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     NPFMC Meetings.  On Sept. 22, 1997, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) began meetings in Seattle, WA, to consider whether to discuss possible changes in the allocation sharing of Bering Sea pollock between onshore (35%) and offshore (65%) processors.  On Sept. 28, 1997, the NPFMC voted to review how Bering Sea pollock is allocated; the Council's study of pollock allocation is expected to be completed by June 1998.  In addition, the NPFMC adopted recommended harvest guidelines for southcentral and southeast AK halibut charter fleets, limiting their harvest to not more than 125% of that taken in 1995. [Assoc Press]

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     Federal Weakfish Regulations.  On Sept. 19, 1997, NMFS announced the publication of regulations to limit the commercial harvest of weakfish in federal offshore waters from Maine to Florida.  These regulations complement existing regulations in state waters developed under the leadership of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.  Regulations impose a minimum size limit, net mesh and other gear restrictions, and special closed areas, and restrict commercial landings to only certain states from MA through NC. [NMFS press release]

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     Fisheries Trade Conference.  On Sept. 17-19, delegates from 60 nations met at Toja, Spain, for a ministerial conference on promoting seafood trade through homogenous regulation. [Agence Europe via Reuters]

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     NAFO Meeting.  In mid-September 1997, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) met in St. Johns, Newfoundland, deciding by consensus that the moratoria on harvesting main fish stocks would be continued, that the pilot program for observers and satellite tracking of vessels would be continued for another year, and that it would adopt a scheme to address the problem of infringement on NAFO fish stocks by non-contracting party vessels. [Agence Europe via Reuters]      .

 North Pacific Fishery Observers Unionized.  In mid-September 1997, final ballots were tallied by the National Labor Relations Board from 5 companies providing observers aboard commercial groundfish vessels in the North Pacific.  The majority (196 to 26) voted for unionization, and observers will be represented by the Alaska Fishermen's Union, if the balloting is not contested. [Assoc Press]

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     Shellfish Warnings.  On Sept. 15, 1997, the WA Dept. of Health reopened selected oyster beds for recreational and commercial harvest; these beds had been closed since Aug. 28, due to the high incidence of human illness from Vibrio parahaemolyticus. [Assoc Press, WA Dept. of Health press release]

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     New England Fisheries.  On Sept. 13, 1997, officers of the US. Coast Guard cutter Adak allegedly sighted a New Bedford, MA, scalloper fishing in a closed area 53 miles southeast of Nantucket.  The vessel was towed to New Bedford, where its catch of scallops and monkfish was seized by NMFS and sold, with the proceeds held in escrow until the case is decided.  On Sept. 28, 1997, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Tahoma boarded and seized the catch of a New Bedford fishing vessel, alleged to be fishing within a closed area about 114 miles east of Cape Cod.  The vessel's catch of scallops and monkfish will be sold, with the proceeds held in escrow until the case is decided. [Assoc Press]

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     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) held 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]

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     FL Shrimp Bycatch Reduction.  After a Sept. 4, 1997 hearing in Punta Gorda, FL, the FL Marine Fisheries Commission voted to propose a new regulation requiring FL shrimpers to employ either of two federally certified turtle excluder devices (TEDs) to reduce bycatch of fish in shrimp trawls by 50%.  Subsequently, some shrimpers contested this proposed rule, believing that other "soft" TEDs are more effective.  The Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to hold a hearing in October 1997 on the proposed new regulations to consider the shrimpers' criticisms. [Assoc Press]

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     Salmon Along the Pacific Coast

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     {{Lower Granite Dam Salmon Bypass.  On Oct. 9, 1997, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that a $11.2 million contract had been awarded for construction of a salmon bypass screen for Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River.  This "behavioral guidance structure" prototype would be designed to direct juvenile salmon to surface collectors and away from dam turbines. Construction of the 1,100-foot structure is due to be completed by Apr. 1, 1998, and will then undergo a year or more of testing to determine its effectiveness.}} [Assoc Press]

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     Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon.  On Sept. 30, 1997, AK Governor Tony Knowles formally requested that the Clinton Administration declare the 1997 Bristol Bay sockeye salmon run a disaster.  Gov. Knowles requested federal assistance (unemployment assistance and Small Business Administration loans) to ease economic dislocation in the Bristol Bay area. [Assoc Press]

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     WA Hatchery Closures.  On Sept. 30, 1997, WA Dept. of Fish and Game officials announced that three Columbia River salmon and steelhead hatcheries would be closed and the output of other hatcheries reduced if FY1998 federal funding under the Mitchell Act is reduced as suggested by NMFS officials. [Assoc Press]

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     Cushman Project Lawsuit.  On Sept. 23, 1997, the Skokomish Indian Tribe filed suit against the City of Tacoma, WA, seeking $100 million for damages to salmon and steelhead trout by the Cushman hydroelectric project on the North Fork of the Skokomish River. [Assoc Press]

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     Snake River Sockeye.  As of Sept. 23, 1997, none of the 24 endangered sockeye salmon reported as having passed Lower Granite Dam in August 1997, had been detected arriving at Redfish Lake, ID. [Assoc Press]

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     NPPC Project Review.  At its Sept. 17, 1997, meeting in Helena, MT, the Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) announced its recommendations on how Bonneville Power Administration is to spend $127 million on fish and wildlife recovery efforts.  The NPPC approved $94 million in projects for 1998, and delayed or canceled another $40 million in projects pending additional review.  Nearly $20 million for new fish hatcheries was delayed until a comprehensive review of all hatcheries is completed, about $15 million in habitat improvements was delayed until high priority habitat areas could be identified, a $4 million law enforcement effort was terminated, and a $3.7 million squawfish predation program was reduced.  {On Oct. 7, 1997, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission wrote to the NPPC protesting the harsh review received by proposed tribal salmon programs.  On Oct. 8, 1997, the NPPC sent a letter to 3 Cabinet Secretaries and several federal agencies urging that these entities join the NPPC in financing a coordinated review of all hatchery facilities in the Columbia River basin.} [Assoc Press, NPPC Congressional Update, NPPC news release]

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     Salmon Spearing Penalty.  On Sept. 16, 1997, a Valley County, ID, magistrate sentenced a Boise man to 5 days in jail and a $845 fine for illegally spearing a spawning chinook salmon in the South Fork of the Salmon River. The fish was a hatchery-raised salmon, and NMFS declined to pursue federal charges against the man. [Assoc Press]

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     Salmon Recovery Lawsuit.  On Sept. 16, 1997, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a lawsuit (American Rivers v. NMFS), previously dismissed in April 1997 because a 60-day notice had not been given, could proceed based upon a Supreme Court ruling that allows environmental lawsuits challenging arbitrary government action without the 60-day notice. The Court of Appeals returned the case to U.S. District Judge Malcolm Marsh, who could rule that the salmon recovery plan complies with environmental law and then send the case back to the Court of Appeals for a ruling on the substance of the dispute.  The lawsuit by 8 environmental and fishing organizations alleged that recovery plan reliance on downstream transportation of juvenile salmon in barges was detrimental to salmon recovery. [Assoc Press]

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     Salmon River Rafting Restrictions.  On Sept. 16, 1997, an Upper Salmon River outfitter made a "protest" float of a 3-mile stretch of the river that had been closed; the outfitter's license has been temporarily suspended.  The outfitter charges the Sept. 10 closure was illegal since the order was not signed by the Forest Supervisor.  {On Oct. 6, 1997, the U.S. Forest Service reopened the upper Salmon River, ID, to outfitted float trips; the river remains closed to private kayakers and rafters.} [Assoc Press]

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     Pacific Salmon Treaty.  In mid-September 1997, President Clinton wrote a letter to AK's U.S. Senate delegation, stating that the United States would take appropriate countermeasures if alleged illegal activities by Canadians reoccurred.  On Sept. 17, 1997, the House International Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere held a hearing on Canadian policy issues that included the Pacific Salmon Treaty.  On Sept. 18, 1997, the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans held an oversight hearing on U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations.  On Oct. 1, 1997, a British Columbian member of the Canadian Parliament was removed from the House of Commons after accusing Fisheries Minister David Anderson of treason.  On Oct. 2, 1997, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy met with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to affirm a commitment to make the discussions between envoys productive. {On Oct. 6, 1997, Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson stated that it was doubtful that the Canadian federal government would join British Columbia's lawsuit against Alaska over alleged overfishing of salmon.} [Assoc Press, Reuters, Dow Jones News]      . Aquaculture and Aquaria

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     Norwegian Salmon.  On Sept. 29, 1997, the EU Council approved regulations establishing "residual" antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of farmed salmon from Norway from companies not adhering to the agreed minimum price; these regulations entered into force on Oct. 1, 1997, and will continue for five years. [Agence Europe via Reuters, Dow Jones News]

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     AK Oyster Theft.  On Sept. 24, 1997, AK State Troopers reported that, between Sept. 17 and 22, thieves stole as many as 45,000 oysters contaminated with paralytic shellfish poison from a Prince of Wales Island shellfish farm. [Assoc Press]

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     Coastal America Ecosystem Learning Center.  On Sept. 23, 1997, the National Aquarium in Baltimore was designated as a Coastal American Ecosystem Learning Center.  Coastal America is a partnership among federal, state, and local governments and private entities to address coastal ecology problems. [National Aquarium in Baltimore press release]

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     Escaped Blue Shrimp.  In mid-September 1997, SC Natural Resources Dept. biologists reported that nearly two dozen Venezuelan blue shrimp had been caught in Charleston County, SC, waters in the past week. These shrimp were thought to have escaped from shrimp farms, and raise concern that they may carry non-native virus that could infect native shrimp. [Assoc Press]      .

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