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New info and changes since 8/29/97 are bracketed {...}.
New info and changes since 9/4/97 are in double brackets {{...}}Marine Fisheries .
NMFS Oversight Hearings. The House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has tentatively scheduled an oversight hearing to review NMFS management of the nation's fisheries for Sept. 11, 1997. [personal communication, Congr. Record] .
ICCAT Advisory Committee Regional Public Meetings. Between Sept. 10 and Oct. 3, 1997, the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) will hold a series of 6 regional public meetings along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to discuss relevant international and domestic issues and receive public comment. [Federal Register] .
Cyanide Fishing Report Briefing. On Sept. 9, 1997, the World Resources Institute has scheduled a briefing in Washington, DC, on its new report Sullied Seas: Strategies for Combating Cyanide Fishing in Southeast Asia and Beyond. It documents efforts to launch a Cyanide Fishing Reform Program by the Philippines government. [WRI announcement] .
IFQ Meetings. The National Research Council's Committee to Review Individual Fishing Quotas held public meetings in Anchorage, AK, to take public comment on its review of IFQs on Sept. 4-5, 1997. A similar meeting is planned for Seattle, WA, in mid-November 1997. [personal communication, Assoc Press] .
{{Mexican Oil Pollution Lawsuit. On Sept. 4, 1997, officials of the Mexican Center for Environmental Law, Blue Tide, and Greenpeace of Mexico held a news conference to announce that they had filed a lawsuit against the government oil monopoly, Petroleos Mexicanos, for pollution damages to a mangrove swamp and estuary at Laguna del Pom, off Campeche Sound, arising from petroleum exploration and development. The groups also seek to halt construction of a nitrogen compressing plant in Cuidad del Carmen that would inject gas underground to increase petroleum production.}} [Assoc Press, Dow Jones News] .
{{NJ Horseshoe Crab Case. On Sept. 4, 1997, the NJ Supreme Court announced that it would accept the case alleging that Governor Christie Whitman exceeded her authority by extending an emergency order limiting horseshoe crab harvesting in Delaware Bay. In the process, the emergency order limiting crabbing was retained, but no date has yet been set for the Court hearing on the case.}} [Assoc Press] .
{{Mercury in King Mackerel. On Sept. 4, 1997, LA state health dept. officials renewed a warning to limit consumption of large king mackerel caught in the Gulf of Mexico due to elevated mercury levels.}} [Assoc Press] .
{Queen Conch Trial. On Sept. 2, 1997, five Hialeah, FL, individuals were sentenced to 3 years probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service for the May 1997 slaughter of 458 queen conchs, destroying one of only three breeding aggregations in Biscayne National Park, FL.} [Assoc Press] . {Spain Extends Fisheries Jurisdiction. On Aug. 27, 1997, Spain extended its fisheries jurisdiction in the Mediterranean Sea from 12 miles to a maximum of 106 miles and a minimum of 20 miles to better limit abusive fishing including driftnetting. This action was particularly targeted against 100 vessels under flags of convenience from Panama and Sierra Leone fishing tuna for the Japanese market.} [Madrid TVE Internacional Television via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] .
{U.S.-Russia Coast Guard Cooperation. On Aug. 27, 1997, a delegation from the U.S. Coast Guard arrived in Kamchatka, Russia, to tour Russian frontier guard operations and investigate opportunities for joint operations to better protect fishery resources in the North Pacific and Bering Sea.} [ITAR-TASS via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] .
Muckleshoot Fishing and Shellfish Production Site. On Aug. 27, 1997, an attorney for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe announced that the Tribe had purchased a 95-acre tract on Vashon Island, WA, with almost a half mile of waterfront for use as a fishing and shellfish production site. The tract was purchased for $2.5 million, derived as proceeds from the Tribe's casino, bingo hall, smoke shop, and liquor store. [Assoc Press] .
SC Marine Fisheries Reform. On Aug. 26, 1997, the SC Dept. of Natural Resources began a series of public hearings on proposals to overhaul state marine fisheries law. The proposals include authorizing the Dept. of Natural Resources to set seasons, size and catch limits, and methods and areas of fishing, which are currently established by the state legislature. If approved by the Dept. of Natural Resources Board, the proposal would go to the state legislature in 1998. [Assoc Press] .
Chesapeake Bay. On Aug. 26, 1997, the VA Marine Resources Commission received a report on an experimental oyster reef in the Great Wicomico River. This reef was built in December 1996 and stocked with mature oysters taken from Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds, and now shows oyster spat production between 18 and 260 times that observed on natural reefs two years ago. [Assoc Press] .
{Sea Urchin Mass. In late August 1997, FL Dept. of Environmental Protection officials reported an "army" of sea urchins in a column a yard wide and two miles long was systematically destroying sea grass in a 3-square-mile area about 8 miles offshore of Marathon, FL.} [Assoc Press] .
Coral Reef Accident Report. In late August 1997, the U.S. Coast Guard released a report on its investigation of the grounding of the container vessel Houston on a coral reef in the FL Keys National Marine Sanctuary on Feb. 2, 1997. The report indicated the grounding was likely caused by wayward course changes, crew failure to supervise novice sailors, and a plotting mistake. [Assoc Press] .
WA Oyster Warning. On Aug. 23, 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against eating live oysters from WA state, which could have elevated Vibrio parahaemolyticus levels, due to warmer waters. A total of 42 cases of illness have been reported in WA, 7 in OR, 22 in CA, and more than 100 cases in British Columbia -- all attributed to the consumption of raw oysters.}} [Assoc Press] .
Bluefin Tuna Import Sanctions. On Aug. 21, 1997, NMFS announced that the United States would prohibit all imports of Atlantic bluefin tuna caught by fishing vessels from Panama, Honduras, and Belize, because these nations were determined to be fishing in a manner that undermines the conservation efforts of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ICCAT). The import ban against Honduras and Belize would be immediately effective, while the ban against Panama would be delayed until Jan. 1, 1998, to allow Panama an opportunity to demonstrate that its fishing practices have been modified. All 24 ICCAT-member nations are expected to implement similar restrictions. No bluefin tuna is currently imported by the United States from these 3 countries. [NOAA press release] .
Marine Recreational Charter Boat Data Program. On Aug. 21, 1997, NMFS announced that it would spend nearly $500,000 during the next year on a coordinated federal-state program to improve data collection from the Gulf of Mexico charter boat industry. A Charter Boat Research Program will commence in September 1997 to test data collection methods including telephone survey and logbook survey efforts. [NOAA press release] .
Bluefin Tuna Fines. On Aug. 20, 1997, NMFS announced that 6 individuals had been assessed $380,000 in fines and had their permits suspended for violations of Atlantic bluefin tuna harvesting and marketing regulations in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. [NOAA press release] .
Toothfish Poaching. On Aug. 20, 1997, South African cabinet ministers approved measures to increase joint navy and air force enforcement efforts against Patagonian toothfish poaching within South Africa's economic zone around the Prince Edward Islands near Antarctica. [Reuters] .
Russian-Icelandic Fishery Agreement. In mid-August 1997, a framework agreement was concluded in Moscow between Russia and Iceland on fisheries cooperation. The agreement provides a framework for negotiating reciprocal fishing rights in each others' waters as well as purchase or lease of Russian Barents Sea fishing quotas by Icelandic fishermen. The agreement encourages cooperation and establishment of international companies and projects. [personal communication] .
Russian Trawler Detention. On Aug. 15, 1997, the Russian trawler Chernyayevo was detained by the U.S. Coast Guard in the northern Bering Sea after allegedly being observed fishing within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The Coast Guard has towed the trawler to Kodiak, AK, and is investigating the incident. Russia has requested that the vessel be released. [Interfax, Dow Jones News, Assoc Press, Reuters, ITAR-TASS via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] .
U.S.-Russian Bering Sea Discussions. On Aug. 12, 1997, another of a series of discussions began in Washington, DC, between Russian and U.S. officials on how to deal with problems with the maritime boundary agreement in the Bering Sea concluded by the former Soviet Union but never ratified by the Russian Duma. Russia objects to the terms of the agreement, which they characterize as transferring fish-rich (150,000 metric tons of annual harvest of pollock, herring, cod, halibut, and flounder, valued at about $300 million) areas to U.S. jurisdiction. [Interfax, Delovoy Mir via Foreign Broadcast Information Service] .
FAO Technical Working Groups. On Aug. 8, 1997, NMFS announced the formation of 3 United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on 1) management of fishing capacity, 2) reduction of incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries, and 3) shark conservation and management. TWG work is designed to lead to a formal FAO Consultation by all FAO Members and preparation of draft action plans. [Federal Register] .
El Nino. On Aug. 8, 1997, Chilean officials imposed a 30-day ban, beginning Aug. 15, on anchovy fishing in 2 northern regions due to El Nino effects.) [Dow Jones News] .
Van Camp Seafood Sale. On Aug. 6, 1997, the sale of Van Camp Seafood Co., Inc. to Tri-Union Seafoods, LLC was completed, with the operations subsequently to be known as Chicken of the Sea International. Company headquarters are to remain in San Diego, CA, and operation of a cannery in American Samoa will continue. [Dow Jones News] .
NC Commercial Fisheries Moratorium. On Aug. 6, 1997, the NC Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amended package of fishery reform measures, clearing this bill for consideration by the full Senate. On Aug. 11, 1997, the NC Senate voted 45-0 to tentatively approve a package of fishery reform measures. On Aug. 12, 1997, the NC Senate gave final approval by a vote of 46-0. The NC House will reconsider the Senate amended measure. [Assoc Press] .
Regional Council Guidelines. On Aug. 5, 1997, NMFS announced that it is seeking public comment on proposed guidelines on how Regional Fishery Management Councils are to implement 1996 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act amendments addressing overfishing, stock rebuilding, and optimum yield. NMFS will receive comments through Sept. 18, 1997. [NMFS press release] .
Albacore Tuna Fishery. In early August 1997, Alaska vessels began delivering albacore tuna to Kodiak processors from a fishery about 1,200 miles south of Kodiak. The unregulated high seas fishery was reported to have grown from about 35 vessels in 1996 to about 200 vessels in 1997. [Assoc Press] .
Smoked Salmon Alert. In early August 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers not to purchase or eat Royal Line brand smoked salmon imported from Denmark because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the FDA, the U.S. distributor of this product has refused to cooperate in providing information or recalling the salmon. [Dow Jones News] .
Shellfish Illness. In early August 1997, an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in undercooked and raw shellfish sold by Vancouver, BC, restaurants resulted in 20 illnesses with one individual hospitalized. [Assoc Press] .
Korean Longliner Seized. On Aug. 4, 1997, the U.S. Magistrate's Office in Honolulu issued a seizure warrant for the 137-foot Korean longliner Shin Chang No. 502, docked in American Samoa for repairs. A civil complaint for forfeiture of the vessel alleges this vessel entered and fished in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone around Palmyra Island without a permit 5 times in May and June, 1997. [Assoc Press] .
EU Seafood Import Bans. On Aug. 4, 1997, the European Commission announced temporary import bans on all fishery products from Bangladesh, India, and Madagascar, for health and safety concerns; serious deficiencies at processing facilities were discovered by EU inspectors. These prohibitions will be reviewed by Nov. 30, 1997. On Aug. 7, 1997, the proposed implementation date of Aug. 15 was scheduled to be reviewed by EC veterinary experts. [Reuters] .
U.S. Seafood Consumption. On Aug. 1, 1997, NMFS officials announced that U.S. seafood consumption declined modestly to 14.8 pounds per person during 1996 from 15.0 pounds per person in 1995. The 0.2 pound per person decline was noted for canned seafood products. Imported seafood comprised 57% of U.S. consumption during 1996, a 3% increase from 1995. [NOAA press release] .
WA Tribal Shellfish Harvest. On Aug. 1, 1997, Puyallup tribal officials announced interest in subsistence and ceremonial harvesting butter clams from beaches in the Titlow Beach marine reserve area, near Tacoma, WA, because of the close proximity to the tribal community and ease of access. [Assoc Press]
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