Recent Salmon and Fish news on November 8, 1997

The following news items were compiled from a variety of information sources by Gene Buck, Senior Analyst in the Congressional Research Service. The CRS and the Sustainable Fisheries Foundation is not responsible for the accuracy of the various news items.

Salmon Along the Pacific Coast

Chinook Salmon Lawsuit.

On Nov. 6, 1997, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups filed suit in U.S. District Court against the federal government, seeking to force increased protection for chinook salmon in WA, OR, and CA under the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit alleges that NMFS should have proposed protection for chinook salmon by February 1996. [Assoc Press].

Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery.

On Nov. 6, 1997, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce issued a fishery disaster declaration for the Bristol Bay and Kuskokwim regions of Alaska in response to requests by AK officials. This declaration allows federal aid to be provided for fishermen who experienced low salmon harvests and low prices this year. [Assoc Press, Reuters]

Wild vs. Hatchery Fish?

On Nov. 5, 1997, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife reached provisional agreement on a draft plan to protect wild salmon after concurring that fishery managers can use broad judgment in determining what is a wild fish and what is a hatchery fish. The agreement must be approved by individual tribes and the WA Fish and Wildlife Commission. [Assoc Press].

BC Salmon Assistance Protest.

On Nov. 5, 1997, hundreds of BC fishermen were reported to have gathered outside federal fisheries offices in Vancouver and Victoria to protest what they considered the Canadian federal government's inequitable treatment of the salmon fleet compared to the Atlantic groundfish fleet. [Assoc Press]

New Zealand Salmon Imports.

On Oct. 31, 1997, New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture announced that it had concluded that it was inappropriate to continue a ban on imports of uncooked wild Pacific salmon from the United States. The risk analysis for this determination remains open for public comment until Dec. 10, 1997. [Dow Jones News]

FERC Hearing.

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and Power has tentatively scheduled a hearing on Oct. 30, 1997, to review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's hydroelectric relicensing procedures. [personal communication]

Salmon Habitat Destruction Conviction.

On Oct. 21, 1997, an OR logger pleaded no contest before a Circuit Judge to a felony charge of criminal mischief and three misdemeanor offenses for bulldozing a logjam in the North Fork of the Nehalem River, resulting in the crushing of 35,000 salmon eggs, and logging large trees along the streambank. This is believed to be the first felony conviction in OR for salmon habitat destruction. The individual forfeited bail and was fined and placed on probation for two years. OR state officials believe this case will establish legal precedents helpful in better protecting salmon habitat. [Assoc Press]

Fisheries Renewal.

On Oct. 21, 1997, BC Fisheries Minister Corky Evans announced that Fisheries Renewal, a government corporation established to protect fish habitat, enhance fish stocks, and create new jobs, will have an initial budget of C$16.3 million. The BC government is considering a fish tax to raise funds for Fisheries Renewal. [Assoc Press]

Salmon Spawn Protection.

On Oct. 19, 1997, Bonneville Power Administration will begin an annual month-long procedure wherein outflow is reduced from Grand Coulee reservoir to lower Columbia River water levels and force salmon to spawn in deeper waters. This reduces the likelihood that developing eggs and juvenile salmon could be harmed by lower waters in spring. This operation also reduces the available hydropower supply. [Assoc Press]

BC Salmon Allocation.

On Oct. 16, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson announced that consultations on equitable allocation of Pacific salmon harvest among commercial, recreational, and aboriginal constituencies would begin after the conclusion of the 1997 salmon season. Retired BC Supreme and Appeals Court judge Samuel Toy will be Mr. Anderson's independent advisor working with stakeholders and is tentatively scheduled to report to the Minister by mid-February 1998. [Assoc Press]

Lower Granite Dam Salmon Bypass.

On Oct. 9, 1997, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that a $11.2 million contract had been awarded for construction of a salmon bypass screen for Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River. This "behavioral guidance structure" prototype would be designed to direct juvenile salmon to surface collectors and away from dam turbines. Construction of the 1,100-foot structure is due to be completed by Apr. 1, 1998, and will then undergo a year or more of testing to determine its effectiveness. [Assoc Press]

NPPC Project Review.

On Oct. 7, 1997, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission wrote to the NPPC protesting the harsh review received by proposed tribal salmon programs.

On Oct. 8, 1997, the NPPC sent a letter to 3 Cabinet Secretaries and several federal agencies urging that these entities join the NPPC in financing a coordinated review of all hatchery facilities in the Columbia River basin. [Assoc Press, NPPC Congressional Update, NPPC news release]

Salmon River Rafting Restrictions.

On Oct. 6, 1997, the U.S. Forest Service reopened the upper Salmon River, ID, to outfitted float trips; the river remains closed to private kayakers and rafters. [Assoc Press] .

Pacific Salmon Treaty.

On Oct. 1, 1997, a British Columbian member of the Canadian Parliament was removed from the House of Commons after accusing Fisheries Minister David Anderson of treason.

On Oct. 2, 1997, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy met with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to affirm a commitment to make the discussions between envoys productive.

On Oct. 6, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson stated that it was doubtful that the Canadian federal government would join British Columbia's lawsuit against Alaska over alleged overfishing of salmon. A preliminary progress report by U.S. and Canadian special envoys to President Clinton and Prime Minister Chretien has been tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19, 1997, during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vancouver, BC. In mid-October 1997, Canadian salmon negotiator and former ambassador to the United States Yves Fortier sent a confidential memorandum to both nations' special envoys stating that stakeholder meetings are unlikely to resolve the treaty negotiation impasse, because stakeholders are unable to make the hard political choices required. On Oct. 15, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson announced C$2.7 million was to be provided by the Canadian federal government for habitat restoration and salmon enhancement in Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, and Courtenay, BC.

On Oct. 16, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark reportedly wrote to Members of the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans urging them to not abandon the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

On Oct. 24, 1997, Canadian federal court Justice Marc Nadon announced that he will rule next week on whether AK's lawsuit against more than 200 fishermen involved in the July 1997 Prince Rupert, BC, blockade of the AK state ferry can proceed.

On Oct. 30, 1997, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Fisheries Minister David Anderson met with special envoys William Ruckelshaus and David Strangway.

On Oct. 31, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark met with special envoys William Ruckelshaus and David Strangway.

On Nov. 3, 1997, Judge Marc Nadon of the Federal Court of Canada ruled that Alaska must give the court proof that fishermen were part of the July 1997 ferry blockade before proceeding with the case. Under this ruling, all but 17 of the 200 fishermen named in Alaska's lawsuit were dropped from the suit. Alaska has until Nov. 10 to inform the court on how it plans to proceed. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News]

Aquaculture

Chilean Salmon.

On Oct. 23, 1997, economists from GA State Univ. and the Univ. of South FL released a report estimating that imports of fresh Atlantic salmon to the United States from Chile directly support an estimated 6,054 full-time U.S. jobs and add almost $110 million to the U.S. economy. Indirect impacts contribute an additional 1,572 full-time U.S. jobs and an additional $66 million in income. An estimated 93% of imported Chilean salmon passes through the port of Miami, FL. [Salmon Trade Alliance press release]

Freshwater Fisheries

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Meeting.

The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force is scheduled to hold its fall meeting on Nov. 13-14, 1997, in Riverdale, MD, to review and coordinate various regional programs and measures to monitor and control introduced (exotic) species. [personal communication]

Whirling Disease.

On Oct. 29, 1997, the UT Div. of Wildlife Resources head a public meeting to discuss solutions to the containing the spread of whirling disease in UT. Critics have been concerned about alleged slow government response to reports of this disease at private fish farms. [Assoc Press]

Other News of Note

IFQ Meetings.

The National Research Council's Committee to Review Individual Fishing Quotas is scheduled to hold public meetings in Seattle, WA, to take public comment on its review of IFQs on Nov. 12-13, 1997. [personal communication, Assoc Press]

NMFS Draft Research Plan.

On Nov. 3, 1997, NMFS announced the availability for public comment of its 43-page draft "Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research" -- [http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/sfa/prorules.html]. This document identifies major fisheries research goals and objectives related to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. [NOAA press release]

Bering Sea Protection.

On Oct. 30, 1997, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced that it would spend $10 million protecting the Bering Sea and four other North American ecoregions. The focus on these five ecoregions was the result of a North American Conservation Assessment of 116 ecoregions by WWF. [Assoc Press]

International Year of the Ocean.

The House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has tentatively scheduled an oversight hearing on Oct. 30, 1997, on the Administration's planned activities for the 1998 International Year of the Ocean. [personal communication]

El Nino.

On Oct. 8, 1997, Peruvian officials announced that a ban on anchovy fishing, in effect since March 1997 due to El Nino conditions, would be terminated on Oct. 15, 1997, due to increased anchovy abundance. The U.S. Global Change Research Program has scheduled a seminar on the 1997-1998 El Nino forecast on Oct. 20, 1997, in the Rayburn House Office Bldg., in Washington, DC.

On Oct. 21, 1997, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists reported that hundreds of thousands of AK seabirds (primarily short-tailed shearwaters, black-legged kittiwakes, and murres) died this summer from the Gulf of Alaska to the Chukchi Sea, possibly from starvation due to the effects of El Nino on the marine ecosystem. [Dow Jones News, USGCRP Seminar announcement]

Geoduck Discovery.

In early October 1997, the Associated Press reported the discovery of an estimated 12 million pound bed of geoducks off Sitka, AK. The exploration leading to this discovery was funded by federal dollars distributed to aid southeast AK communities that had been dependent upon the timber industry. [Assoc Press]

Status of Fisheries Report.

On Oct. 3, 1997, NMFS announced the release of a report to Congress entitled "Status of Fisheries of the United States" identifying 86 species as overfished, 10 species as approaching an overfished condition, 183 species as not overfished, and 448 species of unknown status. Regional Fishery Management Council are required to develop programs to end overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks. This report states that these numbers probably understate the number of fisheries that will eventually be determined to be overfished. [NOAA press release, Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] .

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