Better Late Than Never

Good news if you’re a salmon! The U.S. EPA has finally announced it will restrict the use of three hazardous pesticides near Pacific Northwest salmon streams as part of requirements under the Endangered Species Act.

The EPA’s action comes more than nine years after the Washington Toxics Coaltiion, together with partners Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, filed a lawsuit alleging EPA did not adequately consider the effects of pesticides on salmon when approving pesticides for use. The lawsuit resulted in better protections for salmon, including a requirement that EPA consider a pesticide’s effects on salmon before approving a pesticide.

Pesticides are harmful to salmon at very low levels. Federal biologists have zeroed in on three pesticides, diazinon, malathion and chlorpyrifos, as particularly harmful to the fish.  Exposure to the chemicals harms salmon’s ability to smell. Without the ability to smell, the fish can’t find food or navigate their way back to their spawning grounds. The effects of pesticides on salmon are well documented in the 2002 report, Poisoned Waters.

The EPA’s announcement comes after chemical companies said (surprise, surprise) they would not voluntarily comply with proposed restrictions on their pesticides.

The new mandatory restrictions will include “no-spray zones” around streams where spraying of the pesticides is prohibited, as well as limits on when the pesticides can be sprayed, requirements for fish monitoring, and new pesticide labeling requirements.

So, while the salmon have reason to celebrate, they’re also justified in wondering: what took so long?! At least it’s better late than never. And while these may be the first restrictions actually put in place as a result of our lawsuit, they are unlikely to be the last—NOAA Fisheries staff are hard at work developing their recommendations for restrictions on more pesticides. Stay tuned.