Fish News July 5, 1999

A Coho

The following weekly news summary was compiled by the Congressional Research Service from a variety of information sources. New info and changes since 6/25/99 are bracketed {...} New info and changes since 7/1/99 are double-bracketed {{...}}

Cleve Steward Sustainable Fisheries Foundation Tel. 425-670-3584

SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST
AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA
FRESHWATER FISHERIES

SALMON ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST

{{Snake River Water Withdrawal Moratorium.

On July 1, 1999, a 7-year WA state moratorium on new withdrawals of water from the Snake River ended.

However, the WA Dept. of Ecology indicated that no new water rights permits are likely to be issued (about 20 applications are pending), until federal studies on flow levels required by fish are completed.}} [Assoc Press]

{{WA Net Ban Petition.

On July 1, 1999, supporters of a petition to ban net fishing in WA waters (Initiative 696) submitted about 230,000 signatures to the WA Secretary of State for validation, seeking to have the required 179,248 valid signatures to qualify for the November state election ballot.

The Initiative would ban commercial trolling and all nets, except reef nets, crab and shrimp pots, and herring dip-bag nets. Tribal fishing would not be affected.}} [Assoc Press]

{{Conference on Ocean Conditions.

On July 1, 1999, the Northwest Power Planning Council held a conference on ocean conditions in Portland, OR, where scientists suggest a shift in Pacific Ocean climate may be improving the food supply for salmon and encouraging population recovery.}} [Assoc Press]

{Willamette River Temperature.

On June 30, 1999, federal and state officials announced that, later in July 1999, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will ask the OR Dept. of Environmental Quality to set a peak temperature standard of 64 degrees for Willamette River waters. This standard is 4 degrees below OR's proposed peak standard and 10 degrees below OR's current warmest-week average. Achieving the standard will be difficult and when it might be achieved is uncertain.} [Assoc Press]

{Savage Rapids Dam.

On June 29, 1999, OR Governor John Kitzhaber vetoed HB 3065 that would have restored a water permit to the Grants Pass Irrigation District.

In 1998, the OR Water Resources Commission suspended the District's water permit because it did not fulfill its promise to remove Savage Rapids Dam.} [Assoc Press]

{Salmon Restoration Cost.

On June 28, 1999, the Portland Oregonianreleased an estimated state/federal cost of salmon recovery for FY2000 of $935.5 million, including the expenditures of 6 Cabinet-level agencies and 4 states.} [Portland Oregonian]

Salmon Recovery Hearing.

On June 23, 1999, the Senate Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water held a hearing on the plans and procedures of 9 federal agencies in their coordinated effort to promote salmon recovery. [personal communication]

{Chinook Jack Salmon on the Columbia.

As of mid-June 1999, the number of spring and summer chinook jack salmon (precocious male salmon migrating upstream a year or more earlier than anticipated) counted passing Bonneville Dam was the highest since 1976 and more than 3 times the average of the past 10 years. Fishery managers are optimistic that this larger return of jack salmon indicates that the number of adults returning to spawn may be larger in the next few years.} [Seattle Times]

{Hanford Reach.

A mid-June 1999 draft report by the Government Accountability Project, a Hanford Nuclear Reservation watchdog group, notes that scientists have detected strontium-90, a radioactive by-product of plutonium, within about 100 feet of spawning grounds of fall chinook salmon at the Hanford Reach on the Columbia River.} [Assoc Press, Seattle Herald]

ISRP Review.

In mid-June 1999, the Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) submitted its 3rd annual review of projects proposed for funding by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) through the Northwest Power Planning Council's (NPPC's) Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program [http://www.nwppc.org/isab_toc.htm]. The ISRP recommended that 36 projects recommended for funding by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Association (CBFWA) not be funded as well as an additional 21 projects recommended by CBFWA for funding if money were available. Public comment is sought on the ISRP review, and NPPC will make its funding recommendations to BPA in September 1999. This program is budgeted for $127 million. [NPPC Congressional Update]

Salmon Expenditures.

Between June 14-30, 1999, the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) will hold a series of 4 public meetings in the Columbia River basin to provide information on plans for improving the way funds are spent to restore salmon. [NPPC press release]

WA Salmon Management.

On June 11, 1999, Governor Gary Locke signed SB 5595 into law, providing for a salmon recovery board to oversee the expenditure of more than $119.9 million in grants and loans for salmon habitat projects and recovery activities.

On June 16, 1999, the Snohomish County Economic Development Council sponsored a half-day symposium on the effects of salmon restoration on building practices. [Seattle Herald, Seattle Times, Portland Oregonian, Assoc Press, personal communication, BNA Daily Environment Report]

ESA Consultation Handbook.

On June 10, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and NMFS jointly announced the availability of a handbook "Endangered Species Consultation Handbook: Procedures for Conducting Consultation and Conference Activities Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act." The handbook review policies and procedures for informal, formal, emergency, and special consultations and conferences by federal agencies to ensure that actions do not jeopardize endangered or threatened species. [FWS press release]

Lower Snake River Dams.

On June 9, 1999, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing on the process to determine the future of the four lower Snake River dams and conduct oversight on the Northwest Power Planning Council's Framework Process. [NOAA press release, Assoc Press, personal communication]

Canadian Salmon Management.

On June 8, 1999, the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council released a report concluding that the federal Dept. of Fisheries and Ocean is unable to meet its conservation objectives and needs more funds to adequately monitor salmon stocks.

On June 18, 1999, Canadian federal Fisheries Minister David Anderson released the 1999 Salmon Management Plan, continuing strict selective fishing measures instituted in 1998 to reduce salmon harvest, particularly for coho salmon. [Canadian Press]

Canadian Salmon in Australia.

In early June 1999, Canadian officials announced that Canada would levy surcharges on Canadian imports of Australian lamb, fruit, and other food if an Australian ban on importation of fresh Canadian salmon is not lifted by July 6, 1999, as ordered by the World Trade Organization. [Australian Broadcasting Corp.]

Pacific Salmon Treaty.

On June 3, 1999, U.S. and Canadian officials announced the conclusion of a new agreement using abundance-based fishing regimes to apportion Pacific salmon harvest, covering 12 years for Fraser River sockeye and 10 years for other stocks. New Chapters 1-6 of Annex IV to the Treaty contain most of the agreement. A key element of the agreement is two jointly managed regional trust funds contributed by the United States, subject to appropriations, over a 4-year period -- US$75 million for Northern Boundary and Transboundary River restoration and enhancement and US$65 million for Southern Boundary restoration and enhancement, including a buyout of non- Indian U.S. commercial fishing licenses in Puget Sound to decrease the fleet targeting Fraser River sockeye by 40%.

In addition, AK will reportedly reduce its southeast AK troll chinook catch by around 25%.

Two types of chinook salmon management will be undertaken -- 1) 3 fisheries will be managed based on! the aggregate abundance of chinook present in the fishery, and 2) all others will be managed based on the status of individual stocks or stock groups in the fishery.

In addition, a new bilateral Committee on Scientific Cooperation will be established.

On June 4, 1999, First Nations Summit Chiefs and negotiators met with Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson in North Vancouver, BC, reportedly expressing anger over the lack of First Nations involvement in discussions leading to the new salmon agreement.

On June 8, 1999, President Clinton asked Congress for an additional $60 million to implement the new agreement on Pacific salmon concluded with Canada.

On June 9, 1999, the House Resources Committee approved H.R. 1652, providing for continued operation of a U.S. panel to advise on conservation of Yukon River salmon stocks.

On June 14, 1999, two BC officials were quoted as criticizing the new agreement for setting the threshold for triggering AK coho fishery closures to! o high. {In Washington, DC, on June 30, 1999, U.S. and Canadian officials formally signed the new bilateral agreement on cooperative Pacific salmon management.} [Fox News, Northwest Fishletter, Reuters, Environment News Service, White House press release, Portland Oregonian, personal communication, Assoc Press, Canadian Press, U.S. Information Agency]

AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA

APHIS Aquaculture Program.

July 6, 1999 is the deadline for comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on programs and regulations for farm-raised finfish. Programs are proposed to help protect the health of farm-raised fishfish, help producers of these fish meet international trade requirements, and help encourage international trade in U.S. aquaculture products. [Fed. Register]

{{Dioxin-Contaminated Salmon? In late June 1999, the London Timesreported that preliminary results of an unpublished study by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food indicated significant dioxin contamination of fish and seafood products sold in British markets. Dioxin found in farmed salmon was suggested as likely to have come from contaminated fishmeal used as feed.}} [London Times]

Anchorage Aquarium?

On June 22, 1999, {{officials of a TX investment company }} announced a proposal to develop a $20 million aquarium on acreage in the Ship Creek drainage adjacent to downtown Anchorage. [MSNBC]

Ocean Journey Aquarium.

Officials of Colorado's $93 million Ocean Journey Aquarium announced that this facility was scheduled to open to the public on June 21, 1999. [Denver Rocky Mountain News]

Atlantic Salmon Escape.

On June 13, 1999, about 100,000 Atlantic salmon escaped from a commercial fish farm on Bainbridge Island into Puget Sound, WA. This is this farm's second massive escape in 2 years. [Seattle Times]

FRESHWATER FISHERIES

Edwards Dam Removal.

On July 1, 1999, a coffer dam upstream of Edwards Dam on ME's Kennebec River was removed to allow water to flow through a breach to will be made in Edwards Dam. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and ME Governor Angus King participated in ceremonies prior to dam removal. The dam is to be completely removed by Thanksgiving 1999, with removal anticipated to cost about $5 million. [Kennebec Coalition press release, Assoc Press]

{{Drought-Related Fish Kill.

In late June 1999, more than 200,000 fish were reported by MD Dept. of Natural Resource officials to have died in MD waterways, attributed to drought conditions and low dissolved oxygen. Most of the dead fish were small minnows, but eel, perch, bass, and catfish also were killed in the Magothy River and Patapsco Rivers. Reports of kills on the Severn River and rivers on MD's eastern shore have also been received.}} [Washington Post]

Delta Smelt Mortalities. As of June 18, 1999, Central California water projects were reported to have killed more than 92,000 threatened Delta smelt in 7 weeks, compared to a take limit negotiated under the Endangered Species Act of 20,400 smelt. Environmental groups expressed concern for this species' management. Threatened smelt lingering in the south Sacramento River Delta have created a severe water shortage for the Silicon Valley and CA agribusiness operations, since pumping has been slowed to reduce smelt mortalities.

On June 22, 1999, a special CA legislative hearing was held to discuss the problem and concerns. [personal communication, San Francisco Examiner]

Goby Roundup.

In mid-June 1999, 13 boat crews from federal, state, and local environmental agencies are scheduled to use trawl nets, set lines, traps, and rods and reels in the 4th Annual Goby Roundup to assess how far inland round gobies may have invaded waterways between the mouth of the Chicago River and the Illinois River south of Joliet. Initial tests indicate the fish may have moved at least 2 miles farther inland toward the Mississippi River. Actual results from the Roundup indicated the goby had moved 10 miles farther inland, and just 12 miles short of a proposed $1.2 million federally constructed electric fish barrier. [Daily Southtown]

Lake Davis Pike.

On June 10, 1999, the CA Dept. of Fish and Game announced that a $25,000 reward was being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for planting northern pike in Lake Davis. This was increased by a $5,000 reward offered by the Plumas County Fish and Game Commission.

In early June 1999, samples from the 2 Lake Davis pike were sent to a DNA lab at UCLA to determine if the pike were illegally planted or survived the poisoning of Lake Davis. Since catfish also appear to have survived the poisoning, opinion is shifting to consider the possibility that pike and catfish survived the poisoning by remaining in springs at the bottom of Lake Davis. {On June 24, 1999, CA Dept. of Fish and Game officials announced that they had caught a 4th northern pike from Lake Davis. This fish was a juvenile and suggests that northern pike spawned in the lake this spring.} {{On July 1, 1999, CA Dept. of Fish and Game officials announced ! that a second juvenile pike had been caught.}} [Assoc Press, San Francisco Examiner, Sacramento Bee, Contra Costa Times]

Zebra Mussel Problems.

On June 5, 1999, Commonwealth Edison, for the second time in three weeks, had to power down one of the two reactors at the LaSalle Nuclear Power Station, LaSalle County, IL, to 60% capacity so that its clogged cooling system could be cleared of dead zebra mussels. [Chicago Tribune]

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