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Testimony of the NWIFC February 18, 1993 



on Fish & Wildlife Management Page 5 



the tribes, and move toward recognizing tribal management prerogatives. 

 Nevertheless, each began to realize the value of this approach. 



Early historical management planning efforts 



The Puget Sound Management Plan was negotiated and entered into the court for 

 implementation. This plan has served as the framework for co-management 

 between the Puget Sound tribes and the state. The state and the tribes from the 

 Pacific Coast commenced negotiations for a management plan to implement the 

 Hoh V. Baldriqe case. This plan clarified weak-stock management responsibilities 

 for the state and federal entities, and laid the foundation for watershed planning. 



Pacific Salmon Treaty 



Still later, in conjunction with sports and commercial user groups, state and tribal 

 government officials worked with other states and the federal government to 

 produce the U.S.-Canada Salmon Interception Treaty. This international agreement 

 was obviously essential to good fishery management, but because of the complexity 

 of the task, and the divergent viewpoints within the United States, the treaty was not 

 successfully negotiated until cooperative management was in practice. 



Its existence has fostered essential annual and long range international negotiations, 

 its implementation has moved fisheries management between the two countries 

 closer together for the good of the resource, and the federal commitment has 

 brought millions of dollars to Washington State alone over the past several years for 

 such efforts as management planning, fish marking, stream research, and data 

 analysis. 



Co-management is the foundation, or cornerstone, upon which many outstanding 

 natural resource management programs have been constructed. Some of the 

 structures we have built have, in fact, become national and even international 

 models of cooperation in natural resource management. 



COMPREHENSIVE TRIBAL NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE 

 PACIFIC NORTHWEST 



The tribal approach to natural resource management is based on the recognition 

 that, as Chief Seattle said, "all things are connected." This is a truth that transcends 

 boundaries, as well as management activities, cultural backgrounds and economic 

 pursuits. All things are connected, within a given watershed, as well as from one 

 watershed to another, and from the ocean to the mountains. 



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