Continued from page 2Freshwater Fisheries .
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Hearing. The House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans has tentatively scheduled a hearing on H.R. 2376, a bill to reauthorize and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act for Sept. 25, 1997. [personal communication] .
{PCE Contamination. On Sept. 10, 1997, El Paso County, CO, was reported to be planning to announce the closure of fishing at 2 Willow Springs Ponds in Fountain Creek Regional Park due to elevated levels of perchloroethylene (PCE) in fish tissue. PCE is alleged to have originated from 1979-1980 dumping of PCE by a nearby Schlage Lock manufacturing plant and subsequent subsurface migration of the chemical.} [Assoc Press] .
Great Lakes Tribal Fishery. On Aug. 27, 1997, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Enslen ruled that the state's request for a ruling would be combined with a December 1997 trial on another fishing issue. On Sept. 4, 1997, Judge Enslen ruled that the Grand Traverse Band could take as much as 80,000 pounds of salmon from Grand Traverse Bay, denied a request by the MI Dept. of Natural Resources that would have required the Band to removed its fishing nets from the Bay, and ordered that nets be submerged 8 feet below the water surface for safety reasons. {On Sept. 9, 1997, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa voted to cease negotiations with the state of Michigan over a new fishing agreement to cover fishing after the year 2000. Without an agreement, tribal fishing would be unrestricted after 2000.} [Assoc Press] .
Chippewa Treaty Fishing Rights. On Aug. 26, 1997, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision and ruled that 8 Chippewa bands retain the right to hunt and fish without state regulation in east-central Minnesota. MN Governor Arne Carlson announced that the state of MN would appeal the ruling. However, the Chippewa insist on fishing under the court decision rather than waiting for decision on a likely appeal by the state. On Sept. 4, 1997, the Mille Lacs Band formally asked the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to lift a hold on the exercise of its treaty fishing rights pending the outcome of a state appeal. [Assoc Press, Reuters] .
Nebraska State Fish. On Aug. 26, 1997, NE Governor Ben Nelson announced that the channel catfish had been designated as the official NE state fish. [Assoc Press] .
Pfiesteria? In mid-August 1997, VA watermen reported lesion-bearing fish on the VA side of the Pocomoke estuary. On Aug. 26, 1997, the MD House Committee on Environmental Matters was scheduled to hold a hearing on problems on the lower Pocomoke River. On Aug. 26, 1997, about 2,000 menhaden with lesions were found in VA waters of Pocomoke Sound. On Aug. 29, 1997, MD and VA officials closed a 7-mile stretch of the lower Pocomoke River indefinitely to fishing, swimming, and recreational boating to limit human exposure to Pfiesteria toxin that medical researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Univ. of MD Medical Center believe has caused illness in at least 7 people. Five individuals were observed to have noticeable changes in brain tissue. On Sept. 2, 1997, a scientific advisory committee was scheduled to meet in Annapolis, MD to examine data from the Pocomoke River. {{On Sept. 2, 1997, VA Institute of Marine Science scientists collected menhaden from the Rappahannock River, with about 30% having Pfiesteria-like sores. No fish kill was reported.}} On Sept. 2, 1997, the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services announced that it would establish a medical team from NC medical universities to evaluate NC residents who have been exposed to waters associated with fish kills in the Neuse River and other areas. In early September 1997, scientists from the FL Div. of Marine Resources announced that samples tested from the Pocomoke River contained a new species of Gymnodinium dinoflagellate rather than Pfiesteria. On Sept. 3, 1997, a third, small fish kill was detected on the lower Pocomoke River, within the already-closed area. On Sept. 4, 1997, VA scientists netted small numbers of live menhaden with lesions in VA waters of Pocomoke Sound. On Sept. 5, 1997, officials of the MD Dept. of Natural Resources announced that the State plans to reimburse crabbers for losses sustained during the late August closure of the Pocomoke River. {In early September 1997, NC established a telephone hotline to gather information from people who believe they may be suffering from Pfiesteria-related health problems. On Sept. 9, 1997, the MD Dept. of Natural Resources announced expansion of a telephone hotline service in an attempt to solicit any reports of possible Pfiesteria effects outside the lower Pocomoke River area. On Sept. 9, 1997, Jerrauld C. Jones, Chairman of the VA House of Delegates Committee on the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tributaries, announced that he intended to hold a hearing in October 1997 on Pfiesteria and associated concerns. On Sept. 10, 1997, MD state officials announced that large numbers of fish with Pfiesteria-like symptoms had been reported in King's Creek in the Manokin River watershed. King's Creek was immediately closed indefinitely to fishing and boating. MD officials planned additional monitoring of the Pocomoke, Manokin, Little Annemessex, and Big Annemessex Rivers on Sept. 11 for any additional signs of Pfiesteria. MD officials were also reported that the Nanticoke River is of concern since it is similar to the Pocomoke River,} {{and that sampling was being conducted on the Patuxent River. On Sept. 11, 1997, the House approved an amendment to H.R 2264, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, that would provide $7 million to the Centers for Disease Control for activities to address emerging issues of human health effects from exposure to Pfiesteria. On Sept. 11, 1997, MD Governor Glendening created a regional governor's commission to develop a regional approach to dealing with Pfiesteria problems.}} [Assoc Press, Reuters] .
Marine Mammals .
Round Island Subsistence Walrus Hunt. On Sept. 20, 1997, the Qayssiq (Round Island) Walrus Commission will open a month-long subsistence walrus hunt on Round Island in Bristol Bay, AK, with approval from the AK Dept. of Fish and Game. The quota was doubled this year to 20 animals. [Assoc Press] .
{{Makah Whaling. On Sept. 11, 1997, leaders of the Makah Tribe held a press conference on their WA reservation to answer questions about their proposal to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that the Makah kill 5 eastern Pacific gray whales annually for subsistence. The IWC would likely consider the Makah proposal at its annual meeting in Monaco in October 1997.}} [Assoc Press] .
{{Global Whaling Moratorium? On Sept. 9, 1997, Ireland's Heritage Minister Sile de Valera proposed that all the world's oceans be designated as a global whale sanctuary and that, if and when the present moratorium on commercial whaling is terminated, no international trade in whalemeat be permitted. On Sept. 12, 1997, Australia's National Taskforce on Whaling released a report, recommending that Australia support an effort to establish a global whale sanctuary or a 50-year international moratorium on commercial whaling. The Taskforce also recommended a more precise definition of aboriginal subsistence whaling and the prohibition of special permit (scientific) whaling.}} [Reuters] .
Canadian Sealing. On Sept. 4, 1997, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) released the results of an Angus Reid Group poll on Canadian opinions on sealing and announced a nationwide Canadian campaign to mobilize public opinion against commercial seal hunting. The survey was reported to show that 85% of Canadians support full protection for young seals and that 75% (including 54% of those surveyed in Newfoundland) oppose federal subsidization of sealing. About 41% of all Canadians surveyed did not know that commercial seal hunting occurred in Canada. [IFAW press release] .
1997 Norwegian Seal Hunt. In early September 1997, the Norwegian company that buys seal skins reported that the total 1997 harvest was about 9,820 seals from the total quota of 27,100 seals -- almost 7,000 fewer seals than were harvested in 1996. Only two vessels hunted seals in the vicinity of Jan Mayen and in the White Sea, taking about 2,780 hooded seal pups, 1,950 weaned harp seal pup, about 90 adult hooded seals, and about 5,000 adult harp seals. [High North Alliance Web News] .
{Makah Whaling. On Aug. 22, 1997, NMFS released a draft environmental assessment on the Makah Tribe's proposal to seek a gray whale quota from the International Whaling Commission. Comments will be accepted by NMFS through Sept. 22, 1997.} [personal communication] .
Greenpeace Challenges ARCO Drilling. In mid-August 1997, Greenpeace asked the U.S. District Court to prevent Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) from setting up a new drill site at its Warthog prospect in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska, claiming the activity would disturb polar bears, seals, and whales. On Aug. 21, 1997, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Friedman ruled that ARCO did not need to have a marine mammal permit issued before setting up its new drill site since ARCO was assuming the risk of penalty if marine mammals were actually disturbed. ARCO applied for a marine mammal permit in May 1997, but NMFS has not yet issued the permit. [Reuters] .
Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan. On Aug. 15, 1997, NMFS announced that it was seeking comment on a proposed comprehensive take reduction plan to reduce harbor porpoise serious injury and mortality by the New England sink gillnet fishery. The proposed plan is estimated to reduce mortality and serious injury by 80%. Comments are to be received through Oct. 14, 1997. [NOAA press release]
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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