoration projects. [personal communication]

Tern Removal Lawsuit.

On Apr. 28, 2000, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a Corps of Engineers' motion for an emergency stay of Judge Rothstein's injunction relating to the Army Corps of Engineers plan to destroy Caspian tern habitat and harass terns on Rice Island in the Columbia River estuary to encourage terns to move in hopes that will reduce tern predation on migrating juvenile salmon.

In response, the Corps canceled all tern harassment activities scheduled for Rice Island, lower Columbia River, this year. The Corps is scheduled to file arguments with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by May 18, 2000, with the response by the National Audubon Society due by June 13, 2000. [Seattle Times, National Audubon Society press release, Assoc Press]

Salmon Field Hearing.

On April 27, 2000, the House Resources Committee has scheduled an oversight field hearing in Pasco, WA, on hydropower, river management, and salmon recovery issues on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. [personal communication]

Dam Breaching.

On Apr. 26, 2000, NMFS announced that, on May 22, 2000, it will likely recommend that the 4 Snake River dams remain in place for at least 5 or 10 more years, to allow for a more complete assessment of progress toward recovering endangered salmon. If sufficient progress is not made in this time period, NMFS would recommend breaching the dams.

On Apr. 27, 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed the Army Corps of Engineers that the Corps' draft environmental impact statement on alternatives for the 4 lower Snake River dams was seriously deficient by failing to adequately address water quality issues. EPA stated that the agency believes dam removal to be the best option for salmon recovery. [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian, MSNBC, American Rivers press release, personal communication, Environmental News Network]

Columbia River Spring Chinook.

By late April 2000, more than 90,000 returning adult spring chinook salmon (combined wild and hatchery fish) had been counted passing upstream over Columbia River's Bonneville Dam, raising the possibility that this year's return could be the largest since the late 1970s.

In addition, immature (jack) spring chinook salmon are returning at a rate 6 times the 10-year average, suggesting another large return in 2001. [Assoc Press]

Karuk Salmon Allocation?

On Apr. 25, 2000, the Humboldt County (CA) supervisors took no stand on an appeal by the Karuk tribe for an allocation of Klamath River salmon for ceremonial harvest, delaying action for 2 weeks.

Any share the Karuks gain would be taken from the current allocation divided between the Yurok and Hoopa tribes.

On May 2, 2000, the Humboldt County supervisors voted to send a letter of support for federal legislation, stressing their interest in affirming the traditional nature of the Karuk salmon fishery, rather than taking sides in a dispute over salmon allocation.

On May 4, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled a hearing on H.R. 2875, proposing to amend the Klamath River Basin Fishery Resources Restoration Act to provide for Karuk tribal representation on the Klamath Fishery Management Council and modify the allocation of annual tribal catch. [Eureka Times-Standard, personal communication]

{Illegal Driftnetting.

On Apr. 20, 2000, Coast Guard aircraft spotted a 177- foot vessel about 620 miles south of Adak, AK, with as much as 4 miles of driftnet in the water. The vessel, the Arctic Wind, was pursued by the Coast Guard cutter Sherman. Despite evasive action, the Coast Guard intercepted and boarded the Arctic Wind on May 9, 2000, finding about a metric ton of salmon aboard. Although manned by a Russian crew, the vessel is of Honduran registry and was catching salmon for sale to Japanese buyers.} {{On May 12, 2000, Honduras authorized U.S. seizure of the vessel for prosecution under U.S. law. The vessel will be escorted to Adak, AK, and turned over to NMFS for prosecution. The Russian crew will be deported to Russia for prosecution by Russian authorities.}} [Washington Post, Coast Guard press release, personal communication]

Columbia Hydropower Hearings.

On Apr. 18, 2000, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight field hearing at Cascade Locks, OR, to review how pending federal decisions on restoring endangered salmon could affect operation of the federal Columbia River hydropower system. [personal communication]

Methow Irrigation Lawsuit.

On Apr. 17, 2000, a coalition of 3 environmental groups filed an intent to sue federal agencies over ad hoc management of irrigation ditches in the Methow Valley, WA. The groups contend that federal agencies must formalize the process and prepare a biological opinion on operation of irrigation ditches to protect salmon and steelhead trout. While the U.S. Forest Service concluded that operation of Methow Valley irrigation ditches could kill listed fish, NMFS has not issued a biological opinion. [Seattle Times]

WA Management.

In mid-April 2000, the WA Dept. of Ecology filed a complaint in Cowlitz County Superior Court to halt a 50-lot housing development, as a new tactic to protect salmon habitat by forcing developers to apply for state water-rights permits for groundwater. {{On Apr. 25, 2000, a coalition of WA environmental groups filed a 60-day notice of intent to file suit against NMFS for alleged delay in published a final 4(d) regulations for protecting salmon and their habitat in the Puget Sound area.}} [Assoc Press, Tacoma News Tribune]

CA Chinook Lawsuit.

On Apr. 14, 2000, a coalition of environmental and fishing groups filed suit in CA Superior Court, seeking to force the CA Water Resources Control Board to implement protective measures to protected threatened chinook salmon though reconsideration of a March 15, 2000, allocation of water rights along the San Joaquin River. [Environment News Service]

AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA

Pittsburgh Aquarium. May 13, 2000 is the scheduled preview opening date for the Pittsburg Zoo's new $15.9 million, 42,000 square foot AquaZoo, including the world's first revolving fish tank, a 100,000-gallon shark tank, and interactive exhibits. {{The official Grand Opening is scheduled for June 11, 2000.}} [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tribune-Review Publishing]

Cormorants.

On May 11, 2000, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has scheduled a hearing on H.R. 3118, proposing to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that would authorize States to establish hunting seasons for double-crested cormorants. [personal communication]

Marine Predator Task Force.

On May 4, 2000, the British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) announced that it had formed a special task force of federal and provincial officials and fisheries stakeholders to identify non-lethal solutions (e.g., prevention and deterrence) to conflicts between salmon farm operations and marine predators, such as sea lions. The task force is scheduled to hold its first meeting in mid-May 2000. The creation of this task force was stimulated by the recent announcement that a salmon farmer in Kyuquot/Clayoquot Sound, a United Nations Biosphere Reserve, had killed at least 14 sea lions. [BCSFA press release, personal communication]

{BC Salmon Escape.

On May 2, 2000, an estimated 30,000 juvenile chinook salmon escaped from a salmon farm in Kyuquot/Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, after a boat propeller became entangled in and ripped open a salmon net pen enclosure.} [BC Salmon Farmers Assoc press release, Assoc Press]

Salmon Culture Lawsuit.

On Apr. 26, 2000, the National Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and 4 of its ME members, sent formal notice to 3 ME salmon farms announcing their intent to file suit in U.S. District Court (Bangor) against the companies for releasing fish waste, food, and chemical pollutants in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) because they have no federal discharge permits. The farms claim that they are exempt from the permit requirements because the CWA treats aquaculture uniquely. [Assoc Press]

Organic Handling and Production.

Between Apr. 10 and May 3, 2000, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has scheduled 3 public meetings in AL, AK, and RI to discuss production and handling of aquatic animals to be labeled as "organic." This is part of an effort to establish national standards governing the marketing of products as organically produced. At the Apr. 12, 2000 meeting in Anchorage, AK commercial fishermen who harvest wild salmon expressed concerned that the "organic" certification for farmed salmon would be detrimental to them unless wild AK salmon also could qualify as "organic.". [USDA press release, Anchorage Daily News]

FRESHWATER FISHERIES

Atlantic Salmon.

On May 11, 2000, Bill Brown, science advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, will speak on Atlantic salmon recovery at the American Water Resources Assoc. brown-bag lunch at the Dept. of the Interior Bldg. in Washington, DC. [personal communication]

{Spinedace Lawsuit.

On May 8, 2000, the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit in U.S. District Court (Phoenix, AZ) against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), alleging failure to protect the threatened Little Colorado River spinedace. The Center seeks to force FERC to enter formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, leading to increased water releases from Blue Ridge Dam and Reservoir and improvement of habitat in East Clear Creek, AZ.} [Environment News Service]

Non-Native Fish.

An article in the May 5, 2000, issue of Science by a Univ. of WY ecologist reports that releases of non-native fish since the late 1800s are responsible for a significant loss of regional distinctiveness and diversity in U.S. rivers and lakes. Few refuges are left where almost purely native fish species exist, and areas that historically had no fish species in common now share many (e.g., AZ and MT now share 33 species in common; 89 pairs of states that formerly had no species in common now share an average of more than 25 species). Some states, such as NV, UT, and AZ, currently have more than 50% of their freshwater fish species introduced rather than native. Introductions for food and sportfishing were major factors contributing to this loss. [Asbury Park Press, Assoc Press]

Alabama Sturgeon.

On May 5, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule designating Alabama sturgeon to be endangered under the authority of the Endangered Species Act. [Fed. Register]

{{AK Subsistence Fishing.

On May 4, 2000, the Federal Subsistence Board declared AK's Kenai Peninsula to be "rural" and thus all residents of the area are eligible to engage in subsistence fishing on federal lands and waters.}} [Anchorage Daily News]

Chippewa Walleye Spearfishing.

As of May 4, 2000, six bands of WI Chippewa were reported by the WI Dept. of Natural Resources to have taken 30,357 walleye by traditional spearfishing. Their quota for this special off- reservation fishing season was 40,700 walleye from about 200 northern lakes. An unusually warm, early spring contributed to the second largest modern spearfishing harvest. [Assoc Press]

Kennebunk River Pollution.

On May 2, 2000, the Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport Watershed Association has scheduled a public forum in Kennebunk, ME, to begin planning a survey of stream, wetlands, and tributaries of the Kwennebunk River for possible sources of bacterial pollution that make many areas of the river unsafe for swimming or harvesting of shellfish. [Assoc Press]

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

In late April and early May 2000, about 50,000 year-old threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout are scheduled to be released by state, federal, and tribal biologists into the Truckee River, NV, in the last year of a 5-year study to restore this fish. [Assoc Press]

Great Lakes Guidebooks.

On Apr. 27, 2000, the U.S. and Canadian governments released "lakewide management plans" for 4 of the 5 Great Lakes (the plan for Lake Huron is not yet complete) http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/gl2000/lamps/index.html ]. These guidebooks identify pollution problems, show how ecosystems have changed, and highlight non-native species concerns. [Assoc Press]

Spikedace and Loach Minnow Critical Habitat.

On Apr. 25, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated almost 900 miles of rivers and streams in NM and AZ as critical habitat for threatened spikedace and loan minnow. This action was taken, in part, in response to a December 1999 lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity (Tucson, AZ). [Assoc Press]

Endangered Fish Recovery.

On Apr. 25, 2000, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power is scheduled to hold a hearing on S.2239, authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for implementing endangered fish recovery programs for the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River basins. [personal communication]

Fishkill Lawsuit.

In late April 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state of IN filed separate lawsuits against Crown Environmental Group Inc. and Guide Corp, alleging the companies caused one of the largest fishkills in IN history.

In December 1999, a discharge of ammonia and other toxics from an Anderson, IN, facility into the White River caused hundreds of thousands of fish to die along a 50-mile stretch of the river. Altogether, more than 117 tons of dead fish were collected. [Environment News Service]

Whirling Disease.

On Apr. 18, 2000, officials of the UT Division of Wildlife Resources announced that whirling disease had been detected using DNA tests at the Midway fish hatchery. This is the first occurrence of whirling disease at a state-operated hatchery in UT. Because of this discovery, more that 300,000 catchable rainbow trout will be lost to the regular stocking program for streams and rivers, with the fish planted instead in lakes and reservoirs. The director of the UT hatchery system reported that whirling disease had spread in 10 months to where he thought it would take 10 years to reach. [Assoc Press]

Native Fish Conservation.

In mid-April 2000, federal and state agencies, conservation groups, private industry, and others gathered in Idaho Falls, ID, to formalize the first comprehensive, multi-state (MT, WY, and ID) initiative to conserve Rocky Mountain native fish. The Partnership for Conservation of Native Fishes in the Rocky Mountains aims to increase funding opportunities for native fish restoration, coordinate research, and increase access to restoration plans and projects to facilitate cooperation among stakeholders. [Partnership for Conservation of Native Fishes in the Rocky Mountains press release]

Alberta Fishing Moratorium.

From Apr. 1 through May 19, 2000, fishing will be banned, for the first time ever, in most Alberta lakes, stream, and rivers to allow declining populations of walleye, perch, and pike to reproduce. [Grand Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune]

Zebra Mussels.

The Apr. 1, 2000 issue of Environmental Science and Technology contains an article reporting that zebra mussels are consuming so much dissolved oxygen from the Hudson River that much of the ecosystem is approaching a danger point at which other aquatic life will flee or die. In April 2000, two boats (one from IL, one from MI) stopped at CA border inspections station were found to be carrying dead zebra mussels. This makes a total of 24 vessel interceptions with zebra mussels at the CA border since November 1993.

On May 5, 2000, a scientist from the Canadian Museum of Nature reported at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society of Zoologists in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, that zebra mussels have eliminated 2 clam species from a long stretch of the Rideau River and are threatening a third species. [personal communication, New York Times, Ottawa Citizen]

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