HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2002-036WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 2002 - 202
CLEARANCES Date Data Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To
Ong Dept.: County Council
5"12002
5/92002
Introduction
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Prosecutor:
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SUBJECT:
Resolution supporting moratorium on marine salmon net pens.
ATTACHMENTS
SUMMAR Y STA TEMENT.
Related County Contract #.
Should the Clerk schedule a hearing ?(Y /N) Requested Data
Resolution supporting a moratorium on marine salmon net pens and support of wild salmon fisheries.
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
2002 -202 5/7/2002'. Introduced
512112002: Held in Natural Resources committee to 5/4
61412002: Held in Natural Resources committee to July 16
7/16/2002'. Held in Natural Resources committee to August
8/13/2002: Approved 5 -2, Crawford, Nelson opposed, Res.
#2002 -036
Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
03 (o
Salmon NetPens —August 13
PROPOSED BY: McShane
SPONSORED BY:
INTRODUCED:
RESOLUTION NO. 2002 -036
Consent
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL
MARINE SALMON NET PENS AND IN SUPPORT OF WILD SALMON FISHERIES
WHEREAS, residents of Whatcom County have made significant sacrifices and
forgone harvest opportunity and restrictions on land and water use; and
WHEREAS, residents have volunteered considerable time, money, and resources
to the restoration of native salmon runs; and
WHEREAS, various economic sectors in Whatcom County such as the recreational
and tourism businesses, fishing industry, and fisheries depend on healthy wild fish
populations; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board has
determined that escapement of introduced Atlantic salmon are a serious biological
pollutant under the Federal Clean Water Act and the State's Water Pollution Control Act,
Chapter 90.48, RCW; and
WHEREAS, farmed salmon pose a threat to wild salmon stocks through the use of
antibiotics to treat net pens, causing an increase of antibiotic resistant bacteria in a
marine environment; and
WHEREAS, scientific evidence indicates marine net pens degrade the marine
environment through impacts to water quality, sediment quality, and the health of
benthic and pelagic organisms; and
WHEREAS, scientific
studies
have shown that Atlantic salmon are
capable of
competing with native fish
species
for increasingly scarce quality habitat;
and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that
over 500,000 Atlantic salmon have escaped from net pens into Washington State's
waters in the last decade and even larger numbers of Atlantic salmon have escaped into
British Columbia's waters; and
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WHERAS, recent scientific evidence documents the presence of Atlantic salmon in
78 rivers and streams in British Columbia, and spawning populations have been
documented in three Vancouver Island rivers; and
WHEREAS, the goals of federal, state, and local salmon recovery efforts are
jeopardized by the negative impacts of commercial marine salmon net pens; and
WHEREAS, currently there are no commercial marine salmon net pens operating
in Whatcom County and precautionary approaches to marine habitat protection are in
the county's best interest;
WHEREAS, Atlantic salmon have been observed in the Nooksack River.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council opposes
the establishment of commercial marine salmon net pens in Whatcom County waters
and the waters of the Pacific Northwest.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that for purposes of this resolution
commercial is defined as "the rearing of fish for profit."
APPROVED this 13 day of August , 2002.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
A WHATC � I U G, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown- Davis, Cler e Counci 1 L. Ward Nels n, C uncil Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Civil D ty Prosecutor
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