The following news summaries were compiled by Gene Buck, Senior Analyst in the Congressional Research Service. Capital letters denote new information that did not appear in previous summaries.
Please address general comments to the list rather than to me.
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ON MAY 15, 1997, THE YAKAMA, WARM SPRINGS, UMATILLA, AND NEZ PERCE TRIBES ANNOUNCED THAT THEY NO LONGER WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FORMED TO CONSIDER DISPUTE RESOLUTION CONCERNING FEDERAL SALMON RESTORATION POLICY. THE TRIBES EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT FEDERAL POLICY DECISIONS APPEARED TO GIVE LIMITED CONSIDERATION TO THE TRIBES' POSITION ON THE ISSUES. [ASSOC PRESS]
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On May 9, 1997, the OR House Transportation Committee approved a license plate design showing a salmon, with a portion of the funds from plate purchase to be dedicated to salmon restoration. [Assoc Press]
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On May 7, 1997, a coalition of fishing and environmental groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court (Portland, OR) against the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and NMFS, challenging NMFS's opinion that the Northwest forest plan was adequate to protect endangered Umpqua River cutthroat trout. The plaintiffs are asking for specific measures to better protect this species. [Assoc Press]
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In early May 1997, nitrogen saturation levels were reported to have reached 140% below John Day Dam on the Columbia River and 128% below Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. [Assoc Press]
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On May 2, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark released a 38-page discussion paper calling for renewed discussion with the federal government to reduce duplication of government services and outlining a sport fishing proposal with 3 goals for fisheries -- 1) protection of fish stocks and habitat, 2) creating sustainable fishery jobs and stable communities, and 3) enhancing BC's role in fisheries solutions. On May 5, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark announced a C$1.5 million grant to a Community Fisheries Development Centre to select and manage a range of community-based fisheries initiatives over 3 years to support displaced fishery workers and fund
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On May 2, 1997, two seafood processors agreed to pay $2 million to settle a 1995 $1 billion class-action lawsuit alleging price-fixing in the Bristol Bay salmon fishery from 1989 through 1995. Although 14 smaller processors previously settled for about $500,000, about 40 defendants remain. [Assoc Press]
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The May 1997 issue of Fisheries published the results of a study by three Pacific Northwest fishery scientists concluding that few in-stream habitat enhancement projects have resulted in any long-term success for the fish. To succeed, such efforts must be combined with restoration of ecological processes within an entire watershed including modification of upslope and riparian conditions, these individuals suggest. [Fisheries] Back to top or Back to home page On Apr. 25, 1997, NMFS announced that northern CA and southern OR coho salmon would be listed as "threatened" while northern and central OR coastal coho salmon would not be listed in response to the state of OR's negotiated recovery plan, but identified as a "candidate" species for future consideration. On Apr. 30, 1997, a coalition of 25 environmental and sport/commercial fishermen's groups notified NMFS that they intend to file suit on the decision not to list OR coastal coho salmon under the Endangered Species Act. [Assoc Press, Reuters] Back to top or Back to home page On Apr. 25, 1997, talks among Canadian and U.S. fishermen and fishing industry representatives in Juneau, AK, ended with negotiators agreeing to consider setting catch quotas for two southern southeast AK salmon fisheries (one seine and one gillnet) using "abundance-based management" wherein harvest would reflect increases or decreases in pink, sockeye, and chum salmon populations. Additional discussions are scheduled for May 5-9, 1997, in Vancouver, BC. On May 9, 1997, discussions among stakeholders broke down amid reports of some progress on southeast AK seine and gillnet fisheries. Treaty negotiators are scheduled to meet on May 20-21, 1997, in Seattle, WA. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page In late April 1997, state, federal, and tribal biologists increased their projection of the 1997 Columbia-Snake River spring chinook salmon run from 68,000 to 90,000 fish, after almost 55,000 spring chinook were counted passing Bonneville Dam as of Apr. 25, 1997. On May 8, 1997, the ID Fish and Game Commission approved a sport fishery on hatchery spring chinook in the Little Salmon (400 fish) and Clearwater (500 fish) Rivers beginning May 17 to possibly as long as July 6, based upon increased adult returns. This is the first hatchery spring chinook fishery in ID since 1993, but it is subject to approval by NMFS. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On Apr. 24, 1997, officials of the Ford Foundation announced a $2 million grant to create the nation's first bank holding company dedicated to promoting environmentally sound economic development, including economic diversification in coastal communities suffering from salmon season closures. The conservation group Ecotrust (Portland, OR) will join with the Shore Bank Corp. (Chicago, IL) to form the new holding company. The holding company will offer loans for conservation-based development in coastal communities from northern CA through Prince William Sound, AK. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On Apr. 23, 1997, the Kenai River (AK) Special Management Area Advisory Committee held a hearing and received testimony on whether to limit the number of sport fishing guides on the river, charge guides higher license fees, conduct a study of overcrowding in the river's sport fishery, or take other action. On Apr. 30, 1997, the AK House approved a bill that would authorize the state to regulate and license sport fishing guides. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On Apr. 23, 1997, officials of the Clinton Administration announced details of a draft $125 million-per-year land management strategy, prepared by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, to increase logging, create jobs, and better protect fish in 7 western states. Land use restrictions near streams inhabited by fish on more than 72 million acres of national forest and other public lands would be broadened. This strategy was the preferred alternative in a draft environmental impact statement for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. The draft strategy now begins a 120-day public comment period. ON MAY 15, 1997, THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FORESTS AND PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT HELD A JOINT HEARING WITH THE HOUSE RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON FORESTS AND FOREST HEALTH TO REVIEW THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT. [Assoc Press, Reuters] Back to top or Back to home page Back to top or Back to home page On May 22, 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has tentatively scheduled a joint hearing with the House Committee on National Security on H.R. 374, proposing to amend the Sikes Act to enhance fish and wildlife conservation and natural resource management programs on military installations. [personal communication] Back to top or Back to home page On Apr. 19, 1997, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Fisheries Association voted to cancel its 1997 commercial fishing season on Upper and Lower Red Lakes, MN, because of declining walleye, perch, and crappie populations. The Red Lakes fishery is reported to be the only commercial U.S. walleye fishery and largest Tribal fishery on the continent; this is the first closure since 1929 when the Band began exercising Treaty fishing rights. [Assoc Press]
Salmon Habitat Restoration.
ESA Listing of Coho Salmon.
Pacific Salmon Treaty.
Columbia River Spring Chinook.
Fishing Community Diversification.
AK Fishing Guides.
Clinton Administration Western Land Management Strategy.
Freshwater Fisheries
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Sikes Act Hearing.
Red Lakes Commercial Fishery.