Families and rural communities along both sides of the Columbia that depend on the salmon industry are crumbling, according to Gary Soderstrom, the Union President, "the price of fresh fish is so low right now, it doesn't even pay for the gas to run the boat." According to Bruce Crookshanks, a 27 year Columbia River and Alaskan fisherman, the federal government has not offered assistance to the fishing families and communities that are being destroyed. "Perhaps tariffs on imported farmed salmon are the answer to give American fishermen the ability to compete," said Crookshanks. "When farmed fish are delivered into the U.S. at a price that is lower than it costs to bring it in from a local boat, it makes you wonder how our fishermen are supposed to stay in business." For more information on the tie-up and fish give-away, contact Jack Marincovich at (503) 325-2702.

4:10/02. CHILEANS APPEAL FOR HELP TO PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THAT NATION'S SALMON FARMS: In a letter dated 11 August and received today by PCFFA, Ronald Pfeilmann of Puerto Cisnes/Aysen in Chile writes, "For the past couple of years I made all possible efforts to mitigate the tremendous environmental impact that salmon farming has brought upon our local seaside. I have talked with the salmon farmers, with government officials, denounced their irresponsible acts of voluntary environmental damage and went to court about specific incidents. The results of said actions were some minor fines and bad press. As you might know, there are no laws or any type of regulations for salmon farmers in Chile. The results of this situation is that said industry avoids many operational costs normal to other salmon farmers and therefore reaches the markets at unfair prices." In his letter, Mr. Pfeilmann went on to state his belief that international pressure may be the only way to force change on the salmon farm operations in his country, especially now that Chile and the U.S. are engaged in high level trade talks aimed at expanding the reach of the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) to Chile.

Mr. Pfeilmann is asking for help from U.S. fishermen's organizations "interested in correcting the dumping of Chilean salmon at the cost of our environment and grossly underpaid workers." He can be contacted at: ronaldpfeil@entelchile.net. For information on government corruption and the Chilean salmon farm industry see the last issue of Sublegals (4:09/02). For factual information on Chilean salmon farm issues (e.g., Chile has granted 117 new salmon farming permits for Patagonia with no laws to regulate them; Chilean salmon producers forbid local fishermen from fishing any type of salmon; Chilean salmon growers only pay their workers about $100 (U.S.) per month) go to Terram Publications' website at: www.terram.cl.

4:10/03. SALMON VIRUS WREAKS HAVOC WITH MAINE SALMON FARMERS: On 6 September the Boston Globe reported Maine fish farmers have been forced to kill more than 700,000 salmon this year in an attempt to stop the spread of a deadly fish virus that some compare to the foot-and-mouth disease that has decimated European cattle. An additional 130,000 were to be destroyed this week after three new cases were found in Cobscook Bay fish pens near the Maine-Canada border. Not all of that is lost to the aquaculturists, however, since some of the farmed Atlantics were already large enough to bring to market. On 5 September, the Maine Department of Marine Resources in effect quarantined Cobscook Bay, prohibiting any aquaculture boat from entering or leaving unless it undergoes a cleaning that is certified by a third party. The state will also require aquaculture companies to report any new anemia outbreaks and ordered stepped-up testing for the disease's presence.

The disease, infectious salmon anemia, is not believed dangerous to humans, but it is devastating to farm-raised salmon. The anemia, which has wreaked havoc on the European and Canadian salmonindustries, is both highly contagious and incurable, causing hemorrhaging and eventual death in salmon. Since the disease was first spotted in U.S. salmon farms in March, fish farmers have killed healthy fish that have even been remotely exposed to the disease in hope of stopping its spread. Federal fishery officials fear the disease may jump from the cages to wild salmon. Atlantic salmon in Maine's rivers have dwindled so greatly they are now on the federal Endangered Species List (ESA). The disease, first detected in Norway in 1984, probably migrated from Canada, where it's been present since 1997, causing more than 3 million fish to be destroyed. The disease, it is believed, has been confined to CobscookBay thus far in the U.S.

In the meantime, Maine's salmon farmers are seeking financial compensation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) if they have to kill salmon to stop the spread of disease. Much like cattle farmers who would have been compensated if they had to kill livestock to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States, salmon farmers would get money if the USDA orders them to kill salmon to stop a disease from spreading. The USDA does not yet offer such protection for any farmed fish industry. USDA officials said 6 September they expect to make a decision in the next two months on the salmon compensation issue. Some Maine residents, however, oppose the salmon farmers getting any federal subsidies. They claim the densely packed pens pollute the sea bottom and are unsightly. Much like homeowners who decide to rebuild in flood zones, they say the farmers are deliberately creating a recipe for disease with the packed pens and should not be compensated if their fish suffer because of it. A publicized fight is now being waged on two aquaculture pens proposed in East Penobscot Bay, and the state is weighing an outright moratorium on applications. To see the complete article, go to: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/249/nation/ Salmon_virus_roils_Maine_industry+.shtml.

4:10/04. COLLECTION OF JUVENILE COHO FOR BROODSTOCK IN RUSSIAN RIVER BEGINS: On 31 August, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) finally issued a permit to the California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) to allow the collection of juvenile Coho salmon in the Russian River basin. The permit, required for handling of fish listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), had been held up in Washington, DC. The fish will be used for broodstock as part of a conservation hatchery intervention plan aimed at preventing the extirpation of the few remaining coho populations in this northern California watershed (see Sublegals 3:22/2). In total, biologists hope to collect a total of approximately 300 juveniles from a combination of locations within the Russian River as well as Olema Creek in Marin County. Collection from Olema Creek falls under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS) and a permit for collection from that site was issued on 4 September following a public meeting in Point Reyes Station on 29 August. Collection on 6 September yielded 120 fish from pools that are likely to dry up this summer.

Researchers at NMFS will assess the genetic variation in the captured coho and allow the Russian River Coho Recovery Work Group time to determine which stocks should be utilized and how fish should be spawned to preserve the wild genes in the population. Coho numbers are at what scientists believe to be precariously low levels and without some intervention it is believed these once abundant fish could be lost forever in the Russian River. For more information, contact Allison Vogt at: av_ifr@pacbell.net.

4:10/05. INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC RIM WILD SALMON AND STEELHEAD CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER: The Wild Salmon Center will be hosting a conference 5-6 November at the World Trade Center, Portland, Oregon, with biologists, policy makers, conservationists and user groups from around the Pacific Rim to address the decline of salmon and steelhead stocks throughout the Pacific. The Conference will include the results of the Wild Salmon Center's effort to coordinate the first-ever Pacific Rim-wide assessment of the distribution and status of salmon stocks throughout their native range. The conference will feature invited speakers from Russia, Canada, Japan and the United States. There will be simultaneous English-Russian-Japanese translation. For detailed conference information, including an agenda, visit their website at www.wildsalmoncenter.org, or contact the Wild Salmon Center at: info@wildsalmoncenter.org.

4:10/06. KLAMATH AID SIGNUPS START, WATER COMPROMISE ON REFUGES REACHED, SOLUTIONS SOUGHT IN CONGRESS: Signups for drought aid to Upper Klamath Basin farmers is scheduled to begin 10 September. The money is from the $20 million aid package to assist those cut off from water because of the record drought. Signups will continue through 5 October, and the total amount of payments will depend on the number of signups, but is expected to be about $100 per acre (see Sublegals 4:07/02).

The first fruits of the ongoing mediation process ordered by the U.S. Federal District Court have resulted in a deal for the delivery of 6,300 additional acre-feet of water in September directly to the National Wildlife Refuges from a combination of sources, including PacifiCorps and the Tulelake Irrigation District. The water allocated is only a third of what is needed to fully support the nearly 2 million waterfowl that use the refuge, but offers hope that similar water deals can be made in the future and will also help maintain water quality to downriver salmon runs. In past dry years, the Bureau of Reclamation has allowed the national wildlife refuges to dry up entirely in order to deliver more water for irrigation. For more information on the agreement, go to: www.onrc.org/programs/klamath.html.

At the urging of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Oregon and California Congressional offices have been meeting to try to draft and fast-track a bill in Congress this session to help solve some of the over- appropriated Klamath water supply problems that erupted this year. In the House, four bills have been offered, including H.R. 2389 (28 June by U.S. Representatives Wally Herger and Greg Walden) and H.R. 2827 (2 August, 7 co-sponsors) which would authorize direct financial aid programs, though based on what are believed greatly inflated estimates of losses and other language that may be problematic. H.R. 2828 (2 August, 8 co-sponsors) would allow the refund or deferral of this year's irrigation project water use fees. Finally there is the Chiloquin Dam Fish Passage Feasibility Study Act (H.R. 2585) to study the removal of Chiloquin Dam, which if removed would restore access for ESA-listed lake fish to some additional spawning and rearing habitat. The removal of Chiloquin Dam has been proposed for many years, but until this year dam removal had no support from the irrigation community. The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee is also planning a hearing soon on the Klamath to explore potential solutions. The Congressional budget cycle ends 31October, so opportunities for action this year are limited. For more information on any of these bills see: http://thomas.loc.gov and search under the bill number or the keyword "Klamath." Meanwhile the court-ordered mediation process continues to search for long-term solutions, with meetings scheduled throughout the rest of the year and well into 2002 with all interest groups represented.

4:10/07. WILLAMETTE RIVER CONFERENCE: On 21 September, the Environmental Law Education Center is presenting a conference on the fate of the Willamette River to explore the intersection of the major environmental laws, regulatory programs and technical strategies now being used to clean up one of Oregon's primary salmon-producing rivers.

The reason for the conference is that the Willamette, a tributary of the Columbia, is becoming increasingly polluted and now contains several salmonids listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The conference will be in the World Trade Center Auditorium, Portland, Oregon beginning 0730 HRS. Space is limited. To find out more or to register go to: www.elecenter.com.

4:10/08. FISHERMEN'S NEWS ESSAY URGES FISHERMEN TO SPEAK OUT: "No More Silence" is the title of an essay dedicated to the late Nat Bingham (1938-1998) by PCFFA's Pietro Parravano, Glen Spain and Zeke Grader in the September issue of The Fishermen's News (pp.12-13). The piece urges fishermen to be organized and not be intimidated when it comes to protecting the resource they rely on or the infrastructure and markets they depend on. The essay is partially in response to some of the intimidation tactics being used by a few of the extreme elements among Klamath Basin irrigators (see Sublegals, 4:09/04). To see the article go to go to PCFFA's website at: www.pcffa.org/fn-sep01.htm.

4:10/09. HOGARTH GETS NOD AS NMFS HEAD, LENT TO BE DEPUTY, NEW DIRECTOR FOR NORTHWEST REGION: On 5 September, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the appointment of Dr. William T. Hogarth as the new NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (the head of the National Marine Fisheries Service). Hogarth has been Acting Assistant Administrator since being reassigned from his position as Deputy Assistant Administrator in January 2001, taking over from Penny Dalton who left with the Clinton Administration. Beginning in 1994, he has held several positions in NMFS, including Chief of theHighly Migratory Species Division, the Southwest Regional Administrator in Long Beach, California, from April 1997 through April 1999, and as the Southeast Regional Administrator in St. Petersburg, Florida, from May 1999 to July 2000. Hogarth returned to NMFS Headquarters when he was appointed NMFS Deputy Director in July 2000. Prior to coming to the federal government, now under two different administrations, he was the Director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries from 1986 to 1994. He holds a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University.

Hogarth has good working relationships with most of NMFS' constituency and worked closely with PCFFA when he was the Southwest Regional Director. He has named Dr. Rebecca Lent, currently the Director of NMFS Southwest Region, as his new deputy. Lent will be taking that assignment in October. Her appointment leaves in question the fate of the Southwest Region where Hawaiian interests have been trying to split off from the region and some in NMFS Northwest Region have been trying to take over the Southwest Region and put California fisheries under control of Seattle. Lending to that speculation is the fact that no replacement for Lent has been named. PCFFA and California's charter boat industry have both vehemently opposed putting California's fisheries under Northwest Region control.

In the meantime, Robert Lohn, currently Director of the Northwest Power Planning Council's Fish and Wildlife Division, has been named the new head of NMFS Northwest Region, headquartered in Seattle. Lohn, who was recommended for the job by U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), takes over from Donna Darm, who had been the region's acting director since Will Stelle's departure in 2000. Lohn was General Counsel at the Power Planning Council from 1987 through 1994 when he served five years with the Bonneville Power Authority (BPA). Prior to 1987, Lohn practiced law in the San Francisco Bay area, was Director of the Office of Staff Attorneys for the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, was a law professor at the University of Georgia, and was counsel to the Governor of Montana. He is a native of Montana and has a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Montana.

4:10/10. SHADES OF SANTA BARBARA - EXXON-MOBIL CONTINUING SEISMIC EXPLORATION DESPITE RUSSIAN BAN: In mid-August, Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources called for an end to EXXON-Mobil's seismic exploration of Sakhalin Island due to concern over a dwindling population of Okhotsk Gray Whales. Recent scientific research has shown that the population of whales may number fewer than 100 individuals. There is evidence that development of offshore oil near Sakhalin, especially seismic exploration, is connected to the deterioration of the whale population. Thus far, EXXON-Mobil, has ignored the order, claiming it has not received any such instructions from the Russian government. EXXON was involved in a similar incident more than a decade ago when it refused a California Coastal Commission order to cease seismic testing during the height of the hook-and-line fishing season in the Santa Barbara Channel. The seismic testing was making that fishery impossible to conduct. For more information, go to: http://www.pacificenvironment.org/oilgascont.html.

4:10/11. CALIFORNIA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COMES OUT AGAINST SB 1, "RIGS-TO-REEFS" BILL: On 5 September, California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante called on the State Legislature's Assembly Appropriations Committee to oppose SB 1, by Senator Dede Alpert (D-San Diego), which would allow oil-drilling platforms to remain off the California coast after their usefulness has ended as so-called 'artificial fish reefs' (see Sublegals 4:07/15; 4:06/15; 4:04/06; 4:03/10; 4:02/16; 3:09/14). In his letter Bustamante wrote, "Under current law, all oil-drilling platforms are to be removed and the ocean floor restored to its original condition. All too often, people reach an agreement with government and when it comes time to live up to the agreement, they want to change the rules. That is what SB 1 does. Abandonment of an oil-drilling platform has tremendous complexities. They include toxic and pollution clean-up, debris removal, remediation, marine life and environmental dangers, and damages to the fishing industry. I stand with the commercial fishing industry, the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters in urging your opposition to SB 1." SB 1 is opposed by PCFFA, the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, Southern California Trawlers Association, the Environmental Defense Center and virtually every other conservation organization in the state. It is being supported by United Anglers of California and Chevron. For more information on Bustamante's statement, contact the Lieutenant Governor's office at (916) 445-8994.

4:10/12. DRAFT NEARSHORE FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN AVAILABLE: The California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) has released its draft Nearshore Fishery Management Plan for public review and comment. It is available at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/nfmp/index.html or at most public libraries, harbor and CDFG offices. The inclusion of Marine Protected Areas in the plan has implications beyond nearshore fisheries. The Fish & Game Commission is seeking public comments through 5 October accepted via mail at Fish & Game Commission Draft Nearshore Fishery Management Plan, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100, Monterey, CA 93940. Comments can be sent by fax to (831) 649-2917 or by internet to: NearshoreFMP@dfg.ca.gov; include "Draft Nearshore Fishery Management Plan" in the subject line. Comments will also be accepted in person at several public meetings:

• 12 September, 1900-2200 HRS, Long Beach City Council Chambers, 333 W. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach
• 13 September, 1900-2200 HRS, Hubbs-Sea World, Shedd Auditorium, 2595 Ingraham St., San Diego
• 19 September, 1900-2200 HRS, Elihu Harris State Office Building, 1515 Clay St., Oakland
• 29 September, 1200-1500 HRS, Eureka Marina, Wharfinger Bldg., Great Room, 1 Marina Way, Eureka
• 4-5 October, 0830 HRS, Fish & Game Commission Meeting, Hubbs- Sea World, San Diego
• 6-7 December, 0830 HRS, Fish & Game Commission Meeting, Long Beach City Council Chambers

4:10/13. CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF FOR BAY CHARTER AMENDMENT: On Saturday, 15 September, Bay Vote Yes! is sponsoring a campaign kick-off rally for the Bay Vote Charter amendment slated to be on the ballot this November in San Francisco. The amendment would require a vote any time more than 100 acres of fill is added to San Francisco Bay. This includes the proposed airport project, expected to fill more than 2 square miles. PCFFA is one of the sponsors of the amendment. The Bay is the passageway for salmon between the Central Valley rivers and the Pacific, was once the largest nursery area for Dungeness crab on the Pacific Coast, it supports a large herring roe fishery - the nation's only urban commercial fishery - and it once supported a large oyster industry. The rally is from 1300 to 1500 at Aquatic Park in San Francisco and will feature music, special guests, and refreshments. For more information on the campaign or the amendment call (415) 242-0405 or visit www.bayvoteyes.org

4:10/14. INVASIVES EDUCATIONAL BROCHURE PUBLISHED, LINK ESTABLISHED BETWEEN FRESHWATER FLOWS AND INVASIVE SURVIVAL, LEGISLATION TO ALLOW INVASIVE SPECIES INTO CALIFORNIA: "Invasion of the Baysnatchers" is the title of a new educational brochure warning of the dangers of aquatic invasive species and how to prevent their spread, published by the CALFED Bay-Delta Program's RIDNIS (Reducing the Introduction and Damage of Aquatic Nonindigenous Species through Outreach and Education). Invasive aquatic species are considered one of the major threats to native fish and shellfish species in many waterbodies throughout the world and San Francisco Bay is considered the most invaded estuarine system. For more information on invasives, go to: http://calfed.ca.gov/ecosystem_rest.html or the National Invasive Species Council website at: http://www.invasivespecies.gov.

In the September issue of the scientific journal, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, is a paper "Native and Introduced Larval Fishes of Suisun Marsh, California: The Effects of Freshwater Flow" (pp.750-765) by Lesa Meng and Scott Matern that finds a connection between changes in flow regimes into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta/San Francisco Bay and productivity of native and non-native fishes. "Our results suggest that temperature and interannual variations in freshwater flow are important for determining habitat quality for native and introduced larval fishers. We conclude that mimicking natural flow regimes in this highly regulated system is important for early life stages of native fishes," said the authors. The journal is available on electronic format at: http://afs.allenpress.com.

While California's CALFED program is addressing the spread of invasives into the Bay and Delta, the State Legislature is preparing to pass legislation that will make it easier to bring an invasive fish into California. Under a bill now on the Senate floor, AB 1673, grass carp (supposedly triploid) will be permitted for use in all of the state's counties for vegetation control. These non-native fish can get loose either through deliberate actions or during flood events. Previously, the carp could only be used in three desert counties where there would be little chance for them entering the state's waterways, and an annual report on their status was required from the Department of Fish & Game to the Legislature. PCFFA has opposed the importation of these fish. The legislation is supported by golf course operators and some agricultural interests.

4:10/15. CALIFORNIA TMDL POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAM FAILING, SAYS LEGISLATIVE REPORT: The State of California's Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), an independent legislative branch watchdog over state government, has noted that the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is far behind on addressing federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements for the state's 509 impaired water bodies, for which 1,471 TMDL ('total maximum daily load') pollution standards must be prepared. PCFFA has sued successfully to force the implementation of TMDLs for several of the state's north coast rivers that are critical salmon producing watersheds. The LAO report says that the Water Board is not only not on track to complete these TMDLs, but that the current 2001-02 California State Budget does not provide the financial resources to do so. California is therefore risking lawsuits, major losses of federal funds and potentially the federal government's revocation of delegated authority to meet CWA requirements. For a copy visit: www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2001/resources/res_15_3940.htm.

4:10/16. FISHERMEN VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO MEASURE ALBACORE: The American Fishermen's Research Foundation (AFRF) reports that it, together with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Fisheries Center, will conduct sampling of albacore landings in the California ports of Eureka and Morro Bay. Members of the Western Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA) who are landing in these ports and interested in contributing to the research can do so by measuring 50 to 100 fish from their last day of fishing for each of their 2001 fishing trips. They are asked to contact Dr. Paul Crone at (858) 546-7079 to obtain instructions and a sampling kit. For more information on the AFRF program, go to WFOA's website at: http://www.wfoa-tuna.org.

4:10/17. GROUNDFISH CONFERENCE CALL FOR PAPERS: The first call for papers has gone out for the Western Groundfish Conference 2002 that will be held 12-15 February in Ocean Shores, Washington. The conference is a biennial event that presents an opportunity for fisheries scientists, students, and other to meet and share research on groundfish science and management occurring along the Pacific west coast and Alaska. Draft abstracts of papers are due by 15 October for both oral presentations and posters and a final agenda will be posted by 15 November. For more information, go to: www.iphc.washington.edu/halcom/groundfish/conference.htm.

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

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