[acn-l] FISHLINK NEWS - 2/18/97(3)

FISH3IFR at aol.com
Tue, 18 Feb 1997 21:09:32 -0500 (EST)

>>>> FISHLINK NEWS - 2/18/97 <<<<
(Vol. 3, No 1)
Part 3 of 3 parts
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Fisheries and Conservation News
from the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
and the Institute for Fisheries Resources
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CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE SUMMARY OF FISHERIES
NEWS FOR DECEMBER 1996 AND JANUARY 1997
(Continued)
======================================================

Tuna Oil Venture. In early January 1997, an official of H.J. Heinz
Company Australia, Ltd. announced that H.J. Heinz was entering into a
partnership with Australia's Clover Corp. Pty. Ltd. to refine tuna oil for
sale to
international food and pharmaceutical markets. Investment by the 2
companies in the venture, to be called Nu-Mega Lipids, will be less than A$5
million, which includes costs for an extraction and refining facility in
Melbourne, Australia. Heinz officials reported that pharmaceutical industry
analysts have projected the global market for refined tuna oil will be around
A$400 million within 5 years. Tuna oil is reported to be used as a food
additive to enhance nutrition and for treatment of certain medical
conditions.
[Dow Jones News]
.
Pelican Injuries. In early January 1997, NC wildlife officials reported
that a number of wounded and injured brown pelicans have been washing
ashore near Southport and Long Beach, NC. Fishermen, accused of harming
the birds or not releasing them carefully when caught in fishing gear, are
being
warned that they could be fined as much as $500 for injuring a pelican under
NC state law. [Assoc Press]
.
Shrimp Embargo. In early January 1997, the Thai Commerce Ministry
was reported to have asked the WTO to establish a dispute panel to rule on
the U.S. embargo of shrimp. Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia, and India are
scheduled to discuss this case before the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on
Jan. 22, 1997. On Jan. 20, 1997, Australian officials announced that they
would join Thailand and Malaysia in opposing U.S. import sanctions on shrimp
in dispute proceedings before the WTO. On Jan. 22, 1997, the United States
blocked a request by Thailand and Malaysia that the WTO create a dispute
panel to rule on the U.S. shrimp embargo. Thailand and Malaysia indicated
that they would renew their request for a dispute panel at the next session
of
the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body. [The Nation (Bangkok) via Foreign
Information Broadcast Service, Assoc Press, Reuters]
.
Shrimp Imports. In early January 1997, the Seafood Market Analyst
reported that U.S. imports of frozen shrimp/prawn (shell on, 31-40 per pound)
for the first ten months of 1996 had declined 6.8% in volume and 12.1% in
value from the previous year. Thailand, Ecuador, and Mexico were the top 3
exporters of this product to the United States, and together provided about
76% of the imports, although the import volume from all 3 nations had
declined
from 1995. The total import volume for the first 10 months of 1996 was
19,867
metric tons, valued at $190 million. [Seafood Market Analyst]
.
Fluke Protest. On Jan. 5, 1997, two CT fishermen were cited for
landing fluke in excess of trip limits, in an ongoing dispute with federal
quotas
for fluke (summer flounder). CT state officials have threatened to file a
lawsuit
against the federal government or not enforce the federal plan if changes are
not made to the quota system. [Assoc Press]
.
Oyster Illnesses. On Jan. 3, 1997, Louisiana officials closed several
oyster reefs to harvesting after at least 21 people in 3 states reported
moderate illness after eating raw oysters during the holidays. A state
tagging
system for sacks of raw oysters allowed specific oyster growing areas to be
identified and closed. On Jan. 6, 1997, LA officials ordered a recall of
oysters
harvested after Dec. 22, 1996, from waters in Plaquemines and St. Bernard
parishes, after the total number of persons sickened grew to more than 100.
The illness is reported to be a Norwalk-type round virus, but not Vibrio
vulnificus. On Jan. 9, 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a
consumer warning for fresh and frozen LA oysters harvested after Dec. 22 and
shipped to 11 states, after more than 150 individuals in 5 states were
reported
to have been affected by the illness. On Jan. 13, 1997, FDA officials
announced that the consumer warning and recall on LA oysters had been
extended to 3 additional states. On Jan. 14, 1997, FDA extended the
consumer warning and recall to 2 more states; the total number of individuals
reported to have become ill was reported to have reached 412 -- more than 200
in LA, 183 in FL, 12 in AL, 14 in GA, and a few possible cases in MS. The
cause of the illness was confirmed by the LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals as
Norwalk virus. LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals officials reopened most
areas
(although not those affected by an earlier red tide) to oyster harvesting on
Jan.
23, 1997. [Assoc Press, GA Dept. of Agriculture press release]
.
North Pacific Trawlers. On Jan. 2, 1997, officials of International
Maritime Management Inc. (Seattle, WA) announced that it was negotiating
with American Seafoods Co. to acquire 5 factory trawlers used for pollock and
cod catching-processing. On Jan. 8, 1997, RGI Seafoods Inc. (a unit of the
Norwegian Resource Group International AS, based in Seattle, WA)
announced it had purchased 5 factory trawlers for pollock fishing in Alaskan
waters along with a processing plant, located in Seattle, WA. On Jan. 16,
1997, the 104-foot stern trawler Pacific Alliance, operated by Supreme Alaska
Seafoods, sank in stormy weather off the northwest tip of Vancouver Island,
BC, enroute from Seattle to Alaska for the Jan. 20 opening of the Gulf of
Alaska pollock fishery. Four crew were believed lost. [Assoc Press, Dow
Jones News]
.
Japanese Oil Spill. On Jan. 2, 1996, the Russian oil tanker
Nakhodka ruptured and split apart in storms in the Sea of Japan about 90
miles off the north coast of Japan, releasing an estimated 26,000 barrels
(3,700 metric tons) of heavy oil into the sea. More than 100,000 barrels of
oil
remain in unruptured tanks. The potential impacts on fisheries and
aquaculture are not yet determined. The oil first came ashore on Jan. 7
along
60 miles of coast from Kyoto Prefecture to Fukui Prefecture. On Jan. 7,
1997,
the spill was estimated to be 962,000 gallons. Abalone, turbine shell,
shrimp,
crab, and seaweed fisheries were reported as likely to be most affected by
the
spill. On Jan. 9, 1997, oil was reported coming ashore along 450 kilometers
(285 miles) of the coast. The vessel's $500 million insurance coverage is
expected to compensate for damages. On Jan. 17, 1997, 14 dolphins were
evacuated from an amusement park aquarium (Echizen Matsushima
Aquarium, located one mile from where the tanker bow has grounded) to be
held in 5 other aquariums until the spill is cleaned-up. On Jan. 17, 1997,
Japan's Defense Academy released a survey concluding that the impact of the
spill on marine resources would be minimal because little oil was dissolved
by
the sea water. The estimated amount of spilled oil was increased to 4,500
metric tons. On Jan. 20, 1997, the spill was reported to have affected 900
kilometers (560 miles) of the coast. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku
Kajiyama reported great reason to fear for the effect of the spill on the
environment and fisheries. On Jan. 21, 1997, six prefecture governments
jointly called on the central government to designate the oil spill as a
disaster
rather than a maritime accident. On Jan. 23, 1997, representatives from the
National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations and 8 regional
fisheries associations met with Michio Shimada, chief of the Japanese Fishery
Agency, to call for thorough measures to compensate fishermen for damages
from the spilled oil. [Assoc Press, Reuters, Journal of Commerce via
Greenwire, Dow Jones News]

FRESHWATER FISHERIES
.
Basin Creek Restoration. Jan. 6, 1997 is the deadline for public
comment on a proposal by Bridger-Teton National Forest (WY) officials to
destroy and relocate a portion of Basin Creek Road to allow restoration of
680
feet of Basin Creek to restore natural flow and improve habitat for eastern
brook trout. [Assoc Press]
.
Lower License Fees for Non-Resident Landowners. On Dec. 31,
1996, representatives of the Out of State Land Owners Association, Inc.
reported that they have petitioned the WI Dept. of Natural Resources to
obtain
lower fishing license fees than are normally charged non-residents. Members
of the Association claim that landowners contribute to the State economy to a
greater degree than non-residents who are not landowners. [Assoc Press]
.
New USFS Chief. On Dec. 20, 1996, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Dan Glickman announced that Michael Dombeck, a fishery scientist, had
been appointed Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. [Assoc Press]
.
Yellow Perch Fishing in Lake Michigan. On Dec. 19, 1996, Indiana
Dept. of Natural Resources officials announced that Indiana would join
Michigan and Wisconsin to prohibit commercial fishing for and reduce the
sport harvest of yellow perch in Lake Michigan, beginning Jan. 1, 1997. On
Dec. 20, 1996, officials of the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources announced
that Illinois would also prohibit commercial fishing for yellow perch in Lake
Michigan as well as reduce sport harvest of this species. The Lake Michigan
perch population is reported to have decreased 80% since 1990. [Assoc
Press]
.
Lead Sinker Pollution. On Dec. 17, 1996, U.S. District Judge Lynn
Winmill ruled that two environmental groups (Idaho Sporting Congress; Land
and Water Fund of the Rockies) could sue Computrol Inc. (Meridian, ID) for
failure to file toxic release reports under the Community Right-To-Know Act
for
its lead sinker manufacturing operations. Computrol officials claim no lead
is
released and thus there was nothing to report. [Assoc Press]
.
Bull Trout. In mid-December 1996, U.S. Forest Service officials
approved a land swap to protect bull trout spawning habitat on Elk Creek,
near
Flathead National Forest, MT. In exchange for 960 acres of Forest Service
land, Plum Creek Timber Co. will give the Forest Service 1,574 acres around
Elk Creek. [Assoc Press]
.
Corps Wetlands Permitting. On Dec. 10, 1996, the Army Corps of
Engineers announced modifications of its wetlands permitting regulations to
reduce the minimum tract size that would have to be reviewed by NMFS,
FWS, and EPA. Currently, developers can fill wetlands of less than an acre
without review; the new regulations would require review of all wetland
projects
exceeding one-third of an acre. More extensive review has been required for
modifying wetlands exceeding 10 acres, but the new regulations will lower
this
threshold to 3 acres. The current "quick-permitting" Nationwide 26 procedure
wherein smaller tracts receive minimal review will be phased-out over the
next
two years. The modified regulations are to be published in the Dec. 13
Federal Register. [Los Angeles Times and NY Times via Greenwire]
.
Barton Springs Salamander Deaths. On Dec. 6, 1996, scientists
discovered 12 dead Barton Springs salamanders in Zilker Park, Austin, TX.
Save Our Springs Alliance filed a lawsuit in early November 1996 attempting
to
force the U.S. Dept. of the Interior to list the species as endangered, while
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have criticized TX efforts to protect the
salamander. [Greenwire]
.
San Juan River. On Dec. 6, 1996, the NM Game Commission heard
public testimony seeking Commission intervention in efforts to maintain a
minimum 500 cubic feet per second flow below Navajo Dam on the San Juan
River to protect rainbow and brown trout populations. The Bureau of
Reclamation is experimenting with lower flows between November and
February to study the effects of low water flows on 2 endangered fish species
downstream. The Commission declined to take action. [Assoc Press]
.
Apalachicola River Water Shares. In early December 1996, the
states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida agreed to appoint a commission to
decide by December 1998 how the water in the Apalachicola River drainage
should be allocated among competing interests. Oyster harvesters in
Apalachicola Bay are critically dependent upon sufficient freshwater runoff
to
maintain the proper salinity balance in the estuary. After state
legislatures
approve any allocation plan, Congress must approve the compact. [Assoc
Press]
.
Lower Talarik Creek Protection. On Dec. 5, 1996, The Nature
Conservancy of Alaska completed a 155-acre land purchase along lower
Talarik Creek, a well-known rainbow trout steam in Alaska's Lake Iliamna
watershed. [Reuters]
.
WI Panfish Limit. On Dec. 4, 1996, the WI Dept. of Natural
Resources' Natural Resources Board approved a reduction in the daily limit
for
panfish (bluegills, crappies, perch, and pumpkinseeds) from 50 fish to 25
fish,
effective in 1998. This action was taken in response to concerns about
diminishing fish populations in WI lakes. [Assoc Press]
.
Kingsley Dam Relicensing. On Dec. 3, 1996, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service rejected the proposed Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) relicensing of Kingsley Dam on the Platte River, NE, due, in part, to
concerns that the proposal would not ensure better streamflow and habitat for
pallid sturgeon. [Denver Post via Greenwire]
.
Elk River Settlement. On Dec. 2, 1996, the U.S. Forest Service and
environmental groups announced settlement related to a lawsuit filed in
September 1996 by the Sierra Club, Heartwood, and Trout Unlimited seeking
to stop a timber sale in the Monongahela National Forest, WV, with concern
for the possible effects of sedimentation in streams feeding into the Upper
Elk
River. The Forest Service agreed to reduce the timber sale size by 1,000
acres and decrease the harvest by about 3 million board feet, streams would
be monitored during timber harvesting, and a buffer would be maintained
between the harvested lands and private property. [Assoc Press]
.
TX Fishing License System Problems. On Dec. 2, 1996, an official of
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. announced that the contractor working on
a new hunting and fishing license system for the state has not been paid yet
because the contractor has not met minimum requirements of the contract
and the system is not yet operating. The new system is supposed to
generate hunting and fishing licenses electronically, saving time and money
for the state and retailers. In addition, the system is supposed to allow
the
state to suspend licenses of persons behind in child-support payments.
[Assoc Press]
.

AQUACULTURE AND AQUARIA
.
Ocean Journey Aquarium. On Dec. 18, 1996, bonds are scheduled
to be sold to fund the $93 million non-profit Ocean Journey Aquarium in
Denver, CO's Central Platte Valley. Construction will start early in 1997,
with
opening scheduled for spring 1999. [Assoc Press]
.
Atlantic City Aquarium. On Dec. 16, 1996, Sun International Hotels
Limited announced that it has completed a merger with Griffin Gaming &
Entertainment, Inc., and will transform Griffin Gaming's Resorts Casino Hotel
in Atlantic City, NJ, to include "marine features and aquariums ... almost
twice
the size of the National Aquarium in Baltimore" including "the world's
largest
indoor living tidal coral reef." The projected opening date is December
1999.
[Sun International press release]
.
BC Salmon Farming. On Dec. 13-14, 1996, the Salmon Aquaculture
Review group, sponsored by the BC Environmental Assessment Office, was to
hold its 6th meeting in Nanaimo to consider public testimony on BC salmon
farming policy. [personal communication]
.
Indian Shrimp Farms Closed. On Dec. 12, 1996, India's Supreme
Court issued an order directing state governments to close all large shrimp
farms operating within 500 meters of India's west coast, due to excessive
pollution. Hundreds of farms are reported to be affected, although
traditional
shrimp farms using little or no chemicals are exempted from the closure
order.
[Dow Jones News]
.
Biopark Aquarium Opens. On Dec. 5, 1996, the new Rio Grande
Aquarium opened in Albuquerque, NM's biological park. The Aquarium
features a 285,000-gallon saltwater tank with Gulf of Mexico marine life.
[Assoc Press]
**********
Items in this summary are excerpted from a variety of information
sources. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is not responsible
for the accuracy of the various news items.

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