15 



This amendment would result in something happening that 

 many of us thought would occur with the existing system. The Fed- 

 eral commissioner would take on an influential role in facilitating 

 decisions. This is the most important role the Federal Government 

 can play in the United States section's deliberative processes, and 

 stands in sharp contrast to the wholly unacceptable alternative to 

 allowing the Federal Government to unilaterally negotiate on our 

 behalf. 



We believe this simple proposal is all that must be done to end 

 the decision gridlock. However, I want to reiterate an earlier point. 

 Restoring the salmon resource will require much more than im- 

 proving the function of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. This amendment 

 is, however, a very important start. Thank you. 



[The statement of Mr. James can be found at the end of the hear- 

 ing.] 



Mrs. Unsoeld. Thank you. Mr. Turner. 



STATEMENT OF BOB TURNER, DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON DE- 

 PARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, ACCOMPANIED BY RO- 

 LAND ROUSSEAU, OREGON ALTERNATE COMMISSIONER, PA- 

 CIFIC SALMON COMMISSION 



Mr. Turner. Thank you. Madam Chairwoman. I am Bob Turner, 

 Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and 

 serve on the Pacific Salmon Commission. Also here today is Rollie 

 Rousseau, who is alternate commissioner representing the State of 

 Oregon, who I am sure will welcome any questions the Committee 

 may have. I have a comprehensive statement that I would like to 

 submit for the record with your permission and paraphrase it in 

 testimony. 



Mrs. Unsoeld. Without objection. 



Mr. Turner. Thank you. Most of that testimony that has been 

 submitted is a reflection of the expectations that Ambassador 

 Derwinski spoke to that existed in 1985, and a description of the 

 current state of affairs and some of the attempts that were made 

 in the ensuing nine years to close the gap or at least minimize the 

 distance that was being created between reality and expectations. 

 Top priority for the State of Washington throughout those years 

 has been the conservation of chinook and coho salmon, particularly 

 with regard to the harvest of those stocks off the west coast of Van- 

 couver Island in Canada. 



Conservation of those stocks are Federal policy, just as this Trea- 

 ty itself is Federal policy. That Federal policy is reflected in the 

 listing of Snake River chinook stocks under the Endangered Spe- 

 cies Act, and also comprehensive efforts to rebuild the coho stocks 

 coast-wide, together with petitions pending on some of those stocks. 



One point to be made to the Committee is that we are not talk- 

 ing about regional policy solely. We have Federal policy at stake in 

 the conservation of these resources. The problem, as G.I. James 

 mentioned, is between the Federal policy as stated in the Treaty 

 and the Federal policy as being implemented. There are barriers in 

 the implementing legislation that do not allow us to make a deci- 

 sion in a timely fashion. And that is the thrust and the conclusion 

 of my statement which was submitted to you. 



