“The reductions in catch in northern ocean fisheries will increase annual returns of summer and fall Chinook to the Upper Columbia River by 3-7 %, a significant improvement from the 1999 agreement” said Olney Patt, Jr., Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission executive director and U.S. Tribal Commissioner on the Pacific Salmon Commission.

The agreement reduces Chinook catches in the Southeast Alaska fishery by 15% and in the West Coast Vancouver Island fishery by 30% from the previous agreement. The agreement includes funding to aid harvest reductions in the Canadian commercial salmon troll fishery. Additional funding improves stock assessments, including estimates of fisheries impacts and escapement.

“Chinook was the most complex piece of the puzzle because the fish migrate through many jurisdictions. The negotiators should be commended. We were able to give something back to the stocks and meet the interests of multiple constituencies,” added Patt who represented 24 treaty fishing tribes from Puget Sound, the Washington Coast and Columbia River.

The Pacific Salmon Treaty was adopted by the United States and Canada in 1985. The Treaty provides a framework for management of fisheries in Southeast Alaska, British Columbia and Pacific Northwest. The Treaty established the Pacific Salmon Commission which meets annually to recommend fishing levels in northern ocean fisheries. The current agreement was adopted in 1999 and is set to expire on December 31, 2008.

“The Columbia River treaty tribes are appreciative of the concessions made by Alaska and Canada and good faith demonstrated by all parties. We look forward to working within the Pacific Salmon Commission to implement the agreement” said Patt.

The agreement and the letter of transmittal are posted on the PSC website. www.psc.org