The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 2/19/99 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 2/25/99 double-bracketed {{...}}
Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation Tel. 425-670-3584
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On Feb. 24, 1999, a coalition of environmental organizations, the Oregon Pesticide Education Network, released a report reviewing recent scientific literature and concluding that even minute amounts of some pesticides in waterways can disrupt the life cycle of salmon by harming immune systems, altering reproductive systems, and disrupting a juvenile salmon?s ability to swim. The coalition seeks to encourage passage of legislation similar to CA?s pesticide reporting program.}[Portland Oregonian]
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On Feb. 23, 1999, Snohomish County officials released details of a plan to protect and restore chinook salmon spawning grounds.
The plan, part of a joint effort with King and Pierce Counties emphasizing preservation of existing habitat and restoration of damaged habitat, outlines more than 60 projects to be conducted in the next 2 years. County officials, in mid-February 1999, wrote to WA state officials asking for $100 million to pay for stream restoration, sewer and stormwater improvements, and land purchases. The County Council is scheduled to vote on the plan on Mar. 1, 1999. Twelve other Puget Sound counties are expected to also submit recovery plans to NMFS by Mar. 15, 1999.}{{In late February 1999, Seattle officials estimated that $255 million will need to be expended over 50 years to restore chinook salmon and their habitat in the city and along river's supplying the city ' s water and power.}}[Seattle Times]
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On Feb. 22, 1999, the Governors of AK, WA, and OR met with Vice President Gore to discuss the proposed $100 million Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, expressing concern that states control how the funds are spent.}{{The governors reportedly told Clinton Administration officials that they seek $200 million from the federal government for a West Coast salmon initiative.}}[MSNBC, Portland Oregonian]
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On Feb. 17, 1999, the AK Board of Fisheries began 2 weeks of meetings in Soldotna to consider revisions to management measures for Cook Inlet salmon fisheries for the 1999 season. Beginning with 4 days of public comment, significant controversy surrounds the allocation of sockeye salmon harvest between sport and commercial fishermen.
{{On Feb. 22, 1999, the AK Board of Fisheries revised the Upper Cook Inlet Salmon Management Plan to remove language providing a that late-run Kenai River sockeye salmon would be managed primarily for commercial fishing and that late-run Kenai River king salmon would be managed primarily for sport fishing. The Board's intent is to have specific management objectives included in subplans for individual fisheries.}}[Anchorage Daily News, MSNBC]
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On Feb. 11, 1999, the Portland Oregonian announced that the Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans was about to announce maximum size limits for chinook salmon in the Gulf of Georgia between Feb.
15 and May 20 to protect the early run chinook salmon returning to WA?s Nooksack River. This is part of Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson?s effort to work with WA Governor Gary Locke to promote salmon recovery. {On Feb. 23, 1999, AK Governor Tony Knowles and WA Governor Gary Locke announced that they are optimistic over renegotiating a Pacific Salmon Treaty with Canada and are desirous of breaking the logjam that has impeded negotiations.} {{In late February 1999, Clinton Administration officials were reported as planning to name a new mediator for Treaty negotiations by late April 1999.}}[Portland Oregonian, MSNBC, Canadian Press]
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On Feb. 8, 1999, National Park Service officials announced that negotiations had begun with Fort James Paper Company and Daishowa America on purchasing 2 Elwha River, WA, dams so that they could be removed to benefit salmon. Since the $29.5 million purchase price for the dams was established in the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act of 1992, outstanding issues include transfer of dam operations and disposition of equipment and powerline rights-of-way. [Portland Oregonian]
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On Feb. 8, 1999, AIBS held a 3-hour AIBS Biology Roundtable Series event "Using Science in Habitat Conservation Plans" to be held at the National Press Club, Washington, DC, discussing the recently released study of habitat conservation plans (HCPs). [AIBS press release]
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On Feb. 5, 1999, NMFS published proposed critical habitat designations for nine populations of steelhead trout in WA, OR, ID, and CA (7 of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act and 2 of which are proposed for listing). Public comment on the proposal is being accepted through May 6, 1999. [Fed. Register]
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On Feb. 3, 1999, the Independent Science Advisory Board reported (document ISAB 99-2) to the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) that stress on returning adult salmon may seriously reduce spawning effectiveness. Scientists say these results indicate that more attention should be given to improving upstream passage for adult fish. Currently, dam operators are reportedly spending less than 1% of their budget on upstream passage concerns, with most funds going to improve the downstream juvenile migration. [Portland Oregonian, NPPC Congressional Update]
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On April 26-30, 1999, the 9th International Zebra Mussel and Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Conference is scheduled to convene in Duluth, MN. The Conference will focus on ANS policy issues as well as research reports on biology, ecology, control, management, and impacts of ANS.}[MN Sea Grant Program press release]
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On Feb. 25, 1999, Health Canada, the Quebec Dept. Of Health, and the Montreal regional health board released results of a 5-year, C$1 million study indicating that levels of mercury and other contaminants such as PCBs and DDT in the bodies of Montreal-area fishermen were much lower than previously measured. Environmentalists disputed the study results, and pointed to contradictory results of a study published in the August 1998 issue of the journal NeuroToxicology.}}[Montreal Gazette, Canadian Press]
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Feb. 19, 1999 was the deadline for the NC Division of Water Quality to respond to Environmental Protection Agency concerns that NC?s Neuse River cleanup plan was deficient. While the plan seeks to reduce nitrogen pollution by 30% in the Neuse River, EPA raised concerns that are likely to require NC to impose additional restrictions of nitrogen pollution to reach its 30% objective.}[Raleigh News & Observer]
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On Feb. 18, 1999, MN Governor Jesse Ventura telephoned U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, claiming that new Ontario fishing regulations were punitive and harmful to MN-based anglers and the state?s tourism industry, possibly violating free trade agreements including NAFTA.[Duluth News-Tribune]
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On Feb. 16, 1999, the ME Legislature?s Marine Resources Committee held a public hearing on 11 proposals related to managing the elver fishery. A Committee work session on the proposals was scheduled for Feb. 18, 1999. Proposals range from prohibitions on fishing for elvers altogether to river-specific limitations on fishing, including limited entry, license limitation, and gear restrictions. A state proposal would eliminate a fyke net fishery in 5 years, while an industry proposal would maintain the fyke net fishery but establish a moratorium on new licenses coupled with gear restrictions and other limitations. {{On Feb. 25, 1999, the ME Legislature?s Marine Resources Committee voted unanimously to support an emergency bill to reduce the number of fyke nets used in the fishery by 70% or more and issue 64% fewer elver fishing licenses.}} [Bangor Daily News, Assoc Press]
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In mid-February 1999, NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation managers conducted a public survey on 4 alternatives for managing Lake Ontario cormorant colonies to potentially benefit smallmouth bass fishing. Alternatives ranged from restricting colony expansion to aggressive use of lethal and non-lethal methods to quickly reduce cormorant numbers to some target level.}[Syracuse Herald-American]
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In mid-February 1999, NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation scientists announced that polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in lower Hudson River striped bass had been measured at levels low enough to consider allowing these fish to be eaten, for the first time since human consumption was banned in 1976. Fish fillets, collected in spring 1997 south of Poughkeepsie, averaged 1.06 parts per million (PPM) PCBs -- about half the federal limit of 2 ppm -- with only 3.3% of the samples exceeding the federal limit. However, striped bass further upstream and other fish species (largemouth bass, catfish, eels) still exceed the federal limit for PCBs.}[New York Times, Albany Times Union]
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On Feb. 13, 1999, Project SHARE (Salmon Habitat and River Enhancement) and the Atlantic Salmon Foundation held a workshop on salmon management at the Univ. of ME in Machias, where scientists from ME?s Atlantic Salmon Authority recommended a 5-year state ban on all fishing for Atlantic salmon {{and extension of the state?s salmon conservation plan to all 17 ME salmon rivers.}} On Mar. 8-9, 1999, the Atlantic Salmon Authority has scheduled public hearings in Machias and Sidney on proposals to ban salmon fishing on 7 ME rivers plus 2 tributaries of the Penobscot River and 2 tributaries of the Kennebec River for 5 years. [Fed. Register, Defenders of Wildlife press release, Bangor Daily News]
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On Feb. 11, 1999, Forest Service Chief Michael Dombeck announced an 18-month moratorium on road-building in roadless areas administered by the U.S. Forest Service, with the exception of the Tongass National Forest in AK and national forests on the west side of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, to better protect aquatic habitat for salmon and trout.}[personal communication, Trout Unlimited press release] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In early February 1999 and for the second time in 2 weeks, fishermen reported extensive mortalities following a bass tournament at Lake McClure, CA. Some fishermen believe tournament officials and many fishermen are not appropriately caring for bass taken from deep water that are released to die with overinflated swim bladders. [Modesto Bee] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Feb. 1, 1999, the Clinton Administration announced its proposed FY2000 budget, including direct program funding of $80 million for fisheries management by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FY1999 was $74 million). Payments to states from the Wallop-Breaux Sport Fish Restoration Fund are projected to be $286 million in FY2000 (FY1999 was $244 million). [FY2000 Budget Appendix] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Feb. 1, 1999, the Clinton Administration announced its proposed FY2000 budget, including direct program funding of $420 million for NMFS (FY1999 was $401 million). Increases are proposed as part of the Administration's Lands Legacy Initiative, funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. A separate "Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund" is proposed to be funded at $100 million. [FY2000 Budget Appendix]
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{Moratorium on Road-Building.
Bass Tournament Mortalities.
FY2000 Federal Budget.
FY2000 Federal Budget.
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