The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 4/9/99 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 4/15/99 are double-bracketed {{...}} Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
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On Apr. 7, 1999, the Senate Committee on Appropriations? Subcommittee on Interior and the House Committee on Appropriations? Subcommittee on Interior held a 5-hour joint field hearing in WA state on funding for salmon recovery programs. [Assoc Press, Seattle Herald]
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On Apr. 6, 1999, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight field hearing in Hood River, OR, on the process for determining the future of the 4 lower Snake River dams. {On Apr. 15, 1999, NMFS released a draft scientific analysis on options for recovery of ESA-listed salmon along the Snake River.
Under certain assumptions, NMFS concludes that drawdown or breaching of the 4 lower Snake River dams may be the most :risk-averse" alternative. However, significant uncertainties are associated with their projections, and the report does not recommend a preferred course of action nor does it reflect a policy decision. The report "An Assessment of Lower Snake River Hydrosystem Alternatives on Survival and Recovery of Snake River Salmonids" is available at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov.}[NOAA press release, Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 6, 1999, local government officials held a press conference, accusing the Governor and state legislators of not providing anticipated and intended funding for salmon restoration. {On Apr. 13, 1999, at the invitation of Governor Locke, NMFS officials met with WA Senate and House Committees and noted that the Endangered Species Act leaves NMFS no option but to protect growing number of salmon runs listed under this Act, implying that, unless WA state takes strong action to revise state water law, NMFS is likely to impose stringent measures to protect salmon.}[Seattle Herald, Seattle Times, Portland Oregonian]
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On Apr. 5, 1999, NMFS and FWS published notice in the Federal Register proposing, under the Endangered Species Act, a threatened listing of southwestern WA/Columbia River coastal cutthroat trout in WA and OR, and delisting of Umpqua River cutthroat trout in OR as endangered. The Umpqua River cutthroat are part of the larger threatened subpopulation proposed for listing. [Fed. Register]
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From Apr. 1 through May 22, 1999, more than 30 northern CA rivers are to be closed by the CA Dept. of Fish and Game for the first time to all fishing to protect threatened outmigrating steelhead trout. [Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 31, 1999, a coalition of 8 commercial fishing and conservation groups filed suit in U.S. District Court (Portland, OR), charging the Corps of Engineer's operation of 4 lower Snake River dams creates temperature and dissolved nitrogen conditions lethal to threatened salmon and steelhead trout. These groups seek to force the Army Corps of Engineers to comply with the Clean Water Act. [Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund press release, Portland Oregonian]
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On Mar. 29-30, 1999, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) held public hearings on salmon management options for the 1999 season. Generally, more liberal management options are proposed, and may result in the first retention of sport-caught coho salmon in some areas since 1993. Increased coho salmon abundance may also permit more liberal commercial seasons for chinook salmon in some areas. The PFMC will decide among 3 management options on Apr. 9, 1999, in Sacramento, CA.
{On Apr. 9, 1999, the PFMC voted to compromise and adopt moderate fishing restrictions, with sport fishermen allowed 15,000 hatchery-bred coho salmon off the central OR coast, with widespread requirements that all unmarked wild coho salmon be released.}[PFMC Council News, Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 23, 1999, the Canadian Dept. Of Fisheries and Oceans reported that more than 1,500 commercial salmon licenses had been voluntarily retired from the BC fishery. A total of 99 licenses were retired in fall 1998, and 647 more were retired in the latest round. Total cost of this second phase of buyouts is about C$83.5 million, with a total of about C$187 million spent on voluntary retirements since 1996. Critics claim the buyback program has destroyed the BC small-boat fishery. A third round of buyouts is scheduled for fall 1999. [Portland Oregonian, Reuters, Canadian Press]
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On Mar. 22, 1999, a letter bearing the signatures of more than 200 scientists was delivered to President Clinton, calling for consideration of federal dam removal in the Columbia River Basin to restore salmon and steelhead trout. These scientists expressed concern for management focused on technological solutions rather than returning to normative river conditions. Subsequently, critics questioned the appropriateness of state and federal scientists taking a public position on this issue. [Portland Oregonian]
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On Mar. 22, 1999, the Northwest Power Planning Council held a public meeting in Yakima, WA, on its draft recommendations for Congress on future hatchery operations in the Columbia River basin.
Additional public meetings will be held through Apr. 6, 1999, at other ID and OR locations. The recommendations are scheduled to be delivered to Congress in May 1999. [Assoc Press]
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On Apr. 14, 1999, the ME Dept. of Marine Resources is scheduled to hold a public hearing in Mount Desert on a proposal, including a 10-year lease, by Atlantic Salmon of Maine LLC of Fairfield, to rear 500,000 Atlantic salmon in 16 pens on a 15-acre tract off Bartlett Island. [Bangor Daily News]
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Apr. 6, 1999 was the deadline for tuna feedlot operators on South Australia's Lower Eyre Peninsula to remove 42 new feedlots that had been completed without final approval. Operators could be forced to release 2,000 metric tons of tuna, valued at A$45 million, unless a bulk sale is negotiated with Japanese buyers. [Australian Broadcasting Corp.]
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On Apr. 6, 1999, controversy arose when New Zealand's Green Party released information that a public relations firm working for a New Zealand salmon aquaculture firm was trying to suppress information that the aquaculture operation was developing genetically engineered salmon. [South China Morning Post]
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On Apr. 1, 1999, the WA Pollution Control Hearing Board ruled that the WA Dept. of Ecology cannot ignore the chance that Atlantic salmon escaping from fish farms might propagate in Puget Sound streams, and directed the Dept. of Ecology to review evidence of Atlantic salmon reproduction in the wild on the Pacific Coast and take action as needed on permit renewals for salmon net pen operators. [Assoc Press]
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On Mar. 29, 1999, Statistics Canada published annual 1997 financial data for the British Columbia salmon farming industry, reporting earned revenues of C$232 million and expenses of C$249 million.
Losses were attributed to low product prices and higher costs for feed, vaccines, drugs, and other therapeutants.}}[David Suzuki Foundation press release]
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On Mar. 19, 1999, a conference on Salmon Aquaculture - the Consequences for the Environment and Public Health was held in Dublin, Ireland, focusing on problems of farmed salmon escaping and interbreeding with wild fish. [Irish Times]
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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] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 13, 1999, a Hartford Superior Court judge heard opening arguments on an environmental lawsuit, filed Mar. 10, 1999, seeking to prevent the Millstone Unit 2 nuclear reactor from restarting. The suit seeks to delay the plant's restart until at least June 15, 1999, to protect winter flounder that swim up the Niantic River, CT, from Long Island Sound to spawn. In addition, the groups seek installation of a fish screen at the plant to keep larger fish from being drawn into the plant's intake pipes,}{{as well as a water cooling system using an internal water supply. The CT Dept. of Environmental Protection was reported as having concluded the unit has reduced the winter flounder population by 14%, while the utility officials contend the reduction is less than 6%.}}[Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 11, 1999, about 100 people blockaded a Manitoba Hydro generating station, protesting declining fish stocks in northern Lake Winnipeg. Commercial fishermen claim a dam constructed in the 1960s destroyed the fish spawning areas, and believe they should be compensated for the loss. Protestors claimed the government had not listened to their concerns. Although residents received a C$5.5 million settlement in 1992, a C$24.9 million lawsuit was filed against Manitoba Hydro in 1998.}[Canadian Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New In early April 1999, Uganda closed most lake landing sites on Lake Victoria for 2 weeks and the sale of fish was banned in Kampala after 3 people died from eating poisoned tilapia. On Apr. 13, 1999, the Kenyan government has scheduled a review of a plan to rehabilitate the Kenyan commercial fishing sector, following an alert on domestic and export sale of fish from Lake Victoria due to health concerns relating to some fishermen using poison to kill fish. Kenyan officials fear this new problem may jeopardize export promotion, particularly with the European Union. {On Apr. 10, 1999, Kenyan officials announced that fish poisoning had been eliminated on Lake Victoria. Critics of the government ban claimed there never was a problem.}[Africa News Online] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 9, 1999, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the MN Dept. of Natural Resources are scheduled to sign a 10-year agreement on restoration of Red Lake walleye. The agreement will prohibit all walleye harvest and provide for walleye fry stocking. Once the population has been restored, harvest will be regulated by quotas. [Minneapolis Star Tribune] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 8, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bull trout as threatened in the Jarbidge River basin of NV and ID under the Endangered Species Act. This population had been temporarily listed as endangered on an emergency basis in August 1998. [Assoc Press, Fed. Register] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Apr. 8, 1999, nine NY men pleaded guilty in federal to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for shooting and killing as many as 2,000 cormorants at Little Galloo Island in Lake Ontario in the summer of 1998. A tenth man pleaded guilty to hiding the weapons used in the shooting. The men will be sentenced Aug. 11, 1999, and face as much as 6 months of home confinement and fines of as much as $2,500 each. Together they will contribute $27,500 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Mar. 24, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, by a 5-4 vote, to uphold lower court rulings that 8 bands of Chippewa retain treaty rights and can continue to fish on 13 million acres of MN public land without state regulation. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Mar. 24, 1999, the ME Atlantic Salmon Authority voted 3-2 to discontinue promoting a ban on salmon fishing in 11 ME rivers. State biologists were directed to present a new list of rivers or parts thereof where fishing for salmon should be prohibited, with action on the new list likely in September 1999 after more public hearings. Thus, catch and release regulations for Atlantic salmon will remain in effect for the 1999 season. [Defenders of Wildlife press release, Bangor Daily News] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Mar. 22, 1999, a coalition of 10 environmental groups filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court (Portland, OR) seeking to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Great Basin redband trout and several other species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The groups claim the federal government has avoided protecting these species to satisfy special interests. [Assoc Press] Back to top or back to home page or back to Whats New On Mar. 20, 1999, the VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Forest Service completed a project dumping limestone sand by helicopter into the St. Mary?s River, Augusta County, VA, to neutralize acidity and promote recovery of fish and aquatic insect populations. [VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries press release]
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ANS Conference.
{Millstone Lawsuit.
{Manitoba Fishing Blockade.
Kenyan Fish Exports.
Red Lake Walleye Recovery.
Bull Trout.
Cormorant Shooting.
Chippewa Fishing Rights.
Atlantic Salmon.
Great Basin Redband Trout Lawsuit.
Reversing Stream Acidity.
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