Dec 15, 1998

Groups blame trawlers for fisheries decline

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Boats that drag heavy nets on ocean bottoms to catch fish could be responsible for the decline in several worldwide fisheries, two environmental groups asserted Monday. Fish trawling and dredging crushes sponges and coral, kills tiny organisms and disturbs sediment, rocks and worm burrow tubes -- all of which serve as critical food and protection for young cod and other fish, two environmental groups said. A government official challenged some of the groups' conclusions as inaccurate and lacking science. "I'm not sure focusing on trawling is appropriate," said Andrew Rosenberg, deputy director of the National Marine Fisheries Service. Seven studies on bottom trawling and dredging were published in a special section in the December issue of the journal Conservation Biology. Two groups, the Washington, D.C.-based American Oceans Campaign, and Redmond, Wash.-based Marine Conservation Biology Institute, presented the papers at a news conference. The environmentalists say they had suspected that trawlers hurt ocean bottoms and that these studies confirmed their fears. They compared trawling to clear cutting of forests, calling it the largest single disturbance of the Earth's surface of any practice except agriculture. Tens of thousands of trawlers each year drag their nets across ocean bottoms that are twice the size of the lower 48 states, the groups said. For every pound of shrimp and other fish that are the desired catch, four pounds of other marine life lies wasted on the shipdeck, the groups said. It takes decades for some bottom life to regenerate after a trawler passes, but trawlers generally return to the same bottoms two years later, they said. While less than 1 percent of the world's oceans are protected, the groups said as much as 20 percent need to be preserved. They called on federal and state regulators and regional fishery management councils to take action. "We need to protect these areas as no-take reserves and regard them as we do our national parks," said actor Ted Danson, president of American Oceans Campaign. But Rosenberg said that while trawler fishing changes ocean bottoms and may be harmful in some instances, there is not enough evidence to blame trawlers for a decline in fisheries.

Feds cut Bering Sea pollock catch

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Federal fisheries managers have voted to reduce the eastern Bering Sea pollock catch by more than 10 percent. The Bering Sea catch will be set below 1 million metric tons for the first time, or at 992,000 metric tons. The lower catch limit reflects a reduction in total pollock in the Bering Sea, according to Keith Criddle, a fisheries economist who is part of a committee that advises the North Pacific Fishery Management Council about setting catch limits. Several years of fewer than normal young pollock have led to a smaller population, he said. Dick Tremaine, another fisheries consultant, said the loss of fish could be worth up to $50 million to the Bering Sea fleet and to processors. Climatic changes, subtle shifts in current or possibly fishing could be driving the decline in pollock stocks, Criddle said. "There are so many influences on these fish it is virtually impossible to pinpoint a cause," he told the Anchorage Daily News. A strong population of strong fish should help boost the population next year, he said. Dorothy Childers, executive director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council, said that smaller pollock population could be a sign of stress in the Bering Sea because of overfishing. "They need to reduce fishing pressure on spawning stocks (in the eastern Bering Sea)," she said. Paul MacGregor, director of the At Sea Processors Association, said the reduced catch, along with changes implemented to protect the endangered Steller sea lion, could make for a tough fishing season in the Bering Sea. The catch reduction comes on the heels of Sunday's decision by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to close the Aleutian Islands to pollock fishing under an emergency order intended to protect the endangered Steller sea lion. The panel also divided the fishery into four separate seasons in an effort to more closely regulate the harvest of pollock, which is a large part of the sea lion diet. The emergency order is effective for 180 days and can be extended for another 180 days, while regulators try to come up with a longer-term solution. Federal regulators are being pushed to make changes in the fishery by a lawsuit filed by Greenpeace and several other environmental groups. The National Marine Fisheries Service issued an opinion earlier this month that commercial fishing off Alaska is harming the recovery of the sea lion.

Portland warehouse is a toxic wastland

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- A run-down warehouse where a dozen homeless men and women had been camping among 55-gallon drums of chemical waste may prove to be one of the most toxic sites ever uncovered in Oregon. But for some people, it was home until recently. The site was discovered last month, when the federal Environmental Protection Agency estimated it would take at least $1 million and a month to clean up. Officials say the cost already is up to about $1.5 million, and cleanup crews will be on the job until February. Jeffry Rodin, project director with the EPA's Seattle-based Emergency Response Unit, said current levels of toxins could require gutting the entire building. "This is the most complex and time-consuming cleanup we have ever worked on," Rodin said. The owner, Erwin Franklin Grant, 74, had lived at the warehouse along with the homeless men and women, according to neighbors. A family, including a pregnant 14-year-old, also camped on the property in an old bus. "It's never been clear to any of us what exactly went on down there," said Cindy DeCecco, who lives several houses from the site. "I thought he was recycling scrap barrels until I saw a large white plume that smelled like burnt plastic coming from his chimney."

Renton IKEA wins EPA award

SEATTLE -- IKEA, a global furniture retailer, has won an Evergreen Award for Pollution Prevention from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The award was presented last week by Chuck Clarke, EPA's Region 10 administrator. Clarke said IKEA was a good example of how good business and environmental protection can go hand-in-hand. He cited the store's IKEA Green program, its Green Steps process for making business decisions, its reduced use of packaging and electricity, and its increased use of sustainably-harvested wood.

Hart Crowser adds staff

The Seattle office of Hart Crowser, an environmental and engineering consulting firm, has hired two new professionals. Echo Summer has joined as an associate compliance specialist, while Randy Johnson is an associate environmental engineer. Summers has more than 15 years' experience in compliance. She previously worked for Science Applications International Corp. at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, Calif. Johnson is part of the Industrial and Remediation Services Group at Hart Crowser, where he will do engineering support and fieldwork.

A fish-friendly L.A. Harbor

LOS ANGELES -- Thanks to the efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Los Angeles, conservationists and sportfishing groups, rocky dredge spoils taken from a shipping channel are being placed elsewhere in the bay to provide fish habitat. As much as 600,000 cubic meters of rocky debris will be relocated to create low reef structures on 80 acres of flat bottom. The groups hope that the material will provide good conditions for fish, and lead to growth in fish populations. The dredging work, part of the Port's Pier 400 expansion project, is being performed by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. The project and its effects will be monitored for five years by Heal the Bay, a conservation group enlisted by the Port. Jon Savelle is the Journal's environment editor. He can be contacted at (206) 622-8272.

Northwest International Bank

Northwest International Bank has opened in Seattle's Metropolitan Park West Tower. Jesse Tam, a Hong Kong native, is president and CEO of the new state-chartered institution. Tam said the bank will focus on local clients with international connections such as businesses, investors and new citizens. The staff currently speaks more than 10 languages and dialects. A total of $7.8 million in capital has been raised to start the bank. Senior officers include Tom Hard, senior vice president and chief lending officer; Jan Gould, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Don Rapp, senior vice president and real estate manager.

Seattle Reserve Bank Board

Redmond high tech executive Peter van Oppen has been named to the Seattle Branch Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He is chairman and CEO of Advanced Digital Information, a manufacturer of storage products for network and workstation computers. Van Oppen succeeds Seattle attorney Constance Proctor. His three-year term begins Jan. 1.

Minority Supplier Development Council

The Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council recently presented awards to outstanding members at its fourth annual holiday luncheon. The Robert Ryan Award went to Carolyn Crowson of the Bank of America. The John Allen Gilmore Award was presented to Mel Daniels, outgoing chair of the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee. The Leadership Award went to board vice chair Debbie Johnson of The Bon Marche. The Champion Award went to Louis P. Cooper, Jr. of the State of Washington General Administration. The council comprises over 200 minority business entrepreneurs, corporations and agencies committed to creating economic links between minority suppliers and the public and private sectors.

Dynacare Laboratories

Dynacare Laboratories, a Seattle-based provider of medical laboratory services, has partnered with Pointshare, a Bellevue-based provider of online solutions for communities in the Pacific Northwest. Pointshare's online services will allow physicians to electronically transmit laboratory test requests to and receive test results from Dynacare Laboratories in Seattle and Mount Vernon.

Metcalf Hodges

Metcalf Hodges & Co., a Bellingham-based accounting firm, has added Steve Sible in accounting and tax services. Sible formerly served as an auditor and personnel officer for the U.S. Air Force.

LCL

Lease Crutcher Lewis has added Mark Lunsford and Thomas Willett to its staff. Lunsford is a senior project manager with over 20 years of industry experience. He holds a degree in building construction from the University of Washington. Willett has 18 years of experience as a construction manager and an owner's representative. He holds degrees from both the University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin.

ABC

The Associated Builders & Contractors of Western Washington has promoted Theresa Jarvis to communications and events coordinator. Jarvis joined ABC in February as an office assistant. She previously taught middle school in Baltimore for six years. ABC also announced Debbie Haigh has been hired as director of education and safety and Wendy Novak is a new administrative assistant. Haigh will oversee school-to-work programs; develop management, supervisory, safety and workers' comp educational services; and assist members with health and safety issues.

Mid Mountain

Mid Mountain Contractors has moved its offices to 825 Fifth Ave. in Kirkland. The company's new mailing address is: P.O. Box 2909, Kirkland, WA 98083-2909. The new phone number is (425) 202-3600. The new fax numbers are (425) 202-3610 for administration and (425) 202-3620 for estimating.