The following news summaries were compiled by Gene Buck, Senior Analyst in the Congressional Research Service. Capital letters denote new information that did not appear in previous summaries.
The following news summaries were compiled by Gene Buck, Senior Analyst in the Congressional Research Service. Capital letters denote new information that did not appear in previous summaries.
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NMFS Oversight Hearing.
On July 24 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has tentatively scheduled an oversight hearing to review the authority and decision-making processes of NMFS's Northwest Region. [personal communication]
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On July 15, 1997, NMFS announced that it was updating and revising its list of species that are candidates for possible addition to the List of Endangered and Threatened Species. While the 1991 version of the List contained 44 candidate species under NMFS jurisdiction, 37 are being removed and 15 are being added, including 6 species of Pacific salmon and anadromous trout, for a new total of 22 species. [NOAA press release]
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On June 30, 1997, Secretary of Commerce William A. Daley announced the appointment of 30 individuals to various Regional Fishery Management Councils, including an Indian Tribal representative to the Pacific Council, as enacted in P.L. 104-297. [Assoc Press]
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AK Pink Salmon Price.
On July 30, 1997, commercial salmon seiners from False Pass to Cordova, AK, remained in port, refusing to accept a price as low as $0.05 per pound for pink salmon. Kodiak seiners initiated the protest earlier in the week, after the United Seiners Association had little success in obtaining processor commitments to a minimum price of $0.15 per pound. [Assoc Press]
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In late July 1997, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began efforts to release an undetermined number of salmon and steelhead trout that may have become trapped beneath the fish ladder near the Bonneville Dam's powerhouse on the WA side of the river. Debris from heavy spring runoff had ripped holes in a grating allowing fish to become trapped. Some biologists estimate as many as 1,000 fish may be trapped. In addition, the Corps has been asked by federal, state, and tribal managers to shut down the dam's second powerhouse for several weeks so that debris can be removed to clear the fish passage system before the peak steelhead/fall chinook run arrives. However, the Corps contends that pumping water from the fish passage system and subsequent debris removal could not be completed in time to benefit this year's fish. [Assoc Press]
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In late July 1997, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that it would begin spilling water at Grand Coulee Dam, WA, and Hungry House Dam, MT, in order to meet NMFS flow objectives for the Columbia River. [Dow Jones News]
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On July 24, 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans held an oversight hearing to review the authority and decision-making processes for Columbia River salmon management by NMFS's Northwest Region. A continuation of this hearing is scheduled on Aug. 15, 1997, in Boise, ID. [Congr. Record, personal communication]
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On July 23, 1997, AK Fish and Wildlife Protection officers began boarding 41 gillnet vessels alleged to have been fishing for sockeye salmon beyond the legal 3-mile limit in Cook Inlet. Charges are pending for 15 vessels, while 26 were charged with misdemeanor counts of fishing in closed waters. [Assoc Press]
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On July 18, 1997, the Peruvian government reinstated a coastwide ban on anchovy fishing, based on lowered harvests related to El Nino conditions. In mid-July 1997, Chilean officials projected a significant increase in anchovy harvest due to displacement of anchovy southward from Peru by warmer El Nino currents. [Dow Jones News, Dow Jones News] Back to top or Back to home page On July 17, 1997, the ID Fish and Game Commission voted to open more areas to fishing for abundant hatchery-bound chinook salmon and to increase the catch limits in several areas. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On July 15, 1997, the Independent Scientific Review Panel reported 35 recommendations to the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) after reviewing fish and wildlife projects proposed for FY1998 funding, including one recommendation that the Council not approve funding for new fish hatcheries in the Columbia River basin until the impact of such facilities on wild fish and river ecology is better understood. Other recommendations concerned measures addressing juvenile salmon migration and resident fish. Public comment on the Panel's recommendations will be received through Aug. 26, 1997. [NPPC Congressional Update] Back to top or Back to home page On July 14, 1997, NMFS published interim regulations for protecting wild coho salmon in northern CA and southwestern OR. Prohibitions against incidental take would be waived in OR for salmon hatcheries, ocean harvest and freshwater sport fishing for other species, habitat improvement projects, and research as long as they comply with the provisions of OR's coho salmon restoration plan. However, cattle grazing and logging activities that harm salmon could be punished with fines as high as $100,000 plus a year in jail. In CA, the waiver from regulations would apply only to ocean fishing and some research. These regulations take effect on Aug. 15, 1997, with comments accepted through Sept. 15, 1997. On July 29, 1997, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled the NMFS acted properly in accepting OR's coho salmon recovery program, and not immediately listing OR coho salmon as endangered or threatened. In addition, Judge Illston ordered the case moved from San Francisco to Portland, where the Portland court will decide whether OR's recovery plan is sufficient to restore coho salmon populations. [Assoc Press, NMFS press release] Back to top or Back to home page On July 9, 1997, AK Dept. of Fish and Game managers closed the Kuskokwim River to commercial and sport fishing for chum salmon in response to low numbers of fish; subsistence fishing will be allowed to continue. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On July 9, 1997, officials of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other federal agencies have scheduled a meeting at Boise State Univ. to introduce draft environmental impact statements for the four-year, $35 million Upper Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Project. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On July 4, 1997, the AK Dept. of Fish and Game imposed an emergency closure of the Naknek-Kvichak district fishery for sockeye; catches are poor and spawning escapement is low since warm, dry weather has kept most of the fish offshore. The Togiak District fishery was ordered to close early on July 9. In early July 1997, the Univ. of Washington's Fisheries Research Institute issued a revised forecast of returning Bristol Bay sockeye stocks, reducing the estimated catch by about 30% to fewer than 17 million fish. On July 13, 1997, the Bristol Bay Borough Assembly declared a local emergency in light of weak salmon returns. On July 14, 1997, AK Dept. of Fish and Game officials reported that this year's Bristol Bay sockeye harvest may be the smallest since 1988. The sockeye harvest estimate has been reduced from 25 million to 15 million fish. Although the reason for the weak returns is not clear, decreased marine survival is suspect. On July 16, 1997, the sockeye harvest estimate was lowered to 13 million fish, which would be the lowest catch in 19 years. On July 18, 1997, AK governor Tony Knowles declared the Bristol Bay area an economic disaster due to the poor salmon harvest, providing for state aid. As of July 18, slightly less than 12 million sockeye salmon had been harvested. The estimated lost income totals more than $80 million, reflecting the poor catch and low salmon prices. In late July, 1997, fishermen were reported to have caught just 7.5% of the forecast harvest for the third worst harvest of the century for this fishery. [Assoc Press] .... End of Part 2/4 Back to top or Back to home page On July 3, 1997, investigators raided a Hokkaido company on suspicion that it was sending Japanese fishermen to Russia to catch salmon under Russian quotas for sale in Japan. [Dow Jones News] Back to top or Back to home page On July 3, 1997, U.S. officials announced that WA state fishermen would be allowed to begin fishing for early Stuart sockeye bound for the Fraser River on July 5. Additional U.S. fishing periods were scheduled daily for July 7-9, 1997. The total early Stuart run is estimated to amount to about 1.1 million sockeye, with a spawning escapement of 500,000 desired. Of the 600,000 available for harvest, WA fishermen are anticipated to be able to harvest about 86,000 fish. However, Canadians urge restraint until the size of the actual return can be determined. >From 1990-1996, Canada has asked that the United States not harvest from the early Stuart run, and the United States has agreed. On July 6, 1997, Canadian officials opened a fishery restricted to certain Native fishermen, with additional broader commercial openings scheduled through the week. At midnight on July 7, 1997, the AK Dept. of Fish and Game closed the southeast AK chinook salmon troll fishery after about 120,000 chinook were estimated to have been caught. This closure was earlier than anticipated due to high catch rates. On July 8, 1997, U.S. managers announced that the WA state fishery for early Stuart sockeye would close a day earlier than originally scheduled, due to high catches by U.S. fishermen. After catches are tabulated, a decision will be made on July 10 or 11 whether to allow additional fishing. On July 9, 1997, Canadian officials raised concerns that AK seiners were targeting Canadian sockeye salmon under the guise of fishing for AK pink salmon, which usually do not return to spawn until late summer. On July 9, 1997, Canadian Trade Minister Sergio Marchi discussed aspects of salmon negotiations with U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky. BC Premier Glen Clark appealED to WA residents for more attention to conservation via an open letter published in major WA newspapers on July 10, 1997. On July 10, 1997, a BC fishing company filed suit against the Canadian government in Vancouver, BC, court, alleging a conspiracy in allowing Treaty negotiations to stall and in allocating harvest quota so as to benefit seiners and large processors and discriminate against small salmon trollers. On July 16, 1997, U.S. and tribal managers decided, jointly with Canadian managers, not to reopen the fishery for early Stuart sockeye from the Fraser River due to concerns that high siltation in the River may prevent significant numbers of salmon from reaching their spawning areas. In earlier fisheries, U.S. fisherman caught about 108,000 early Stuart fish while Canadians harvested about 276,000. On July 16, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark was reported to have written to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien calling for a joint strategy to counter alleged targeting of BC sockeye by southeast AK purse seiners near Noyes Island. Canadian officials claim AK fishermen have caught 350,000 Canadian sockeye in this fishery, rather than the 120,000 agreed to. AK officials contend the sockeye catch has been much smaller. On July 18, 1997, U.S. officials admitted that southeast AK fishermen had incidently caught a substantial number of sockeye salmon when fishing for pink salmon, despite a limit of 120,000 sockeye, but stated that they believe the United States is not in violation of the Treaty. Canadian officials are concerned with the possibility that southeast AK fishermen could catch as many as 1 million sockeye caught by Aug. 1. On July 18, 1997, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy sent a diplomatic letter to the United States, demanding that AK fishermen immediately stop intercepting Canadian sockeye salmon. On July 18, 1997, after dozens of BC fishing boats blocked the AK fish tender Polar Lady carrying 100 tons of salmon to a fish processing plant in Prince Rupert, BC, the tender returned to U.S. waters. On July 19, 1997, several hundred Canadian fishing boats surrounded the AK ferry Malaspina in Prince Rupert, BC, blocking its departure for Ketchikan, AK. The blockade continued through July 21, despite a July 20 court order from a Montreal judge that the fishing boats move and allow the ferry to depart; about 300 ferry passengers were stranded. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright sent a diplomatic letter to Canada, protesting the ferry blockade; the Canadian fishermen demand that Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson intercede and resume Treaty negotiations. On July 20, 1997, a second ferry bound for Prince Rupert was diverted to Bellingham, WA. On July 20, 1997, four U.S. fishermen aboard two salmon gillnetters, the Lynde E and the Wanda Mae, were arrested and their boats and catch seized for allegedly fishing inside Canadian waters in the Juan de Fuca Strait near the mouth of the Jordan River off the southern tip of Vancouver Island; in addition, their gillnets reportedly were of a type that was illegal in Canada. On July 21, 1997, the captains of the two U.S. fishing vessels arrested were fined $4,000 each, with charges against their two deckhands stayed. Late on July 21, 1997 and after Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson assured fishermen that he would make a renewed effort to resolve the dispute, Canadian protesters allowed the AK ferry Malaspina to continue its journey north from Prince Rupert, BC. AK has suspended ferry service to Prince Rupert indefinitely, and AK's Attorney General is reported to have said that AK intends to sue BC fishermen and the Canadian government in Vancouver,BC, Federal Court for damages. On July 22, 1997, Prince Rupert's mayor sent a letter of apology to AK Governor Tony Knowles, including assurances that efforts are being made to compensate AK for losses. On July 23, 1997, Canadian and U.S. officials agreed to appoint special envoys to renew Pacific salmon negotiations; these envoys will maintain daily contact and report directly to Prime Minister Jean Chretien and President Bill Clinton. On July 23, 1997, U.S. and Canadian officials were reported to have held an hour-long meeting characterized as a "good discussion." On July 23, 1997, the U.S. Senate voted 81-19 to pass S.Res. 109, expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the AK ferry blockade in Prince Rupert, BC, and urging President Clinton to impose economic sanctions if other ferries are blocked. On July 23, 1997, WA officials announced that they were reopening the fishery for early Stuart sockeye for one day on July 24, after the Pacific Salmon Commission increased its estimate of the run size from 1.4 million fish to 1.8 million fish. Thus far the U.S. has harvested 121,000 fish while Canadians have harvested 322,000; U.S. managers agreed to Canada's revised request that 687,000 fish (rather than the earlier 500,000 fish) be allowed to escape for spawning. On July 24, 1997, AK managers did not reopen the southeast AK purse seine salmon fishery in Management District 4 to allow sockeye salmon bound for Canada's Nass River to pass. On July 25, 1997, White House announced that former EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus had been appointed by President Clinton to serve as the U.S. special envoy. The Canadian government appointed Dr. David W. Strangway, President and Vice Chancellor of the Univ. of BC, as their special envoy. On July 28, 1997, AK Attorney General Bruce Botelho was tentatively scheduled to personally file AK's lawsuit against the Canadian government and BC fishermen for AK ferry blockade costs in Vancouver, BC, Federal Court. AK is seeking $2 million in damages. BC Premier Glen Clark assured BC fishermen that the Province will pay their legal expenses. On July 28, 1997, the Vancouver, BC, Federal Court Justice Barbara Reed granted AK a permanent injunction against further blockades of AK state ferries and approved the transport of AK commercial salmon through BC waters. On July 28, 1997, the U.S. House approved H.Con.Res. 124 by voice vote, condemning the blockade of the AK ferry by BC fishermen and calling on the Administration to protect U.S. interests. In late July 1997, the Union of National Defense Employees asked the BC Supreme Court for an injunction to block the closure of the Nanoose testing range, as threatened by BC Premier Glen Clark, claiming BC has no authority to cancel a federal lease. On July 29, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson met in Washington, DC, with Pacific Northwest Senators and Commerce Secretary William Daley. On July 29, 1997, WA announced a 3-day fishery for early sockeye salmon bound for the Fraser River after the Pacific Salmon Commission increased the estimated run size from 351,000 fish to 500,000 fish. On July 29, 1997, the AK ferry Aurora, escorted by U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police vessels, made an uneventful trip to Hyder/Stewart, BC. On July 30, 1997, WA Gov. Gary Locke announced that former WA wildlife chief Curt Smitch was being appointed as Gov. Locke's chief advisor on salmon and natural resource issues. In addition, Smitch was reported likely to be nominated to represent WA and OR on the Pacific Salmon Commission, replacing Bob Turner. On July 30, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson met in Seattle with the governors of WA and AK. In a joint announcement on July 30, 1997, the governors of AK and WA and Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson announced that an expanded "Salmon Summit" would be convened in fall 1997, and that stakeholder discussions may resume in early fall 1997. Fisheries Minister Anderson also announced that Canada would schedule no directed fishery for coho salmon off Vancouver Island, reducing the harvest to 20% of the run, rather than the 60% harvested in 1996. On July 30, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark urged Fisheries Minister David Anderson to adopt a "Canada First" plan developed by a joint federal-provincial working group.
El Nino.
ID Hatchery Chinook.
Hatchery Impacts.
Wild Coho Salmon.
Kuskokwim River Chum Salmon Fishery.
Upper Columbia River Basin Ecosystem Management Plan.
Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery.
Russian Salmon Poaching.
Pacific Salmon Treaty.