Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1981)
SPRING VACATION HflUJflll March 21-28 $419.00 Airfare only Limited space available Call 687-2825 EUGENE TRAVEL 831 E, 13th Eugene, Or 97401 j Graphic by Sioux Anderson Overfishing, habitat loss ; blamed for salmon slump i-iarDor seals are not responsiDie tor decline of salmon fishery yields in the Pacific Northwest, Greenpeace Foundation representative Steve Gilbert said at an Ocean Symposium Wednesday. Overfishing and the destruction of fresh water salmon habitats are primarily responsible for the decline, but the harbor seal provides a convenient scapegoat for embittered salmon fishermen, Gilbert said. “Over the years, the harbor seal has been regarded as the coyote of the Oregon coast.” Gilbert called the image of a voracious sal mon-eating harbor seal one of "many myths” that grew out of the long conflict of interests between fishermen and harbor seals. Gilbert also cited recent studies that claim salmon are only about 10 percent of a harbor seal's diet. The other 90 percent consists of less prized fish, such as hake and pollack, he said. However, harbor seals have paid a high price for this mistaken image, Gilbert said. Approximately 12,000 harbor seals lived off the Oregon and California coast in 1925, but by the early 1950's bounty hunting reduced the numbers to i,uuu-2,uuu, ne said, since tne prohibition of bounty hunting and the enactment of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, the i harbor seal population has increased to about 4,000, he said Now the modest gains in the last decade of harbor seal populations are threatened by powerful industries who would like to ‘‘gut con servation and environmental acts passed in the 1960’s, Gilbert said. “I feel this conflict between the harbor seals ( and the fishermen is being used as a spearhead to weaken the Marine Mammal Protection Act — to open up other mammals for fishing exploitation." ' Oil companies that want to drill for oil off the Oregon and California shoreline want the MMPA weakened or eliminated so they can operate without fear of damaging marine mammal stocks, Gilbert said. "If industry can get the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it would be another feather in their cap, and kind of a good way for them to start off the 80s." Board plans for budget cut A plan to cope with a possible 10-percent cut in funding of state colleges and universities will be considered today by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. If approved, the plan would be presented to the Legislature's Ways and Means Committee. The board earlier developed a proposal for handling cuts proposed by Gov. Vic Atiyeh. The plan now being presented by Chancellor Roy Lieuallen is for possible further reductions in higher education funding. If the system has to accept these cuts, it will mean an addi tional $3.7 million reduction in University funding, says acting University Pres. Paul Olum. All together the University would lose $5 million and a reduction of “a couple thousand students” and corresponding staff and faculty, he says. Not only students and faculty would be eliminated, Olum says. To make ends meet after a 10-percent reduction, ‘‘we would cut whole programs. We would cut whole schools.” Across-the-board cuts would “destroy quality uniformly,” he said. Chopping individual schools and programs, would leave the remaining programs' quality intact. "Those cuts would devastate the University. You'd have to declare financial exigency. Many of our best people would leave.” But Olum is leery of talking about possible consequences . "This kind of thing always begins to constitute a self-ful filling prophecy.” Also on the state board’s agenda is discussion of tutition options for Atiyeh’s proposed 15-percent tuition increase for each of the next two years. The board also will hear Jeff Lee, Executive Director of the State Scholarship Commission, speak on financial aid. THINKING of BEING AN R.A.? (RESIDENT ASSISTANT) INVESTIGATE FURTHER... APPLICANTS REQUIRED TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE MEETINGS: Tues. March 3 University Inn Main Lounge 7 pm Wed. March 4 Sheldon Hall Lounge 7 pm Thurs. March 5 Bean West Application Deadline April 9 Conference Room 7 pm 686-4277 Applications now available at Housing Office in Walton Complex. LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT with the RAGTIME MILLIONAIRES 9-Midnight SATURDAY NIGHT Folk Music with Rob & Lora 8-Midnight HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 4:30-6.30 $1.25 Pitchers Y1% AN’S 1225 Alder St. 345-2628 Call ahead for to go orders Cultural Forum r i Are you interested in a career in the music industry? The EMU Cultural Forum and Cascade Concerts are happy to announce a FREE Career in Music Seminar featuring John Ford Coley and Leslie and Kelly 1 Saturday Feb. 28 at 1:00 p.m. MflMlMEJEMMlMlMI Admission Free
