STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS J. MANTON, A U.S. REPRESENT- 

 ATIVE FROM NEW YORK, AND CHAHIMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE 

 ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT 



Mr. Manton. I thank the gentleman. 



Ladies and gentlemen, as is obvious, we are having a hearing 

 today on Pacific salmon. Many people concerned with fisheries 

 management have commented that the main problem with fish is 

 that they do not possess the good sense to obey political bound- 

 aries. Today, we meet to discuss this problem in the context of our 

 ongoing negotiations with Canada concerning the Pacific Salmon 

 Treaty. 



Signed in 1985, this Treaty addresses the problems associated 

 with salmon which originate in one country but are harvested by 

 another. The Treaty sets the ambitious goals of preserving Pacific 

 salmon to achieve optimum production and dividing the harvest so 

 that each country, the United States and Canada, will fairly share 

 in this valuable resource. 



While the Treaty has enjoyed some success, we have failed re- 

 cently to make any meaningful changes to the Treaty's implemen- 

 tation. Recent attention has focused primarily on the trouble spots 

 of the Treaty process and the failure of the parties to reach agree- 

 ments that would properly conserve certain stocks of Pacific salm- 

 on. 



Specifically, I am concerned about the breakdown of negotiations 

 between Canada and the United States earlier this year, and the 

 transit fee which Canada imposed upon vessels traveling through 

 its inside passage in response to this failure to reach a new agree- 

 ment. 



While I am pleased that talks between our two nations have re- 

 sumed, I still have some concerns about the future of the Treaty 

 and its likelihood of achieving the goals of conserving Pacific salm- 

 on stocks in a manner that is equitable to both countries. 



The United States and Canada have a long history of cooperating 

 to conserve and manage this and other vital natural resources. 

 However, Canada has recently acted irrationally, in my judgment, 

 and in a self-serving manner, which does a great disservice to our 

 mutually-shared goals and ideals. The fee, and Canada's recent sei- 

 zure of two U.S. scallop vessels in international waters, only serves 

 to heighten the tension between our two countries. In the mean- 

 time, certain Canadian vessels are also apparently fishing for 

 swordfish in direct violation of ICCAT recommendations. I look for- 

 ward to hearing the opinions of our witnesses on how this coopera- 

 tive effort on Pacific salmon can continue in light of these recent 

 actions. 



Does the gentlewoman from Oregon have an opening statement? 



STATEMENT OF HON. ELIZABETH FURSE, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM OREGON 



Ms. FuRSE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to express my 

 gratitude for the response of this Committee to the four Northwest 

 Committee members' request for the hearing. Your leadership in 

 this has been critical and I and my constituents are very appre- 

 ciative. 



