The California Current flows slowly southward off the Washington, Oregon and California coasts, from the southern tip of Vancouver Island to the bottom of Baja California. One of the world's richest marine ecosystems, it faces serious trouble as ocean conditions and the global climate change over the coming years.
Our investigation of this large marine ecosystem found that the federal agency managing fisheries in the area -- the Pacific Fishery Management Council -- knows little about how the extraction of resources impacts webs of life. It is spending time instead pursuing turf wars against other government agencies which have different views about marine conservation. At the same time, the council is encouraging the launching of damaging new fisheries. The highly endangered leatherback sea turtle is facing increased risks from the Counil's fisheries. Both the Pacific council and NOAA are trying to reduce protection for the reptile, one of the earth's oldest animals.
Meanwhile, the Pacific council is considering a plan that would give the nation's biggest fish company, Pacific Seafood, a $50 million chunk of your ocean resources.
This report details Pacific Seafood's long history of breaking the law, as well as lawsuits against it or its owner, Frank Dulcich, alleging such things as securities fraud, felony theft, fraud, racketeering, massive illegal water pollution and breach of contract. Plaintiffs in these cases included Dulcich's own mother and two siblings, as well as a rival company and the state of Oregon.
Frank Dulcich’s fish company, the nation’s biggest, has a long history of breaking the law. Yet he is poised to gain a $50 million chunk of your ocean resources.
Frank's World: A Timeline
Pacific council develops "catch share" system to protect and rebuild depleted fish
One of the world's richest ecosystems, the California Current carries 10 times as much water as the Amazon
Experts urge Pacific council to take a more holistic approach
Pacific council, NOAA push plans that would erode endangered sea turtle's protective shield
Council lobbied Congress to pass anti-environmental legislation
In its review of the council's history, Cascadia Times has found several occasions in which the Pacific council failed to heed the advice of its scientist
Pacific Seafood and the West Coast Seafood Processors Association paid the Gallatin Group, a lobbying firm, $1,060,000 from 2002 to 2007
FULL ISSUE (PDF)
©2008 Cascadia Times
