EPA gives pesticide deadline to protect salmon and steelhead

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given pesticides manufacturers a deadline of May 13th to agree to new restrictions on applying three farm pesticides that pose a threat to Pacific salmon and steelhead. If the companies don't comply by May 13th, the EPA will take legal action.

The EPA action comes 18 months after NOAA Fisheries Service found that the pesticides threaten the survival of 27 species of salmon and steelhead in the West. Anti-pesticide groups had initially sued EPA over the issue in 2001. The chemicals have been found by federal biologists to interfere with a salmon and steelhead's sense of smell, making it harder for them to find food, avoid predators and return to native waters to spawn. 

LINK  (Via:Business Week)

Comments

[Jack Meoff]

Now this is good work!

[ike]

down here in nor cal, the scott river flows through farm land..it once was a spring creek style river in the valley, untill the ranchers straightened it out. so this created warmer water temps in early summer on through fall...i have also seen in the last six years a quick drop in steelhead returns.. although i havent been involved with the fish counters directly, i do speak with them about the decline in counts and angler reports...pesticides are definitly a concern---between the chemicals in agriculture and all the cured roe fisherman, low flows, and water rights it is amazing i can even catch any fish during the nov- feb fishing season------hope for the best