Recent Salmon and Fish news on September 20

On Aug. 22, 1997, AK lawyers sent letters to 70 companies that own fishing vessels involved in the AK ferry blockade, advising them that they would be subject to arrest and their vessels seized unless they posted a security deposit (bond) by Sept. 15, 1997. Another 20 vessel owners were to be served in person.

On Aug. 28, 1997, more than 70 Canadian salmon trollers from the west coast of Vancouver Island left their fishing area to fish without hooks illegally in Johnstone Strait to protest their lack of access to sockeye salmon that are migrating through the Inside Passage this year to avoid warmer ocean waters. Although the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) issued citations to protesters, fishermen were later instructed to tear up their tickets as a conciliatory gesture from the DFO. In early September 1997, Canadian officials indicated the "Canada First" fishing strategy had been successful so far, with Canadian commercial fishing harvesting more than 7 million Fraser River sockeye salmon while U.S. commercial fishermen caught less than 1 million. Rather than the 21% of the Fraser River sockeye desired by the United States, U.S. fishermen have taken about 13%. In early September 1997, the BC government released a legal opinion, commissioned by the province, that concluded the United States was violating international law with respect to salmon management. In early September 1997, the deadline for posting security bond by BC fishing vessel owners named in Alaska's lawsuit was extended from Sept. 15 to Sept. 30.

On Sept. 8, 1997, the BC government, various Canadian worker unions, and BC individuals representing various aspects of the province's fishing industry filed suit in U.S. District Court against the United States and the States of WA and AK, attempting to force the United States to resume negotiations by seeking about $234 million in damages from the alleged illegal management of and overfishing by U.S. fisheries. Canada claims the disproportionate U.S. salmon harvest violates the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and U.S. legislation implementing the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

On Sept. 10, 1997, the deadline for posting C$10,000 security bonds by BC fishing vessel owners named in Alaska's lawsuit was extended for a second time from Sept. 30 to mid-October 1997.

On Sept. 10, 1997, the BC government filed court papers accusing the Canadian federal government of trespassing on provincial territory at the Nanoose Bay weapons testing range since the federal lease for the facility has expired.

On Sept. 11, 1997, the AK Marine Highway System announced its fall and winter schedule, with no ferry stops scheduled for Prince Rupert, BC. The summer 1998 schedule is due at the printers on Oct. 7, 1997.

On Sept. 11, 1997, President Clinton and Canadian Prime Minister Chretien spoke briefly about salmon. In mid-September 1997, President Clinton wrote a letter to AK's U.S. Senate delegation, stating that the United States would take appropriate countermeasures if alleged illegal activities by Canadians reoccurred.

On Sept. 17, 1997, the House International Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere held a hearing on Canadian policy issues that included the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

On Sept. 18, 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans held an oversight hearing on U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News]

On Aug. 26, 1997, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision and ruled that 8 Chippewa bands retain the right to hunt and fish without state regulation in east-central Minnesota. MN Governor Arne Carlson announced that the state of MN would appeal the ruling. However, the Chippewa insist on fishing under the court decision rather than waiting for decision on a likely appeal by the state.

On Sept. 4, 1997, the Mille Lacs Band formally asked the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift a hold on the exercise of its treaty fishing rights pending the outcome of a state appeal. [Assoc Press, Reuters]

On Aug. 26, 1997, the MD House Committee on Environmental Matters was scheduled to hold a hearing on problems on the lower Pocomoke River.

On Aug. 26, 1997, about 2,000 menhaden with lesions were found in VA waters of Pocomoke Sound.

On Aug. 29, 1997, MD and VA officials closed a 7-mile stretch of the lower Pocomoke River indefinitely to fishing, swimming, and recreational boating to limit human exposure to Pfiesteria toxin that medical researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Univ. of MD Medical Center believe has caused illness in at least 7 people. Five individuals were observed to have noticeable changes in brain tissue.

On Sept. 2, 1997, a scientific advisory committee was scheduled to meet in Annapolis, MD to examine data from the Pocomoke River.

On Sept. 2, 1997, VA Institute of Marine Science scientists collected menhaden from the Rappahannock River, with about 30% having Pfiesteria-like sores. No fish kill was reported. VA officials reported that similar outbreaks have been noted on the Rappahannock, James, and York Rivers since 1984.

On Sept. 2, 1997, the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services announced that it would establish a medical team from NC medical universities to evaluate NC residents who have been exposed to waters associated with fish kills in the Neuse River and other areas. In early September 1997, scientists from the FL Div. of Marine Resources announced that samples tested from the Pocomoke River contained a new species of Gymnodinium dinoflagellate rather than Pfiesteria.

On Sept. 3, 1997, a third, small fish kill was detected on the lower Pocomoke River, within the already-closed area.

On Sept. 4, 1997, VA scientists netted small numbers of live menhaden with lesions in VA waters of Pocomoke Sound.

On Sept. 5, 1997, officials of the MD Dept. of Natural Resources announced that the State plans to reimburse crabbers for losses sustained during the late August closure of the Pocomoke River. In early September 1997, NC established a telephone hotline to gather information from people who believe they may be suffering from Pfiesteria-related health problems.

On Sept. 9, 1997, the MD Dept. of Natural Resources announced expansion of a telephone hotline service in an attempt to solicit any reports of possible Pfiesteria effects outside the lower Pocomoke River area.

On Sept. 9, 1997, Jerrauld C. Jones, Chairman of the VA House of Delegates Committee on the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tributaries, announced that he intended to hold a hearing in October 1997 on Pfiesteria and associated concerns.

On Sept. 10, 1997, MD state officials announced that large numbers of fish with Pfiesteria-like symptoms had been reported in King's Creek in the Manokin River watershed. King's Creek was immediately closed indefinitely to fishing and boating. MD officials planned additional monitoring of the Pocomoke, Manokin, Little Annemessex, and Big Annemessex Rivers on Sept. 11 for any additional signs of Pfiesteria. MD officials were also reported that the Nanticoke River is of concern since it is similar to the Pocomoke River, and that sampling was being conducted on the Patuxent River.

On Sept. 11, 1997, the House approved an amendment to H.R 2264, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, that would provide $7 million to the Centers for Disease Control for activities to address emerging issues of human health effects from exposure to Pfiesteria.

On Sept. 11, 1997, MD Governor Glendening announced the creation of a regional governor's commission to develop a regional approach and suggested legislation for dealing with Pfiesteria problems.

On Sept. 13, 1997, lesions were discovered on menhaden in the Chicamacomico River in Dorchester County, MD; a six-mile stretch of this River was closed to fishing and boating on Sept. 14. In mid-September 1997, NC State Univ. officials announced plans to build a $1 million research center devoted exclusively to the study of Pfiesteria.

On Sept. 15, 1997, VA officials reported that 75% of the menhaden sampled on the Rappahannock River had lesions.

On Sept. 16, 1997, VA's Health Commissioner announced that VA would create an independent team of medical experts to assess Pfiesteria's effects on human health, after learning that MD officials declined to release information on their studies of 28 individuals reported to have suffered harm from contact with Pfiesteria toxins.

On Sept. 17, 1997, VA Governor George Allen ordered the VA Dept. of Health to create a Pfiesteria epidemiology research unit and authorized $2.3 million for Pfiesteria research, including transferring $600,000 in contingency funds to the new unit and designating $200,000 for the purchase of a scanning electron microscope and training of researchers working on the Pfiesteria issue.

On Sept. 17, 1997, VA Institute of Marine Science biologists were reported to have found lesions on 86 of 92 menhaden taken from the Great Wicomico River.

On Sept. 17, 1997, the state-organized team of MD physicians announced its findings, reaffirming earlier suspicions that Pfiesteria may cause human illness, including memory loss and inability to concentrate.

On Sept. 19, 1997, governors and state officials from 6 mid-Atlantic states (MD, VA, NC, DE, PA, and WV) met in Annapolis, MD, to consider a coordinated response to Pfiesteria. The House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight's Subcommittee on Human Resources has tentatively scheduled a pair of oversight hearings for Sept. 25, 1997, on the state and federal public health responses to Pfiesteria outbreaks. [Subcommittee press release, Assoc Press, Reuters, personal communication]

Round Island Subsistence Walrus Hunt.

On Sept. 20, 1997, the Qayssiq (Round Island) Walrus Commission will open a month-long subsistence walrus hunt on Round Island in Bristol Bay, AK, with approval from the AK Dept. of Fish and Game. The quota was doubled this year to 20 animals. [Assoc Press]

On Sept. 11, 1997, leaders of the Makah Tribe held a press conference on their WA reservation to answer questions about their proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that the Makah kill 5 eastern Pacific gray whales annually for subsistence. The IWC would likely consider the Makah proposal at its annual meeting in Monaco in October 1997. [Assoc Press]