The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 9/25/98 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 10/01/98 double bracketed {{...}}
Cleve Steward
Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
Tel. 425-670-3584
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{{PATH Review.
On Sept. 30, 1998, four scientists, chosen to objectively review the Corps of Engineers Plan for Analyzing and Testing Hypothesis (PATH) panel findings, released a 32-page report concluding that breaching the four lower Snake River dams is key to saving spring chinook salmon.
Their report concludes that allowing the lower Snake River to flow unimpeded would result in a 79% chance of restoring chinook populations within 48 years as opposed to a 40% chance if current river conditions continued.}} [Assoc Press]
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On Sept. 28, 1998, a report for the David Suzuki Foundation (Vancouver, BC) was released, concluding that the existing Pacific Salmon Treaty should be discarded, and a new comprehensive agreement negotiated to emphasize the use of selective fishing techniques necessary to protect stocks of Pacific salmon threatened with extinction.} [Reuters, Assoc Press]
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On Sept. 25, 1998, the WA Governor's Salmon Recovery Office, released a working draft salmon recovery plan "Extinction is Not an Option," calling for a statewide carrot-and-stick approach to protecting and restoring salmon habitat. This strategy would rely on vigorous enforcement of existing environmental law as well as use of tax and other financial incentives to encourage landowners to voluntarily protect and restore habitat. An updated draft is to be prepared by December 1998, and be used as a basis for action in the 1999 WA Legislature. The final document is scheduled for completion in summer 1999.} [Assoc Press]
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On Sept. 24, 1998, the House and Senate conference committee on FY1999 energy and water appropriations was reported to have agreed to provide $60 million for FY1999 Corps of Engineers fish recovery programs on the Columbia and Snake Rivers.
In FY1998, about $95 million was appropriated.} [Assoc Press]
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On Sept. 15, 1998, the House passed by voice vote H.R. 4079 proposing to authorize the construction of temperature control devices at Folsom Dam, CA, to benefit the recovery of fall-run chinook salmon and steelhead trout in the American River. [personal communication]
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On Sept. 11, 1998, a diverse coalition of Pacific Northwest interests sponsored a forum "The Sustainable Way to Salmon Recovery" seeking to strengthen ties among tribes, businesses, and stakeholders in salmon recovery efforts.
On Sept. 13, 1998, Vice President Al Gore and Council on Environmental Quality Chair Katie McGinty held a town hall meeting on salmon in Seattle, WA, with the focus on the Administration's efforts to work with local and state governments on salmon restoration. [personal communication, NW Fishletter No. 67]
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On Sept. 11, 1998, the AK Supreme Court reversed a 1996 AK Superior Court decision and ruled that the state Dept. of Fish and Game cannot be held accountable for management decisions based on incorrect information. This class action lawsuit had been filed by a group of western AK fishermen seeking damages, claiming that fishery managers misused sonar fish counts leading to an early closure of the fall Yukon River chum salmon fishery in 1994. [Assoc Press]
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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.
In mid-September 1998, the Small Business Administration agreed to make available low-interest, long-term loans to provide working capital for western AK fishermen.
In mid- September 1998, AK Governor Tony Knowles named six individuals to the task force to study the causes of western AK fisheries disasters.
In late September 1998, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala announced that $10 million in emergency funds had been approved to provide heating oil for villages hurt by the salmon disaster. {On Sept. 30, 1998, the Assoc Press reported that House and Senate conferees on the FY1999 Dept. of Agriculture appropriations bill had agreed to a $50 million in assistance package for western AK -- $18 million in disaster assistance, $15 million in economic development projects, $7 million for salmon fishery research, and $10 million in small business loans and funding to improve the competitiveness of AK fishermen.} [NOAA press release, Reuters, Assoc Press]
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In early September 1998, U.S. District Judge Malcolm Marsh ordered NMFS to prepare a scientific assessment of migrating wild steelhead trout on the Columbia River. In response and on Sept. 10, 1998, NMFS issued a biological opinion on Columbia River steelhead trout fisheries, recommending that incidental steelhead catch be limited to no more than 17% of the wild steelhead population. In response and on Sept. 12, 1998, the Columbia River Compact extended and adjusted fishing times. On Sept. 18, 1998, Columbia River Compact managers announced that sport fishing for salmon in the mainstem Columbia River would be prohibited beginning Sept. 21, 1998, after determining that sport anglers had caught nearly twice as many wild Snake River fall chinook salmon as had been predicted. Tribal salmon fishing continues through Sept. 26, 1998, but no fishery is anticipated for non-tribal commercial salmon gillnetters. The sport fishery for steelhead trout remains open. [Assoc Press, Portland Oregonian] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In early September 1998, an OR state hearings officer ruled that the Grants Pass Irrigation District failed to diligently pursue efforts to remove the Savage Rapids Dam, on the Rogue River. In November 1998, the OR Water Resources Commission is scheduled to decide whether to revoke the supplemental water permit allowing dam operation. On Sept. 17, 1998, a subcommittee of the OR Legislative Emergency Board voted 3-2 to endorse a proposal to appropriate $450,000 from watershed enhancement funds to improve fish screens on the Savage Rapids Dam as an interim measure pending dam removal. The full Board voted 11-6 to approve this proposal for funding on Sept. 18, 1998. Appropriate design for the screens remains to be determined. [Portland Oregonian, Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Sept. 5, 1998, BC Premier Glen Clark's public inquiry into Canadian federal salmon management, under the direction of former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford, began a series of at least 10 public hearings with a session in Campbell River, BC. 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. On Sept. 18, 1998, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson appointed former Fisheries Minister John Fraser as chairman of the newly established Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council and named 8 additional members to serve on the Council. This independent body will report annually on the status of BC's salmon stocks and conservation issues. {On Sept. 29, 1998, the Peckford public inquiry issued its findings, concluding that BC fishermen and businesses were badly hurt by Canadian federal salmon regulations during the 1998 season, that the Pacific salmon industry needs emergency assistance comparable to that provided Atlantic maritime fishermen for dealing with the cod stock collapse, and that all stakeholders formalize a process to develop a management plan for the 1999 sockeye salmon fishery.} [Assoc Press, Canadian Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Sept. 2, 1998 (Pasco, WA) and Sept. 3, 1998 (Boise, ID), the House Committee on Resources held 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] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New 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] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Sept. 1, 1998, the WA Dept. of Transportation (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] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New BC Farmed Salmon Reproducing in the Wild? In mid-September 1998, BC fishery managers reported that a small number of juvenile Atlantic salmon were found in mid-August 1998 in the Tsitka River on Vancouver Island, allegedly the first verified evidence that these farmed fish may be reproducing in the wild. {{Critics have questioned this report.}} [Assoc Press, BC Salmon Farmers Association press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New {Whirling Disease. In late September 1998, WY Game and Fish Dept. officials announced that whirling disease, a parasitic infection affecting freshwater fish including cutthroat and rainbow trout, had been confirmed in the Green River drainage for the first time.} [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In late September 1998, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released figures indicating the number of fishing licenses sold nationally declined from 29.9 million in 1996 to 29.3 million in 1997. However, the expenditures for these licenses and permits rose from $447 million in 1996 to $498.4 million in 1997. [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Sept. 23, 1998, the House passed, by voice vote, H.R. 1481, as amended, amending the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to implement recommendations of a 1995 Great Lakes Fishery Restoration Study. [personal communication] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New 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 Makah Whaling. A hearing on a lawsuit against the U.S. Dept. of Commerce challenging the Makah whaling was scheduled for Sept. 17, 1998, before federal Judge Burgess in Tacoma, WA. On Sept. 21, 1998, U.S. District Judge Franklin Burgess (Tacoma, WA) dismissed the lawsuit and ruled that the Makah gray whale hunt could proceed. The lawsuit by Australian, British, and American animal rights groups, coastal tourboat operators, kayakers, and U.S. Rep. Jack Metcalf had challenged how federal agencies handled efforts to resume Makah whaling. {On Sept. 29, 1998, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans personnel met in Port Angeles, WA, with officials from U.S. agencies to discuss details relating to impending Makah whaling.} [Assoc Press, personal communication]
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Columbia River Salmon Fishery.
Savage Rapids Dam.
BC Salmon Management.
Salmon Field Hearings.
Yakima River Fall Chinook Sport Fishery.
WA DOT Salmon Stream Pollution.
Aquaculture and Aquaria
Freshwater Fisheries
Licensed Anglers Decline.
Great Lakes Fishery Restoration.
Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.
Marine Mammals
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