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.
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SALMON TRACKING.
IN THE JUNE 19, 1997 ISSUE OF NATURE, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE (NH) SCIENTISTS REPORTED THAT SALMON COULD BE MATCHED TO THEIR SPAWNING DRAINAGE BY COMPARING THE UNIQUE STRONTIUM ISOTOPE COMPOSITION "SIGNATURES" OF FISH AND DRAINAGE WATER. [ASSOC PRESS]
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ON JUNE 19, 1997, EIGHT U.S. SENATORS FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST URGED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO OPEN DISCUSSIONS ON EXTENDING THE $435 MILLION LIMIT ON SALMON RESTORATION EXPENDITURES BY BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION (BPA) BEYOND THE YEAR 2001, SO AS TO ASSURE RATE STABILITY AND ASSIST BPA IN NEGOTIATING POWER CONTRACTS EXTENDING BEYOND 2001. [ASSOC PRESS]
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On June 12, 1997, AK Governor Tony Knowles announced that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture will buy as much as $12 million worth of AK pink and chum salmon by competitive bid for use in federal supplemental food programs. [Reuters, Assoc Press]
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On June 12, 1997, private sector associations from Russia and Japan signed an agreement to cooperate in fighting poaching of salmon and trout from Russian waters. Russian officials will be stationed in Japanese ports to check permitsof Russian fishermen and measure catch against quotas. Poaching has made itdifficult for Japanese fishery associations to predict import volumes, causing volatile prices for salmon and trout. [Dow Jones News]
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On June 11, 1997, the state of MT filed suit in U.S. District Court against the Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers seeking to have Hungry Horse and Libby Dams in the Flathead and Kootenai drainages operated in compliance with the Northwest Power Planning Council's 1994 Fish and Wildlife Program that would limit drawdowns requested by NMFS for salmon because of concerns that resident fish would be harmed. MT Gov. Racicot also announced that the MT Dept. of Environmental Quality will issue a notice of violation and an administrative order directing the Bureau of Reclamation to operate Hungry Horse Dam so as to minimize downstream effects on the Flathead River. [NW Fishletter #36]
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On June 9, 1997, more than 250 members of the United Seiners Assoc. remained in port in Kodiak, AK, after voting on June 7 to not fish until processors agree in writingin advance on a price for salmon. Many Assoc. members were reported to have not fished last year due to low prices. In mid-June 1997, more than 40Sand Point seine and gillnet fishermen were reported to have joined Kodiak seiners in deciding not to fish for salmon until they had a contract guaranteeing a market pricein advance of fishing. On June 16, 1997, about 65 members of the Chignik Seiners Assoc. voted to join the protest and not fish until a price contract was obtained. [Assoc Press]
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On June 3, 1997, a dedication ceremony was scheduled to celebrate the relocated and modernized M&T Pumping Station on the Sacramento River, south of Chico, CA. For almost $5 million, the new station was equipped with fish screens to protect migrating steelhead trout and salmon. [Ducks Unlimited and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release]
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On June 2, 1997, Scholastic, Inc., announced that a third grade teacher from Portland, OR, was the recipient of the Ms. Frizzle Award for creative excellence in science teaching for a project entitled "Salmon in the Sink." Students will work with the OR Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to build a simulated river ecosystem and raise salmon fry for release. [Scholastic, Inc. press release]
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On May 31, 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a field hearing in Lewiston, ID, on various proposals for drawing down Columbia and Snake River hydroelectric dams. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On May 30, 1997, the WA Fish and Wildlife Commission approved regulations designed to better protect diving sea birds from entanglement in commercial salmon nets. Commercial fishermen will be required to modify gear and restrict fishing hours during the Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon fishery in northern Puget Sound, WA. Regulations include gaps in the tops of purse seine nets to allow birds to escape, rebuilt nets with white twine in the upper 20 meshes for better visibility by birds, night closures when birds are less easily seen, and season closure when birds are abundant and salmon are scarce. The regulations were developed through a cooperative effort by commercial fishermen, environmental groups, fishing gear suppliers, and state and federal fishery managers. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On May 29, 1997, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt dedicated an $80 million structure at Shasta Dam to permit better temperature control of water released from the dam to benefit chinook salmon downstream. Funds for the structure were provided by the federal government, water users, and the state of CA. [Reuters] Back to top or Back to home page By late May 1997, more than 16,000 chinook salmon had been counted passing Lower Granite Dam, with about 16% being wild (not hatchery) fish. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page On May 23, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark gave 90 days notice of his intent to terminate the U.S. Navy's lease on an underwater submarine and weapons test range at Nanoose Bay, BC. On May 23, 1997, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy about Pacific salmon negotiations; after these discussions, the Canadian press reported that treaty negotiations would resume on May 30, 1997. On May 25, 1997, the Canadian government seized two U.S. vessels, the Janet G. and the Nautilus, for not reporting by radio and stowing their fishing gear, and on May 26, 1997, an additional U.S. vessel, the Four Daughters, was seized. The U.S. operators of these vessels are to appear in Canadian court on May 27, 1997. On May 27, 1997, BC Provincial Court Judge Brian Saunderson imposed C$300 fines on the three U.S. vessels seized for not stowing their fishing gear and not contacting Canadian authorities before transit of Canadian waters; Canadian prosecutors had asked for fines of C$1,500 each. On May 27, 1997, Canadian fisheries enforcement personnel seized a fourth U.S. fishing vessel, the Christina, for non-compliance with Canadian regulations. Several hours later, U.S. State Dept. officials notified the Canadian government that the United States was postponing the resumption of negotiations, previously scheduled for May 30, 1997. On May 27, 1997, BC Premier Glen Clark met with WA Governor Gary Locke to discuss concerns with sharing a projected record return of Fraser River sockeye salmon in 1997. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy were reported to have briefly discussed the salmon situation via telephone on May 27, 1997, expressing mutual interest in resuming negotiations. On May 28, 1997, the operator of the fourth U.S. vessel seized, the Christina, was fined C$300 by the BC Provincial Court and released. On May 28, 1997, United States' officials appealed to Canada to resume suspended treaty negotiations. On May 28, 1997, AK Senator Murkowski was reported to have asked that the U.S. Coast Guard consider escorting U.S. fishing vessels through Canadian waters to prevent vessel seizures. On May 31, 1997, the Seattle Times reported that the secret conclusions of early 1996 mediation by New Zealand Ambassador Christopher Beeby were highly favorable to the Canadian position on equitable sharing of Pacific salmon harvests, and that Ambassador Beeby proposed an accounting formula based on the wholesale value of domestic salmon landings to establish which nation should curtail fishing or pay compensation. On June 2, 1997, BC fishing groups, reportedly with support of and funding from the BC provincial government, announced the beginning of an advertizing campaign in major U.S. and Canadian newspapers along the Pacific coast, expressing the Canadian view of current salmon problems. On June 3, 1997, Senator Stevens was reported to have stated that he will oppose $100 million in U.S. funding for environmental cleanups at 4 former military facilities in Canada, including Distant Early Warning sites, because of Canada's recent actions to revoke the U.S. Navy lease at Canada's Nanoose Bay facility. BC Premier Clark responded by threatening to cancel export of wolves and grizzly bears to the United States for species restoration programs. On June 5, 1997, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy indicated that talks between U.S. and Canadian negotiators could resume in mid-June. On June 11, 1997, Canada's new Fisheries Minister, David Anderson, indicated a moderate stance would be taken in an effort to achieve a resumption of Treaty negotiations. On June 13, 1997, U.S. State Dept. officials announced that Canadian and U.S. negotiators were scheduled to resume discussions in Vancouver, BC, on June 18, 1997. Canadian officials announced that a U.S. proposal includes an agreement by the United States to contribute to a conservation fund in compensation for Alaskan overfishing, and an 8-year compromise on Fraser River sockeye salmon. Enforcement of Canadian transit regulations for U.S. fishing vessels will continue. In mid-June 1997, the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fun, acting for the Neskonlith Band near Chase, BC, asked Canadian Federal Court to halt sport fishing for coho salmon on BC's Thompson River, charging that this population was in danger of extinction. On June 17, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson met with AK Governor Tony Knowles and WA Governor Gary Locke to discuss salmon. Anderson and Knowles held a joint press conference after their talks; they stated their agreement on principles of conservation and fair allocation, and proclaimed the salmon dispute "solvable." BOTH STATED THAT EQUITY DISCUSSIONS BY STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD RESUME AFTER THIS YEAR'S FISHING IS COMPLETED. On June 18, 1997, U.S. and Canadian negotiators resumed discussions in Vancouver, BC. NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED JUNE 19, 1997, AND WERE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 20. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News, Wall Street Journal] Back to top or Back to home page Salmon Aquaculture Report. On June 18, 1997, the Sierra Legal Defense Fund on behalf of the David Suzuki Foundation, the Friends of Clayoquot Sound and Greenpeace, is scheduled to release a report entitled "Containing Disaster: Global Lessons on Salmon Aquaculture" that discusses negative aspects of salmon farming. [Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund press release] Back to top or Back to home page On June 12, 1997, the Coalition for Fair Atlantic Salmon Trade (FAST) -- salmon farmers from WA and ME -- filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission against farmed Chilean salmon, alleging illegal subsidization of salmon exporters and undercutting of U.S. prices by as much as 40%. A hearing on the petitions is tentatively scheduled for July 3, 1997. [Assoc. of Chilean Salmon Farmers press release, Dow Jones News] Back to top or Back to home page On May 31, 1997, two customers and two employees became ill after eating McLaks salmon burgers in a McDonald's restaurant in Loerenskog, Norway. As a precaution, McDonald's subsequently withdrew McLaks salmon burgers from all 36 outlets in Norway until the source of the problem could be identified. [Reuters] Back to top or Back to home page On May 29, 1997, the European Commission discussed but failed to agree on whether or not to impose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties amounting to 13.7% on farmed Norwegian Atlantic salmon. On June 1, 1997, the European Commission approved a compromise on Norwegian farmed salmon imports. Instead of imposing antidumping duties, a five-year agreement was negotiated to include a minimum price for the salmon, an increase in the Norwegian export duty on this product from 0.75% to 3%, and a limitation on the growth of exports to the EU of about 10% per year. [Reuters, Agence Europe via Reuters] Back to top or Back to home page In late May 1997, the WA state Pollution Control Hearings Board declared Atlantic salmon escaping from fish farms to be a "living pollutant" to be regulated similarly to sewage and industrial waste. The Board has scheduled a 5-day hearing in Olympia, beginning July 24, 1997, to consider whether escaped salmon harm native fish and, if so, what options might be considered. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page Bull Trout. On June 10, 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under court order, proposed listing Klamath River bull trout as endangered and Columbia River bull trout as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Five public hearings are scheduled on the proposal between July 1 and July 17. Public comments will be taken until Aug. 12, 1997. [Assoc Press] Back to top or Back to home page
Drawdown Field Hearing.
Sea Bird Protection.
Shasta Dam Temperature Control.
Columbia River Spring Chinook.
Pacific Salmon Treaty.
Aquaculture and Aquaria
Chilean Salmon Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions.
McLaks Off the Market.
Norwegian Salmon.
Fish as Pollutants.
Freshwater Fisheries