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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Savage Rapids Dam.
On Aug. 5, 1997, the Grants Pass Irrigation District's board of trustees voted 3-1 to spend an estimated $13.5 million to remove the Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River, OR and replace it with pumps. [Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 5, 1997, OR Gov. John Kitzhaber's chief salmon advisor Jim Martin told the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) that a 4-state plan to recovery salmon was necessary to avoid continued failure in the Columbia River basin.
On Aug. 6, 1997, the NPPC was reported to have conceded that it had failed to restore Columbia Basin salmon, and listened to recommendations by scientific staff on how to improve the effectiveness of fishery programs funded by the Bonneville Power Administration. [Assoc Press]
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In early August 1997, Muckleshoot tribal officials wrote the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife seeking additional restrictions on the Elliott Bay chinook salmon sport fishery, claiming the run to the Green River was 27% smaller than predicted. The tribe is concerned that harvest of wild chinook will threaten the population necessary to sustain the Green River run. [Assoc Press]
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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.
On Aug. 1, 1997, a second salmon buyer in the Kodiak area signed an agreement with the United Seiners Assoc. for a minimum base price of $0.15 per pound for pink salmon; the first contract was obtained on July 28. Fishermen are fishing on a rotation basis until sufficient contracts are received to permit a completely open fishery.
On Aug. 6, 1997, Kodiak fishermen agreed to resume fishing after 3 processors agreed to a minimum price of $0.12 per pound for pink salmon. [Assoc Press]
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In late July 1997, Port of Seattle commissioners voted 3-2 to spend as much as $300,000 for feasibility and environmental studies to create an artificial salmon stream and spawning area in downtown Seattle, WA, for shared educational and conservation objectives. Private funding is expected to cover construction costs. [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 gratings 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.
On Aug. 4, 1997, Corps officials announced that fish passage facilities had been repaired and would be reopened on Aug. 5; few trapped fish were found. [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 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, whereby Canadian fishermen would be encouraged to intercept Pacific salmon headed for U.S. waters.
On Aug. 1, 1997, the AK Marine Highway System announced its revised August schedule, with additional sailings to and from Bellingham, WA, and deletion of ferry stops at Prince Rupert, BC.
On Aug. 4, 1997, BC fishermen held a 6-hour protest gillnet fishery in defiance of Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) regulations for DFO's hesitance in scheduling an opportunity for BC gillnet fishermen to catch sockeye salmon migrating to the Skeena River. DFO is concerned that gillnet fishermen cannot be selective enough to protect intermingled and less abundant coho salmon and steelhead trout.
On Aug. 4, 1997, U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley delivered a speech to the Montreal Board of Trade, commenting that the AK ferry blockade may have changed attitudes sufficiently to cause progress in achieving a negotiated agreement.
On Aug. 5, 1997, Canada's Defense Minister Art Eggleton announced that the Canadian federal government will not allow BC Premier Glen Clark to cancel a U.S. Navy lease for marine weapons testing at Nanoose Bay, BC.
On Aug. 5, 1997, in Ottawa, U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley said that his Aug. 4 remarks in Montreal had been "somewhat misinterpreted" and that the AK ferry blockade was an illegal act that did nothing to help resolve the salmon conflict. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News, Wall Street Journal, United Press International]
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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 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] Back to top or Back to home page Salmon Pigment Lawsuit. In early August 1997, Igene Biotechnology Inc. (Columbia, MD) filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (ADM, Decatur, IL), alleging that ADM stole secrets, valued at $100 million, about a unique Igene process for producing astaxanthin, a natural pigment additive that gives farm-raised salmon pinker flesh. An Igene employee was arrested on July 16, 1997, and charged with theft of trade secrets. In mid-July 1997, ADM filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Igene over the same technology. [Dow Jones News, Wall Street Journal, Reuters] Back to top or Back to home page Beginning July 24, 1997, the WA state Pollution Control Hearings Board has scheduled a 5-day hearing in Olympia, to consider whether escaped salmon harm native fish and, if so, what options might be considered. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On July 24, 1997, the U.S. International Trade Commission concluded its preliminary investigation and voted 3-0 that there is sufficient evidence to indicate injury to U.S. Industry from alleged subsidies and dumping of Chilean salmon on the U.S. market. The Chilean government has indicated that it might file a petition with the World Trade Organization if U.S. penalties are imposed. [Assoc. of Chilean Salmon Farmers press release, Dow Jones News, Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On July 22, 1997, the Senate Committee on Appropriations reported H.R. 2107, FY1998 appropriations for the Dept. of the Interior, containing language direction the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete all action on a double-crested cormorant depredation order by fall 1997, and to join USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in evaluating and implementing population management strategies for fish-eating bird species. [S.Rept. 105-56] Back to top or Back to home page On July 18, 1997, 5 or 6 Atlantic salmon net pens became caught and tore open during a move to avoid a Heterosigma algae bloom, releasing an estimated 300,000 Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound, near Manchester, WA. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On July 14, 1997, AK Superior Court released a ruling by Judge Dan Hensley that the AK Dept. of Fish and Game did nothing illegal by issuing temporary roe-stripping regulations allowing pink and chum salmon hatcheries to discard salmon carcasses in 1996. [Assoc Press] Freshwater Fisheries Back to top or Back to home page Bull Trout. Between July 1 and July 17, 1997, five public hearings were scheduled on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed listing Klamath River bull trout as endangered and Columbia River bull trout as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Public comments will be taken until Aug. 12, 1997. On July 22, 1997, EPA officials approved modifications of ID's water quality guidelines, including maximum water temperature, aimed at protecting spawning and rearing habitat for bull trout. [Assoc Press, Washington Water Power press release] Back to top or Back to home page On Sept. 4-5, 1997, the National Research Council's Committee to Review Individual Fishing Quotas has scheduled a public meeting in Anchorage, AK, to take public comment on their review of IFQs. A similar meeting is planned for Seattle, WA, in mid-November 1997. [personal communication] Back to top or Back to home page On Aug. 5, 1997, NMFS announced that it is seeking public comment on proposed guidelines on how Regional Fishery Management Councils are to implement 1996 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act amendments addressing overfishing, stock rebuilding, and optimum yield. NMFS will receive comments through Sept. 18, 1997. [NMFS press release] Back to top or Back to home page In early August 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers not to purchase or eat Royal Line brand smoked salmon imported from Denmark because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA, the U.S. distributor of this product has refused to cooperate in providing information or recalling the salmon. [Dow Jones News] Back to top or Back to home page
Hatchery Impacts.
Wild Coho Salmon.
Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery.
Aquaculture and Aquaria
Fish as Pollutants.
Chilean Salmon Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions.
Fish-Eating Birds.
Farmed Salmon Escape.
AK Salmon Hatchery Roe Stripping Lawsuit.
Freshwater Fisheries
Marine Fisheries IFQ Meetings.
Regional Council Guidelines.
Smoked Salmon Alert.