29 



we want to make sure that we are moving smartly toward really 

 getting things cleaned up. 



As I said, this is the highest priority for our environmental com- 

 pliance, and we do have $6 million in the budget this year for that. 



Senator Stevens. Good. I did not see it identified for that. So, 

 if it is, I apologize. 



Dr. Baker. It is in there. It may be in one more book of detail, 

 but we have identified that. And it is our highest priority. We have 

 identified that early on. 



Senator Stevens. Mr. Chairman, the only thing that you raised, 

 and I do not have any question prepared on it, is the marine aqua- 

 culture initiatives that are going to be pursued now by NOAA. I 

 know Senator Akaka has got a bill that we are working with him 

 on. I do not know what the jurisdictional arrangement will be be- 

 tween the committees, but I think it is highly important for us to 

 look to aquaculture and to include methods of enhancement of nat- 

 ural runs. 



Are you looking at it from that point of view? 



Dr. Baker. That is certainly one of the aspects of our total aqua- 

 culture interest; that is right. And it is an important thing for us. 



Senator Stevens. I know the fight that is going on, and I do not 

 know if the chairman has heard about it. But the Canadians want 

 to charge fees on our boats that go through Canadian waters from 

 Washington to Alaska to fish. We have got an impasse with the Ca- 

 nadians now over the salmon issues. 



In my judgment, the problem is supply. We should not have to 

 get into these fights with our neighbors over how to ration a declin- 

 ing supply. We have the capability to enhance the supply of fish 

 in the Pacific Northwest dramatically in a short period of time if 

 we dedicate ourselves to it. And I do not think that it is part of 

 your program. That bothers me. 



Would you say you have an emphasis on enhancement of natural 

 fish runs: 



Dr. Baker. I would say that we are still working on that. We 

 have an overall aquaculture plan. Enhancement has been — cer- 

 tainly in the papers I have seen — mentioned as a part of that. It 

 is not one of the highest priorities, but it certainly has been men- 

 tioned there. But I take into account what you have just said. 



And let me just say about the Canadians that Ambassador 

 Colson is ready to meet the Canadians. It may be that what the 

 Canadians are trying to do violates international law. So, this is a 

 point which we are taking very seriously. 



Senator Stevens. As a former maritime lawyer, I can tell you 

 that there is no question that they are going to violate inter- 

 national law if they do it. And I think the only reason they did that 

 was to get your attention and to make this salmon treaty a political 

 issue and not just a negotiating issue within the confines of the 

 treaty. 



I do not know if you are familiar with what we did back in the 

 days when Alaska was sort of a rambunctious State. I personally 

 helped get the money to restock the Great Lakes with Alaska salm- 

 on. The Chileans are using the fortified eggs from one Alaskan 

 hatchery, and Chile expanded their fishery in one year at an as- 

 tounding rate. Yet we seem to be unwilling to do that. 



