Recommendations for reducing and minimizing obstacles to reaching timely decisions on U.S. 

 negotiating positions. 



i) Establish separate Southern and Northern treaty area processes where possible. 



To eliminate or minimize artificial regional conflicts within the U.S. Section, separate 

 Southern and Northern Commission negotiating processes should be established to 

 develop fishery and stock arrangements. Coastwide treaty issues such as chinook and 

 equity would still be dealt with by the fiill Conunission. 



ii) Discourage informal requirements for "total package" decisions. 



The ability of the United States Section (or the Commission) to reach agreement on a 

 broad array of issues should not be compromised by failure to agree on one or two 

 minor issues. The standard operating procedure should be to move forward with 

 those arrangements for which agreement is possible. 



iii) Expand and encourage United States Section and Commission policy and technical 

 investigations to resolve regional differences in management approaches. 



In cases where regional differences in management approaches act as deterrents to 

 consensus United Slates positions, the United States Section should encourage policy 

 and technical investigations (perhaps through internal work groups and outside expert 

 advisors) to develop acceptable solutions. 



4 ) How might the Federal government contribute constructively to the negotiating process? 

 Should the federal government have the authority to negotiate unilaterally, or to 

 encourage the States and Tribes to reach a unined position? 



The federal United Slates commissioner, Dave Colson, has contributed very substantially to the United 

 Slates and bilateral commission negotiating process since 1985. In rotation with other United States 

 commissioners, he has served as the chairman of the United States Section. He has frequently acted 

 as ihe United Slates spokesman in the commission on issues relating to the treaty's equity principle. 

 On numerous occasions, the federal United Stales commissioner has effectively served to mediate 

 differences and facilitate agreements on various negotiating positions within the United Stales 

 Section. Finally, he has provided expert advice on general treaty process and obligations. 



The role of the federal United States commissioner (and alternate commissioner) could be enhanced 

 if more lime was dedicated to the Pacific Salmon Commission process. Current heavy commitments 

 to numerous other international affairs makes this difficult. 



It would not be appropriate for the federal government to have the authority to unilaterally negotiate 

 regional fishery arrangements. Fishery conservation and management programs are best developed 

 by regional fishery managers and scientists most familiar with local fisheries. Serious state-right 

 issues are raised as well. In excess of 99% of the salmon caught in Southeast Alaska are taken from 

 State of Alaska territorial waters--nol the federal FEZ. Maintaining regional control of fisheries 

 management programs through the current United States Section decision process was, and continues 

 to be, essential to gaining regional support for the treaty. 



It is appropriate for the federal government to encourage the tribes and states to reach a unified 

 United States Section position when differences exist. This can be done by assisting in developing 

 alternative positions, evaluating benefits and consequences of alternative positions, and generally 

 mediating between different United States interest groups. 



The role of the federal government in the United States Section could also be enhanced by 

 coordinating and expanding general participation by regional federal representatives from the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NMFS representaUves are currently members of the 



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