Parravano took over PCFFA from Nat Bingham in 1992. During his time in office Parravano sheparded the creation of the Institute for Fisheries Research, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to serve as a sister organization to PCFFA and fishermen to conduct research and outreach. Initially IFR provided a vehicle to fund the habitat protection and fish restoration activities of Nat Bingham in California and Glen Spain in the Pacific Northwest, but has grown to include many other fisheries than salmon and issues ranging from fishermen-scientist collaborative research to consumer information and seafood safety. During his tenure, PCFFA was fully engaged in San Francisco Bay-Delta issues, given the importance of this estuary for salmon, crab and herring production, and he served for more than seven years on California's Bay-Delta Advisory Committee (BDAC). In 1997, he worked with fishing groups from Canada, India and other nations to establish the World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fishworkers (WFF) to provide an international voice for small family fishing operations and artisanal fishermen; he remains as a U.S. delegate to the WFF. Finally, during the past three years he served as one of two commercial fishing representatives on the 20-member blue ribbon Pew Oceans Commission, charged with conducting the first comprehensive review of U.S. oceans policy in 30 years.

With a degree in Public Administration and a background in law enforcement, Chuck Wise has fished commercially since 1966 and full-time since 1983. He has served as President of his local port association for the past nine years and for most of that time served on the PCFFA Board.

Wise is the owner-captain of the F/V Juliet, fishing for salmon, crab and albacore. He and his wife Lori reside in Bodega Bay, California. Also new to the PCFFA Board is Marlyse Battistella who was elected Treasurer, succeeding Bob Miller. She and her husband, Craig Barbre, are home-ported in Morro Bay, California where they fish their vessel, the F/V Preamble, for salmon, albacore and rockfish. Miller (F/V Orca), an officer and former President of San Francisco's Crab Boat Owners Association, served as PCFFA Treasurer for seven years helping guide the organization through a rocky period in the late 1990's. In recent years he has dedicated more of his time as a school board member in Millbrae, California helping his district cope with severe budget cuts.

Reelected to the Board were Dave Bitts (F/V Elmarue) and Larry Miyamura (F/V Shogun) as Vice-president and Secretary respectively. Bitts is a member of PCFFA's Salmon Strategy Team and the fisherman-representative on the Klamath Fishery Management Council. Miyamura is a board member of the California Salmon Council and will soon be on a trade mission to Japan promoting California salmon. For more information about the new officers, e-mail: pcffafish@aol.com.

9:08/02. "TROJAN GENE" TRANSGENIC FISH THREAT DEMONSTRATED IN LABORATORY: The on-line journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on 19 February released findings from laboratory research providing additional evidence for the "Trojan gene" effect, a biological mechanism by which escaped transgenic genes from fish that have been genetically-engineered for fast growth (i.e., by the insertion of a gene from another species to cause the fast growth) could lead to the extinction of whole populations of wild fish. The mechanism has now been conclusively demonstrated in the laboratory, using medaka fish. The current concern is that transgenic fish, such as Aqua Bounty's genetically-engineered fast growing Atlantic salmon, currently awaiting approval for aquaculture use will escape into the wild, where they would interbreed with wild fish and trigger massive genetic pollution eventually leading to widespread extinction of the species in the wild (see Sublegals, 4:16/13; 4:11/10; 3:23/14; 2:16/11). The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is presently considering an application by Aqua Bounty to market these genetically modified salmon as brood stock for fish farms. Ocean aquaculture fish farm net pens have high rates of escapes.

The report by researchers Howard, DeWoody and Muir, "Transgenic male mating advantage provides opportunity for Trojan gene effect in a fish," is slated for publication in the 2 March 2004 Proceedings Vol. 101, No. 9 (pp. 2934-2938) but is available in prepublication format from the PNAS website online at: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0306285101. The researchers also found that, although different mating tactics may reduce the rate of transgene spread, once such genes have entered the gene pool the eventual extinction outcome would still be the same.

9:08/03. UCS REPORT FINDS US FOOD SUPPLY CONTAMINATED WITH GENETICALLY ENGINEERED DNA: Adding to fears of escaped transgenic fish genes getting into the wild (see 9:08/02 above), a broad spectrum of ordinary crop seeds in the U.S. are now contaminated with strands of genetically modified DNA, despite biotech industry assurances that such an event could not occur. Unless federal regulations and farm practices are tightened considerably, the entire U.S. food supply will soon contain GMO [genetically modified organism] contamination, according to a recent report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Currently, the foreign DNA comes from organisms ruled safe by federal regulators and occurs at low levels. However, the report warns that the trend is for continued spread, and that this poses several dangers. If the U.S. supply is widely perceived as thoroughly contaminated, exports to GMO-hostile countries (most of Europe) could be hurt, as could the burgeoning $8 billion domestic market for organic food. Likewise, once GMO organisms designed for pharmaceutical or industrial products become common in the environment, the contamination could pose a more serious human health risk. The UCS findings come on the heels of a January National Research Council (NRC) report finding current "bioconfinement" technology was inadequate and warned in particular of the danger of genetically-engineered fish escaping into the wild (see Sublegals, 9:05/01). The biotech industry nevertheless still claims such contamination is highly unlikely to impossible. For a copy of the UCS report and go to: http://www2.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/biotechnology/seed_release.html.

UCS called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a large-scale test of traditional seeds to determine the full extent of the problem and to study how the contamination took place. The biotechnology industry and others dismissed the findings as unsurprising and unimportant. "We don't think that it's that big of an issue," said Lisa Dry, Director of Communications for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a national trade and lobbying group. "People have always known about low levels of contamination of seeds. With wide acceptance of biotech crops, to find a low level of biotech seeds is not unexpected."

9:08/04. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S MATILIJA DAM ONE STEP CLOSER TO REMOVAL TO HELP ENDANGERED FISH: A task force of federal, state and local officials has recently recommended that Matilija Dam on Southern California's Ventura River be removed "to revive the dwindling population of endangered southern steelhead trout." The recommendations follow those developed by the Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR) pursuant to a contract with the California Coastal Conservancy. The remnant steelhead population is the southernmost remaining salmonid population on the west coast, and was once thought to be extinct. The Matilija Dam has no fish passage, no longer serves any function, is completely silted up, and will have to eventually be removed anyway to prevent major dam failure. Removing the dam and the 6 million cubic yards of silt behind it are expected to cost around $130 million, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' estimates, but would restore breeding grounds in the upper reaches of the river, rebuild 50 percent of the river's steelhead population and, according to the Matilija Coalition, serve as "a testing site for the demolition of other aging dams across the nation." For more information on the IFR Matilija Project, call (415) 561-3474. The Matilija Coalition's website is at: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/pjenkin/matilija.

9:08/05. NOAA RELEASES NEW MANUAL ON COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION MONITORING: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recently compiled key restoration monitoring information applicable to coastal habitats nationwide and is making that information available in manual form. "Science-Based Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats, Volume One: A Framework for Monitoring Plans Under the Estuaries and Clean Waters Act of 2000 (Public Law 160-457)" offers technical assistance, outlines steps, and provides useful tools for developing and carrying out monitoring of coastal restoration efforts. A companion volume, "Science-Based Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats, Volume Two: Tools for Monitoring Coastal Habitats," is due for release later this year. Copies of volume one of the manual can be downloaded as a PDF file by visiting: http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ecosystems/estuaries/restoration_monitoring.html. For more information and printed copies of the manual, contact, Teresa A. McTigue; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (N/SCI); 1305 East-West Highway, Room 8128; Silver Spring, MD 20910; Tel: (301) 713-3020 x 186; or e-mail at: restoration.monitoring@noaa.gov.

9:08/06. WASHINGTON STATE STARTS SETTING MINIMUM INSTREAM FLOWS FOR SALMON: Washington State's Department of Ecology (Ecology) has launched an effort to set requirements for minimum stream flows in 10 watersheds for the first time. Salmon populations have plunged in many of the state's streams because of lack of sufficient flows, and a number of sub-basins are probably over-appropriated. Ecology also will consider amending existing flow requirements in four watersheds and enhancing flow requirements in three more watersheds by the end of June 2005. Since 1976, Ecology has adopted minimum flow rules in only 19 of the state's 62 watersheds. In 2004, the department will adopt minimum stream flows for the first time in the Elwha-Dungeness, Entiat and Lower Skagit-Samish sub-basins, and the Stillaguamish and Walla Walla watersheds. In 2005, instream flows will be set for the first time for the Cowlitz, Grays-Elochoman, Lewis, Quilcene-Snow and Salmon-Washougal watersheds. However, water rights already issued in a watershed before minimum flows are set will remain unaffected by any new flow rules. In already over-appropriated basins Ecology can pursue water-right purchases and leases, help fund and evaluate irrigation-efficiency and water-conservation plans, and support pilot programs to create a local water exchange. For more information on the program and a work schedule through 2010, see: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/isfhm.html.

9:08/07. ITC VOTES TO CONTINUE "DUMPING" INVESTIGATION FOR SHRIMP AND PRAWNS: On 17 February the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is being "materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain frozen and canned warm water shrimp and prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value." All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative to continue and expand the investigation on allegations of "dumping" of these goods on U.S. markets at below actual production costs, deliberately to depress prices for U.S. shrimpers and drive them out of business. The original complaint was brought by Gulf States shrimp fishermen who have been facing increasing competition from low cost aquacultured shrimp imports for years (see Sublegals, 9:01/11; 8:09/03; 8:05/01).

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations of imports of frozen and canned warm water shrimp and prawns from these countries, with its preliminary antidumping determination due on or about 8 June. The Commission's public report, "Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp and Prawns from Brazil, China, Ecuador, India, Thailand, and Vietnam," (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1063-1068 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3672, February 2004) will contain the ITC's views and information developed during the investigations. Copies of the report are expected to be available after 16 March by calling (202) 205-1809, or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For more information on the ruling go to the ITC web page at: http://www.usitc.gov/er/nl2004/er0217bb1.htm.

9:08/08. SAN FRANCISCO BAY VULNERABLE TO MAJOR CHEMICAL DISASTERS: Shipping channels in and out of San Francisco Bay are vulnerable to a major chemical disaster, the San Jose Mercury-News reported in a 19 February article. The San Francisco Bay Area remains at risk, experts say, because massive chemical tankers, unlike oil tankers, are not required to have a tugboat escort. The potential for a disaster on San Francisco Bay is troublesome for the fishing industry, not simply because of fishing vessels plying the Bay, but because this water body is the gateway between the Pacific and the Sierra streams for one of the west coast's largest salmon runs, and is a large spawning and/or nursery area for Dungeness crab, herring and certain species of sole.

Large chemical tanker traffic in the San Francisco Bay has nearly tripled since 1995, now at about 171 ships a year. Over the past nine years there have been at least 23 major mishaps involving chemical ships, some of them potentially very serious. For example, on 22 February 2003, the Cefalonia, a 569-foot Panamanian tanker loaded with 27,000 tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate ran aground in the mud near Pittsburg, California. An explosion of that size could have killed or injured thousands and contaminated the Bay for years. Tug escorts cost about $8,000. A bill was introduced in the Legislature in 1995 (AB 1742) to require tug escorts for tankers carrying hazardous chemicals, but the provision was withdrawn after threats of lawsuits from the shipping industry. State oil spill rules are also enforced by a 5 cents per barrel tax on oil imports, but no such tax exists on chemicals. For more, see the Mercury-News article at: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7988582.htm.

9:08/09. NEW OREGON SEA GRANT POSITION IN SEAFOOD AND FISHERIES: Recent Sea Grant funding has enabled Sea Grant to create a new Extension Specialist position. The mission of this new position will be to link fisheries management with opportunities for increased seafood quality and value. The resulting coordination of processors, researchers, and fishery managers targets sustainable economic development in coastal communities. From a base at the Oregon State University (OSU) Seafoods Laboratory in Astoria, this person will work closely with the Community Seafood Initiative, a partnership of OSU, Shorebank Enterprise Pacific, and coastal community-based processors and businesses. For a detailed announcement and application instructions, go to the following website: http://oregonstate.edu/admin/hr/jobs/academic/018-991.html. For additional questions, contact: Ed Kolbe, Chair, Search and Selection Committee, Oregon State University Food Innovation Center, 1207 NW Naito Parkway, Suite 154, Portland, OR 97209-2834; Tel: (503) 872-6676; fax: 503-872-6648; or e-mail: Ed.Kolbe@oregonstate.edu.

9:08/10. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT RUSHING TO LIFT BC OFFSHORE OIL MORATORIUM: The Canadian government is rushing headlong toward lifting the moratorium on British Columbia offshore oil development as soon as possible, even before the conclusion of formal hearings in the province on whether or not it is feasible or desireable. The Toronto Globe & Mail reported 18 February that the federal government already has an 11-member "swat" team working on detailed regulations and policies, with an annual budget of C$5.8 million, and the team is actively working on ways to attract offshore oil development through tax and royalty incentives (see Sublegals, 9:07/11). Two high-ranking B.C. government officials are also heading efforts to push offshore drilling plans beyond the drawing board, in anticipation of Ottawa removing a moratorium that has been in place since 1972. Meanwhile a "fact finding" commission is just beginning a series of provincial hearings. Fishermen and environmentalists have called offshore oil development far too risky for coastal and fishery resources, saying the upcoming commission hearings are only for show, and that the decision to lift the moratorium has already been made at the highest levels of government. To see the Toronto Globe & Mail article on the issue go to: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040218/ROFFSHORE18/TPEnvironment.

9:08/11. SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON THE BIOLOGY OF FISH 1-5 AUGUST: The Sixth International Congress on the Biology of Fish will be held 1-5 August 2004 in Manaus, Brazil. Presenters need to submit titles and a short abstract by 10 March 2004. Conference details can be found on the Congress web site at: http://www.fishbiologycongress.com.br.

9:08/12. WHITE HOUSE ACCUSED OF USING POLITICALLY BIASED SCIENCE: On 18 February, sixty leading scientists, including 12 Nobel laureates, 11 winners of the National Medal of Science, two former presidential science advisors, and heads of some of the country's leading universities and research facilities issued a joint statement calling for Congressional hearings to look into the issue of "misuse and systematic bias of the science used to make policy decisions" by the Administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. The letter highlighted a number of instances in which science was ignored or systematically distorted to support policy objectives; the letter further called for a renewed Administration commitment to public access to objective scientific information.

"When scientific knowledge has been found to be in conflict with its political goals," said the letter, "the administration has often manipulated the process through which science enters into its decisions.... Furthermore, in advocating policies that are not scientiffically sound, the administration has sometimes misinterpreted scientific knowledge and misled the public about the implication of its policies." The scientists cited instances where scientific advisory panels were systematically biased in favor of administration policies, reports suppressed or findings rewritten for political reasons, government censorship of agency scientists, and support for revisions to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which would constrain scientific input into agency decision-making. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) published 37 pages of examples in conjunction with the release of the letter, which UCS helped organize. For a copy of the 18 February letter, go to the Union of Concerned Scientists' website at: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/signon.html. Also see the 19 February Washington Post at: http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040219/5939416s.htm and the 19 February USA Today at: http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040219/5939416s.htm.

9:08/13. STATE RECREATIONAL "FREEDOM TO FISH" BILLS CALLED THREAT TO FISHERY MANAGEMENT: Environmentalists, scientists, commercial fishermen, and state and national regulatory agencies are mobilizing in opposition to proposed state legislation known collectively as "freedom to fish" bills, according to the State Environmental Resource Center (SERC). According to a report on the SERC website, in 2003, "freedom to fish" bills were introduced in 11 state legislatures. SERC describes these bills as "measures promoted by a concerted, nationwide campaign of the Recreational Fishing Alliance and other sportfishing organizations." According to SERC, the language in these bills prohibits states from closing waters to sportfishing unless "there is a clear indication that recreational fishing is the cause of a specific conservation problem."

In an April 2003 letter to New Jersey's Governor, ten academic scientists expressed concern that passage of such a bill would effectively end the ability of the state to protect marine resources. In their letter regarding the New Jersey legislation, the scientists said that bill "sets an unachievable burden of proof" by requiring that recreational fishing be determined to be the primary cause of an ecological problem. "Given the lack of existing data on recreational fishing, and the expansive amount of data that this bill requires, it may be statistically impossible to determine the effects specific to rod and reel fishing on any particular marine environment," they concluded. Moreover, "for many species, recreational fishing is the primary source of fishing mortality, and catch-and-release practices are often not effective." Of the eleven states where "freedom to fish" bills were introduced in 2003, only in one - Rhode Island - has such a bill been signed into law. However, says SERC, supporters of the legislation "are mobilizing in New Hampshire, Maryland, and other coastal states to get the Act passed during upcoming legislative sessions." For further information see: http://www.serconline.org/freedomFish.html.

NEWS, COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS: Submit your news items, comments or any corrections to Editor at: sublegals@ifrfish.org, or call the IFR/PCFFA office with the news and a source at either: (415) 561-FISH (Southwest Office) or (541) 689-2000 (Northwest Office).

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