“You realize that your time is not unlimited, that there might be an end to all this, and that life is too short to be wasted on things that are not quality.” .... Esa-Pekka Salonen

13:14/01. CONGRESS PASSES DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE FOR SALMON FISHERMEN: The U.S. Senate this past week passed the Iraq and Afghanistan war supplemental funding bill that contained, among other items, the long-awaited federal disaster relief package for California and Oregon salmon communities. The House passed its version on 10 May. The spending bill includes $60.4 million for California and Oregon’s commercial salmon fishing families, businesses and Tribes.

The relief language in the House bill was introduced by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), whose coastal district extends from Point Arena to the Oregon border. The relief is much needed for fishermen, Tribes and businesses impacted by the commercial fishery failure of 2006, which was largely due to irresponsible Bush Administration Klamath River water policies, according to the Congressman.

"The emergency relief for our salmon industry is long overdue," said Thompson. "Last year's commercial salmon fishing closure was the largest in U.S. history. The affected families and businesses need aid right away, and the President's claim that they should take out loans is illustrative of his disconnect from the real needs of working Americans."

The relief package has been a long time coming. PCFFA first wrote the Bush Administration in July 2004, warning that action needed to be taken on the Klamath and that some relief would be needed for Oregon and California’s salmon fishing industry as a result of the massive in-river fish kills that began in the Klamath in 2002, primarily from low flows. PCFFA has been in court since 2002 seeking water releases necessary to maintain salmon in the Klamath River, and currently has an injunction in place ordering minimum flows in the river considered necessary under the NMFS 2002-2012 Biological Opinion to prevent salmon extinction. To bring attention to the plight of the fish, in 2002 Congressman Thompson personally delivered dead Klamath chinook salmon – returning spawners that died that year in the massive fish kill – to the door of the Secretary of Interior, whose Bureau of Reclamation had shut off the water to the fish that year, plunging the lower river into severe drought.

In June 2006, the PCFFA Executive Director Zeke Grader met personally with the head of the National Marine Fisheries Service asking for a formal fisheries disaster declaration to provide help to fishermen. He was told that the decision was up to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and that was the last that was heard from the Administration – that is until August of 2006. At that time six members of the Oregon and California Congressional Delegations, led by Rep. Thompson, personally tracked down the Secretary of Commerce demanding action. Intense criticism for the Secretary’s inaction from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added emphasis. Unfortunately, when the disaster declaration finally came on August 10, 2006, it was too late for action by the 109th Congress, which also failed to pass a federal budget.

The first disaster relief language was included in the Supplemental Appropriations Iraq funding bill the President vetoed, but the second bill, without the troop withdrawal timelines, included the disaster relief package for the salmon fishery as well. The Bush Administration opposed relief for the salmon fishery, and had aid been in a stand-alone bill it likely would have been vetoed.

In regard to the salmon disaster relief, Thompson said, "North Coast salmon fishing families and businesses are suffering because of the President's wrong-headed decision to divert water from the Klamath River. To suggest that these people don't deserve federal aid is like rubbing salt in their wounds." Supplemental Appropriations bills are the usual vehicle for disaster relief. [Editor’s Note: The final bill containing the disaster aide was signed by the President on May 25th after a joint Senate and House Conference Committee ironed out differences between the Senate and House versions.]

To see a copy of Congressman Thompson’s speech on the floor of the House on 10 May, go to: http://recap.fednet.net/archive/Buildasx.asp?sProxy=80_hflr051007_140.wmv To see the 12 May Eureka Reporter article on the relief bill, go to: http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=23922.

13:14/02. CONTAMINATED FEED EXTENDS TO SALMON AQUACULTURE FARMS: Following the recall of hundreds of pet food products, contaminated feed has been found in its third food animal industry, farmed salmon. The meal for the farmed fish came from a Canadian company, Westaqua Commodity Group Ltd. The food meal was supposed to contain wheat gluten, high in protein. However upon inspection, the ingredient was comprised of wheat flour from China and laced with the chemical melamine to artificially boost the amount of protein in the flour. Melamine is a chemical present in plastics and pesticides. Although melamine is not thought to bio-accumulate or to be harmful to fish, it is not approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for pet or human consumption. Federal officials estimate that roughly 20 million chickens and thousands of hogs consumed contaminated feed as well.

Dr. David Acheson, Assistant Commissioner of Food Protection at the FDA, stated that the amount of chemicals ingested by the farmed fish were at small enough levels as to not impact human health. However, officials were unclear as to whether or not effected farmed salmon had been sold on the market or consumed by the public. The FDA is currently conducting analysis to determine the effects of melamine contamination on lifestock and human health; updates are available on the FDA website at www.fda.gov.

Furthermore, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife officials announced that contaminated meal was also sold to a handful of Oregon fish hatcheries from Skretting, also a Canadian fish meal company. While officials from the hatcheries did not report any ill effects on the 870,000 spring chinook being reared on the meal diet, Skretting recalled the meal as a precaution. Because experts believe that melamine does not bio-accumulate, many believe that the chemical will pass through the salmon within a short period of time and will not have long lasting effects on the juvenile chinook.

More information about the contaminated fish food at both salmon aquaculture and hatcheries is available in the New York Times 9 May article, www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Food-Contamination.html?_r=1&oref=slogin, or Jeff Barnard’s Seattle Times 8 May article, http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003699000_webfishfood08.html, or the 9 May FishUpdate article, http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/7484/Skretting_issues_recall_of_Bio-Oregon_fish_feed.html.

13:14/03. CHEFS URGE CONGRESS TO RESTORE WILD SALMON IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST: On 8 May at a reception attended by politicians, fishermen, fish-buyers, and environmental advocates in Washington DC, Alice Waters (of Chez Panisse fame) and a coalition of 200 chefs from around the country in conjunction with Earth Justice launched the “Vote with Your Fork” campaign. The campaign intends to bring attention to salmon habitat loss and degradation issues in the Pacific Northwest and also to highlight the culinary qualities and cultural value of wild salmon. In a letter to Congress the coalition of chefs, restaurateurs, and owners of food-related businesses are calling for the restoration of healthy, abundant, self-sustaining and harvestable populations of wild salmon while also noting the significant economic, cultural, and ecological importance of healthy salmon populations for the Pacific Northwest Region. The organizers of the “Vote with Your Fork” campaign are also lending their support to specific policy proposals. The organizers are calling on Congress to enact the Salmon Economic Analysis and Planning Act (see Sublegals 13:08/02) and to provide immediate disaster relief funding to commercial fishermen and fishing-related businesses affected by the near total closure of the 2006 salmon season. For more information on “Vote with Your Fork” see www.earthjustice.org/library/features/vanishing-salmon-1.html. For an 8 March Margot Roosevelt article go to www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-salmon8may08,1,4959295.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true. To add your name to the chefs’ letter to Congress which will be delivered later this spring go to www.wildsalmon.org/actioncenter/chefsletter.cfm#Letter.

13:14/04. CARBON EMISSIONS, DAMS, AND SALMON: PacifiCorp recently jumped on the global warming movement, citing hydroelectricity as a green energy source, therefore supposedly making the four Lower Klamath River dams necessary to reduce overall carbon emissions in the Northwest. While the argument sounds good on the surface, a few underlying matters should be considered before dam removal is forgotten. Beyond the large-scale ecosystem devastation to the Klamath Basin and the numerous salmonid populations teetering on extinction, the replacement power source must come from a cleaner energy source than the dams under current California and Oregon energy policies. This means that no more carbon emissions would be created to continue providing energy for PacifiCorp costumers because the new sources would have to come from wind, solar, or other green energy sources.

While not completely applicable to the Klamath River dams, a new study in Brazil demonstrated that dams actually were not as green as some believe. Many dams produce carbon emissions. The report found that dams also contribute millions of tons of methane into the atmosphere. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal and conducted by scientists at Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Methane is far more effective at trapping heat within the atmosphere and contributing to global warming, through it does not last as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Many reservoirs behind large tropical dams produce large amounts of methane as organic material decomposes. The project also analyzed dams in China and India, two other tropical developing nations with large dams. The results are only the second study to assess the effects of dams on global warming. However, both studies show that dams and their reservoirs are far from greenhouse gas neutral.

For more information about the PacifiCorp stance to maintain the Klamath River dams for green energy purposes read the 23 April William Yardley New York Times article, www.nytimes.com/2007/04/23/us/23dam.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin.

For additional information about the INPE study on global warming and dams read the 9 May International River Network press release at www.irn.org/programs/greenhouse/index.php?id=070509methane.html.

13:14/05. PORT LIAISON POSITIONS NEEDED FOR MLPA INITIATIVE: The organization Ecotrust is under contract with the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative to compile expert knowledge from fishermen to create a comprehensive dataset of commercial fishing use patterns in the north central coast of California, from Pigeon Point to Alder Creek. Ecotrust is currently looking for commercial fishermen or members of the fishing community who are willing to participate as port liaisons in support of this work. During the central coast MLPA process, the project greatly benefited from working closely with members of the fishing community. Hired port liaisons will work with Ecotrust staff and field teams to: arrange introductory meetings; identify and contact commercial fishermen; help arrange interviews; and arrange meetings to verify results. Applicants should have: experience or interest in collaborative research; ability to work with a wide variety of people; and knowledge of the fishing industry and port operations. Port liaisons will be compensated for their services. For more information, please contact Charles Steinback, charles@ecotrust.org, 971-404-5632, or Astrid Scholz, ajscholz@ecotrust.org.

13:14/06. PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL JUNE MEETING: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), the entity which governs federal fishery regulations from California to Washington, will hold their June meeting in Foster City, CA from 9-15 June. Items on the agenda include: approving groundfish stock assessments; adopting groundfish management measure process and schedule for 2009-2010; draft management alternatives for intersector allocation, trawl rationalization, and American Fisheries Act issues; consider inseason groundfish adjustments; and plan implementation of new requirements from the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. A copy of the agenda is available at www.pcouncil.org/events/2007/0607pfmc.pdf. All meetings are open to the public. More information about the meetings is available at the PFMC website, www.pcouncil.org.

13:14/07. CALIFORNIA NORTH CENTRAL COAST MLPA REGIONAL PROFILE PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Regional Profile for the California North Central Coast MLPA Initiative is available for public comment. The Regional Profile seeks to collect and summarize the available data about the North Central Coast. The Regional Profile is available at the MLPA website, www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/nccprofile.html, or at coastal depository libraries. Comments should be sent to MLPAComments@resources.ca.gov by 20 June.

13:14/08. CALIFORNIA STATE WATER BOARD TO HOLD WATER RIGHT ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP: The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) will hold a “Workshop to Receive Information Regarding Policy Direction on Water Right Enforcement” on Tuesday 19 June 2007 at the conclusion of the regularly scheduled Board Meeting and no sooner than 1300 HRS. The workshop will feature a discussion of AB 2121. The workshop will take place at the Joe Serna, Jr./Cal-EPA Building, Coastal Hearing Room, 1001 I Street in Sacramento. For more information and a complete listing of matters to be discussed go to the SWRCB’s announcement of the workshop at www.swrcb.ca.gov/workshops/enforcement/revpn_workshop061907.pdf.

13:14/09. FISHING HERITAGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: The Central Coast Women for Fisheries, Inc. announced that it will accept applications for the Fishing Heritage Scholarship Program through 31 May. The program will offer two types of scholarships: Pooled Scholarship Funds (up to $2,500 per applicant per funding period) and the Endowed Scholarship Fund ($1,000 per applicant per funding period). Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (“C”). Students are eligible for scholarships that are: descendants of a commercial fisherman; descendents of current spouses of a commercial fisherman; or have themselves held a commercial fishing license for the past 10 years. Additionally, students must be enrolled in or have proof of acceptance from a vocational, undergraduate, or graduate program.

More information about the scholarship program is available at www.womenforfish.org, including the application form (www.womenforfish.org/forms/application.pdf) and the recommendation forms (www.womenforfish.org/forms/recommendation.pdf).

13:14/10. REGIONAL STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR CALIFORNIA NORTH CENTRAL COAST MLPA INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED: The Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) for the California North Central Coast was recently announced. The RSG will work with the Science Advisory Team and the MLPA Staff to determine different potential MPA packages for the North Central Coast to be presented to the Blue Ribbon Task Force. The group is comprised of 23 members and 13 alternates, with a variety of backgrounds. Four commercial fishermen and five recreational fishermen are part of the RSG. A copy of the complete list of the group is available upon request from the Institute for Fisheries Resources, www.ifrfish.org. The first meeting of the RSG will be in San Rafael on 22-23 May. All meetings are open to the public and will be available on a live webcast at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/meetings.html. The meeting will serve to introduce the group and explain the upcoming 12-14 month MLPA process. A copy of the agenda is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/meeting_052207.html.

13:14/11. 2007 INTERNATIONAL SMART GEAR COMPETITION: The World Wildlife Fund is hosting the 3rd annual “International Smart Gear Competition.” The intention is to award innovations that assist fishermen in catching more target species while reducing the number of non-target species taken. The competition is open to everyone over the age of 18, including fishermen, professional gear manufacturers, teachers, students, engineers, scientists, etc. The grand prize is $30,000 in cash and the two runner-up prizes are $10,000 each. The judges will assess the different entries based on: effectiveness of reducing bycatch; innovativeness; practicality; cost-effectiveness; ability to maintain target catch; and overall conservation impact. To learn more about the competition or what is required to enter visit www.smartgear.org. The deadline for submission is 31 July. Further questions can be directed towards Mike Osmond at michael.osmond@wwfus.org or 650-323-3506.

13:14/12. AFS RELEASES NEW SALMON HANDBOOK: The 478-page "Salmonid Field Protocols Handbook: Techniques for Assessing Status and Trends in Salmon and Trout Populations," is hot off the press, published this month by the American Fisheries Society in association with the State of the Salmon. David H. Johnson of the Smithsonian's Global Owl Project and formerly of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is lead author. Co-authors include Brianna M. Shrier, Jennifer S. ONeal, John A. Knutzen, Xanthippe Augerot, Thomas A. ONeil, and Todd N. Pearsons. Another 37 scientists and researchers contributed to the work. The book can be found at the AFS' online bookstore: http://afsbooks.org/55055p.html.

13:14/13. CAPITOL HILL OCEAN WEEK 2007: This year's Capitol Hill Ocean Week will take place on 5-7 June. Now in its seventh year, this event will continue its tradition of bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to discuss ocean and coastal issues. Panel speakers will include Members of Congress, as well as representatives of federal and state governments, industry, academia, and non-profits. For more information about Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2007 and the events that will be surrounding it, go to: http://nmsfocean.org/chow2007/index.html.

13:14/14. PCFFA BOARD TO MEET 8 JUNE IN SAN FRANCISCO: The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) Board of Directors will hold a one-day meeting on Friday, 8 June, at the organizations’ offices at The Presidio in San Francisco. Agenda items will include discussions of salmon disaster relief, Klamath status and settlement talks, Salmon genetic stock identification (GSI) sampling, and Dungeness crab trap limit legislation. For more information on the meeting, call (415) 561-5080.

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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