The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. } Cleve Steward, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation, Tel. 425-670-3584
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Salmon Homecoming Forum.
On Sept. 11, 1998, 280 people attended the annual salmon conference organized by the Sustainable Fisheries Foundation and sponsored by the Seattle Aquarium and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. Several speakers from private, non-profit, and government organizations from the United States and Canada addressed the theme of the Forum: The Sustainable Way to Salmon Recovery.
On Sept. 13, Vice President Al Gore spoke publicly in Seattle about salmon recovery efforts, and declared that extinction is not an option. [personal communication]
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On Sept. 2, 1998 (Pasco, WA) and Sept. 3, 1998 (Boise, ID), the House Committee on Resources will hold field hearings on the role of NMFS in implementing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and on H.R. 4335, proposing to transfer all ESA functions from NMFS to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [personal communication]
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On Sept. 1, 1998, the first sport fishery for Yakima River fall chinook salmon in 34 years will open, in response to successful salmon recovery, restoration, and rebuilding efforts in this drainage by Yakima tribal and WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife managers.} [Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 27, 1998, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture officials announced that USDA would buy $8 million worth of canned pink salmon for distribution to food assistance programs, $1 million of skinless, boneless pink salmon in four-pound pouches, and $1 million of chum salmon nuggets for wider testing of their acceptability in the National School Lunch Program.
Purchases are scheduled to begin in September 1998. [Reuters, Assoc Press, AK Office of the Governor press release]
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On Aug. 24, 1998, the WA Dept. of Ecology announced that it was fining the WA Dept. of Transportation (DOT) $72,000 for polluting two salmon streams at a road construction site. This was the second time in less than a year, that the DOT had been fined for violating state environmental law and damaging fish habitat at this site. The Dept. of Ecology is also investigation two additional DOT construction site accidents that appear to have also damaged fish habitat. {On Sept. 1, 1998, the WA DOT was fined $36,000 for allowing liquid, oil-based asphalt to flow into two waterways and pollute salmon habitat in a June 9, 1998 incident.} [Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 24, 1998, Secretary of Commerce William Daley announced that $7 million in federal aid was being made available to AK programs to help fishermen and communities in the Bristol Bay and Kuskokwim regions recover from low salmon returns during 1997. AK is providing $2.33 million in matching funds to obtain these federal funds that had been committed in 1997.
In addition, Secretary Daley announced that NMFS is discussing the feasibility of a salmon sampling program in Asian markets to assess whether illegally harvested AK-origin salmon is appearing there under foreign labels.
On Aug. 26, 1998, the Bureau of Indian Affairs released $206,000 in emergency assistance for Alaska Natives harmed by the low return and catch of Bristol Bay salmon. {{On Sept. 10, 1998, AK Governor Tony Knowles announced that he had been notified that a federal fishery failure would be declared by the Dept. of Commerce for western AK on Sept.
11, increasing the availability of federal assistance.}} [NOAA press release, Reuters, Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 19, 1998, Secretary of Commerce William Daley announced that $3.5 million in federal funds are to be made available to help restore WA salmon fisheries by buying back salmon permits from voluntary sellers, contingent on congressional approval of an implementation plan.
In April 1998, WA Governor Locke had requested a salmon fishery failure declaration under Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. WA will match federal dollars with $1.17 million in state funds. [NOAA press release]
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On Aug. 18, 1998, the first sockeye salmon to return to Redfish Lake, ID, was trapped. Three adult sockeye have been observed passing upstream at Lower Granite Dam. [Assoc Press]
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On Aug. 7, 1998, Canadian officials closed all salmon fisheries targeting Fraser River sockeye due to returns far lower than forecast and fish reaching the River are dying from exhaustion and disease related to high water temperatures before spawning. Commercial troll fisheries off the west coast of Vancouver Island, in the Gulf of Georgia, and in Johnston Strait were closed, with all sport fishing for sockeye closing at midnight Aug. 8. First Nations are being asked to stop fishing for food and ceremonial purposes, and WA state fishermen have agreed to postpone a Puget Sound fishery. On Aug. 26, 1998, disgruntled militant salmon fishermen assembled in Seymour Narrows, an extremely busy marine channel between Vancouver Island and the mainland, with 40 fishing vessels and two Indian war canoes for about 40 minutes. Fishermen, angry about Canadian federal fishery policy that has severely limited fishing time, vowed a longer protest and possible blockade unless Fisheries Minister David Anderson would meet with them. {On Aug. 27, 1998, BC Premier Glen Clark announced that BC will conduct a public inquiry into Canadian federal salmon management, under the direction of former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford. A report to the provincial government would be due by Sept. 25, 1998, and will review federal programs and expenditures as well as the effectiveness of the Pacific Salmon Commission and the U.S.-Canada Treaty.} {{The public inquiry was to begin with a series of at least 10 public hearings, commencing on Sept. 5 in Campbell River, BC.}} [Assoc Press, Canadian Press, Sport Fishing Advisory Board press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In early August 1998, a coalition of three environmental groups filed notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its renewal of an effluent discharge permit for Potlatch Corp. at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers, ID. These groups are concerned over the relevance of water quality to salmon and steelhead recovery and seek to have EPA address the threats to fish from impaired water quality. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 6, 1998, AK Dept. of Fish and Game (ADF&G) officials announced that ADF&G biologists believe the U.S.-Canada boundary area coho salmon populations are stronger than anticipated and that Canadian escapement data for the Skeena River indicate coho abundance is four times last year's low level. However, sockeye salmon abundance in the boundary area and especially returns to Canada's Nass River are lower than anticipated. In response, ADF&G has limited fishing in AK's Tree Point gillnet fishery and the Noyes Island purse seine fishery to protect Canadian sockeye salmon. On Aug. 10, 1998, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson announced that, because of progress with the Washington state and Alaska on fisheries conservation, Canada was amending Coastal Fisheries Protection Regulations to allow certain U.S. fishing vessels to resume use of Canadian ports for repairs and supplies. However, U.S. vessels used in Pacific salmon and hake fisheries in the last two years would remain ineligible for such licenses. All U.S. vessels on the Atlantic coast are eligible to apply for landing privileges. Losses to BC shipyards from the ban on U.S. vessels were estimated at C$10 million with 150 Canadian workers laid off. On Aug. 10, 1998, the Pacific Salmon Commission approved a three-day U.S. fishery for Fraser River sockeye salmon; the fishery subsequently opened on Aug. 11, despite Canadian conservation concerns. {On Aug. 31, 1998, the BC provincial government filed an appeal of a U.S. federal court's earlier dismissal of a case alleging the United States violated the Pacific Salmon Treaty by allowing WA and AK fishermen to overfish.} [Reuters, ADF&G press release, Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 4, 1998, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and Power held a field hearing in Pendleton, OR, on the management of Columbia and Snake River system and efforts to develop a long-term fish recovery program. [personal communication] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 3, 1998, NMFS officials announced that they were listing OR coastal coho salmon as a threatened species. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 3, 1998, Kenai River sportfishing restrictions on sockeye salmon were lifted after ADF&G biologists determined that necessary spawning escapement had been achieved. In mid-August 1998, ADF&G officials will decide whether the Yukon River full chum salmon population is sufficiently abundant to allow subsistence fishing. On Aug. 26, 1998, ADF&G managers began reducing subsistence fishing time on the Yukon and Tanana Rivers in response to unusually weak chum salmon returns. [Assoc Press, Anchorage Daily News] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New {Scottish Salmon Production. On Aug. 31, 1998, Hydro Seafood (Norsk Hydro ASA) announced that it would reduce Atlantic salmon production by 40% (10,000 metric tons) at its Scottish salmon farms due to problems with infectious salmon anemia (ISA) and competitive concerns. Although present in Norway since at least 1983, ISA was first identified in Scotland in April 1998. Under EU regulations, ISA must be eradicated and Hydro Seafood was force to destroy about 1.6 million juvenile salmon as well as harvest other fish earlier than anticipated.} [Dow Jones News] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 17, 1998, the plan of reorganization for UnderWater World at the Mall of America Bloomington, MN, is scheduled to become effective, after confirmation by U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The development of this restructuring plan was provided for under Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, under which UnderWater World filed in October 1997. Senior secured bondholders will own and operate the aquarium while an administrator seeks a new owner. [UnderWater World press release, Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New {Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout. On Sept. 9, 1998, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced that the Rio Grande cutthroat trout in NM and CO would not be added to the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Environmental groups that petitioned for this listing are threatening to sue the Dept. of the Interior to force a listing.} [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Sept. 2, 1998, President Clinton announced his intent to appoint Dr. Roy A. Stein, Directory of Ohio State Univ.'s Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, as one of the four U.S. Commissioners to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.} [White House press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 29, 1998, IA Dept. of Natural Resources officials announced that, on Aug. 27, 1998, more than 100,000 gallons of manure spilled from a hog operation across the MN border and flowed down a dry creek bed into Duck Creek in Allamakee County, killing an undetermined number of native brown trout.} [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 26, 1998, the GA Board of Natural Resources removed 224 miles of north GA waterways from special protective status as "trout streams" as evidence was alleged to be lacking that trout lived in these streams year-round. Upon status downgrading, 25-foot protective buffer areas are required along these streams rather than the 100-foot buffers required of "trout steams." The Board agreed to establish an expert advisory panel to provide recommendations on adding or deleting waterways as "trout streams." More than 4,000 miles of GA waterways remained protected as "trout streams." [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 25, 1998, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) officials released a statement wherein they asked General Mills to reconsider featuring a fisherman on Wheaties cereal boxes beginning in October 1998. PETA asserts that fishing is violent, cruel, and injures animals while not requiring any athletic skill. On Aug.26, 1998, General Mills officials confirmed that they will display the sport fisherman on Wheaties boxes, beginning on or around Oct. 1, 1998. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In mid-August 1998, CA officials agreed to pay $9 million for damages to tourism caused when the state dumped poison in Lake Davis, Plumas County, to eradicate illegally introduced predatory northern pike. Local government will be compensated for some expenses incurred and a fund will be created to compensate businesses and property owners. [Boston Globe] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In mid-August 1998, an agreement was reached among Earth Search Sciences Inc. (ESSI), MT Dept. of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Turner Enterprises, and NASA-MSU TechLink to conduct a restoration project for westslope cutthroat trout on 50 miles of the Cherry Creek drainage on Turner Enterprises' Flying D Ranch. The project will focus on removal of nonnative fish and reintroduction of genetically pure westslope cutthroat trout in this drainage above a 30-foot waterfall that isolates the drainage from natural immigration by nonnative fish. [ESSI press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 13, 1998, officials of Great Basin National Park joined the Interior Department, the state of NV, and Trout Unlimited in signing an agreement to manage coldwater fisheries and reintroduce native Bonneville cutthroat trout to additional park streams. Similar agreements have been signed for Yellowstone National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the past year. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 13, 1998, an agreement was announced between the Central VT Public Service Corp., VT Agency of Natural Resources, VT Natural Resources Council, and Trout Unlimited to study the impacts of four dams on fish populations on the lower Lamoille River. The four dams are required to be relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Close scrutiny will be directed at Peterson Dam, with dam removal under consideration. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 11, 1998, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials declared an emergency listing of bull trout as an endangered species in the Jarbridge River drainage, NV and ID, to protect this population from habitat destruction by Elko County, NV, road construction activities. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 6, 1998, a coalition of fishing, conservation, agriculture, and environmental groups have tentatively scheduled announcement and release of draft legislation for a "Fishable Waters Act" to address non-point source pollution and the 40% of U.S. waters that remain unfishable and/or unswimmable. [Bass Anglers Sportsman Society press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Aug. 5, 1998, MD Dept. of Natural Resources officials announced that about 20% of a sample of menhaden caught near Shiles Creek in the lower Wicomico River on Aug. 4-5 exhibited sores and lesions. No fish mortality was observed. MD officials are responding by increasing monitoring efforts in the area. On Aug. 6, 1998, White House and Administration officials announced a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture proposal of as much as $221 million for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, over a 10-15 year period and subject to congressional appropriation, to assist NC in fighting river contamination from animal waste and agricultural runoff that may stimulate Pfiesteria. An additional $365,000 grant of NOAA and EPA funds seeks to help NC officials investigate and monitor the recent Neuse River fish kill, and prevent additional outbreaks. On Aug. 7, 1998, NC State Univ. dedicated a new laboratory that will act as a clearinghouse for analysis of toxic organisms such as Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellates. The laboratory will serve agencies in the five states of NC, DE, MD, VA, and FL, with water samples analyzed and results reported within 24 hours of sample delivery. The Aug. 15, 1998 issue of The Lancet published an article by MD medical researchers suggesting that toxins from Pfiesteria-type organisms can cause impaired memory, disorientation, and learning difficulties in humans. {{On Sept. 22, 1998, the National Sea Grant College Program has scheduled a briefing on research progress on Pfiesteria at the National Press Club, Washington, DC. A second Sea Grant forum on policy interactions and economic impacts of Pfiesteria is scheduled for Oct. 19, 1998.}} [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News, National Sea Grant Program press release]
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BC Salmon Management.
Potlatch Pollution Lawsuit?
Pacific Salmon Treaty.
Columbia/Snake River Hearing.
OR Coho Salmon Management.
AK Salmon Season.
Aquaculture and Aquaria
UnderWater World Reorganization.
Freshwater Fisheries
{Great Lakes Fishery Commission.
{MN Manure Spill/IA Trout Kill.
GA Trout Waters.
Fisherman on Wheaties Box.
Fish Poisoning Conflict.
Westslope Cutthroat Trout Restoration.
Joint National Park Fishery Management.
VT Dam Agreement.
Bull Trout.
Fishable Waters Act.
Pfiesteria?
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