The National Marine Fisheries Services has issued a biological
opinion concluding that three widely used crop protection products
(chlorpyrifos, malathion and diazinon) are harming salmon and other various
species. The EPA now has one year to develop methods to better protect salmon
and their habitat.
Environmentalists and salmon fishermen have been demanding that the
federal government act to limit these products. Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by
which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund
or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.
It is unclear what methods, if any, the EPA will develop to enforce this
biological opinion. NAAA will continue to follow this issue and keep the
membership apprised.