Recent Salmon and Fish news on November 17, 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

Salmon Price-Fixing Lawsuit.

On Nov. 13, 1997, Anchorage (AK) Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski set a 1999 trial date for the billion dollar class action lawsuit involving more than 5,000 fishermen alleging price-fixing on Bristol Bay sockeye salmon by 7 Japanese seafood processing companies from 1989 through 1995. [Assoc Press]

Elk Creek Dam Hearing.

On Nov. 13, 1997, the House Agriculture Committee held a field hearing in Medford, OR, to review the Army Corps of Engineers proposal to provide fish passage through Elk Creek Dam, near Medford, OR. [Assoc Press]

Tribal Salmon Restoration Programs.

In early November 1997, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, representing four Columbia River tribes, petitioned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, asking the court to review the Northwest Power Planning Council's recommendation that funding of tribal salmon restoration programs be halted pending further review. [Assoc Press]

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 (declared a commercial fishery failure) for the Bristol Bay and Kuskokwim regions of Alaska in response to requests by AK officials. This declaration, authorized by section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, allows federal aid to be provided for fishermen who experienced low salmon harvests and low prices this year. However, funds to support disaster relief for this area have not yet been appropriated. [Assoc Press, Reuters, NOAA press release]

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. individual tribes would decide how much they might reduce hatchery production and harvests. The agreement must be approved by individual tribes and the WA Fish and Wildlife Commission. A public hearing on the draft plan has been tentatively set for Nov. 21, 1997. [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.

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

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. On Nov. 7, 1997, BC's United Fishermen and Allied Workers announced that it would file a counter suit against AK, accusing AK fishermen of conspiring to steal BC salmon.

On Nov. 10, 1997, AK identified additional defendants, through analysis of videotape, in its lawsuit against BC fishermen participating in the July 1997 Prince Rupert blockade of an Alaskan state ferry. Canadian Court Master John Hargrave allowed AK to name additional defendants and left it to the pending trial to decide on the validity of AK efforts to identify them. On Nov. 14, 1997, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans David Anderson, is scheduled to meet in Seattle, WA, with the governors of WA, OR, and AK to discuss Pacific salmon issues. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News, Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans press release]

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]

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.

On Nov. 12, 1997, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce preliminarily ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the levy of additional duties on imports of Chilean farmed salmon. A final ruling on the petition for countervailing duties is likely to be issued in late March 1998. A preliminary ruling on a companion petition for antidumping duties is expected on Jan. 8, 1998. [Assoc Press, Salmon Trade Alliance press release]

Freshwater Fisheries

Zebra Mussel Conference.

On Nov. 18-20, 1997, a consortium of federal and state agencies will hold a conference in Kansas City, MO, to consider the risks zebra mussels pose to water supplies and biological communities in western states. [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release]

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]

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