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regional panels, and in some cases-such as the Fraser Panel-serve as United States chairs of those 

 panels. With regard to panel chairman, such close interactions with regional panels can reduce the 

 potential effectiveness of federal representatives to serve as neutral mediators to assist in resolving 

 differences between the states and tribes. Federal State Department and NMFS representatives to the 

 commission could form a federal team whose primary objective would be to help facilitate United 

 States negotiating positions. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS 



During its first decade of existence, the Pacific Salmon Treaty has contributed significantly to the 

 conservation and wise management of salmon stocks which intermingle in waters of the United States 

 and Canada. Knowledge necessary to manage these valuable resources has been greatly expanded 

 through cooperative technical and scientific efforts of the two countries. The framework and 

 principles embodied by the treaty provide the basis for future progress. However, improvements in 

 the commission process, including more focused northern and southern negotiations, are needed to 

 increase its effectiveness and efficiency. 



Salmon stocks in northern treaty areas are currently healthy and production is at high levels. Few 

 conservation problems exist. As a result of the treaty, transboundary river salmons stocks are now 

 jointly managed. Cooperative efforts by Alaskan and Canadian fishery managers to ensure 

 conservation of intermingling salmon stocks in the northern boundary area have improved 

 significantly. Joint salmon enhancement projects have been initiated in the transboundary rivers and 

 other enhancement opportunities have been discussed. 



Recent significant declines in Washington and Oregon coho and chinook salmon stocks caused by 

 droughts, unfavorable El Nino ocean conditions, and long term habitat degradation have created new 

 challenges for the Commission. Reduced harvests of these stocks by Canadian fisheries off the west 

 coast of Vancouver Island has upset the balance for Washington State catches of Fraser River sockeye 

 stocks which are currently at healthy, high levels. Canada has been reluctant to further reduce its west 

 coast Vancouver Island fisheries to address conservation concerns for United States coho and 

 Chinook stocks unless resulting catch imbalances are addressed in the near term. 



To address this problem in the longer term, it is essential that the United States implement a major 

 habitat restoration and enhancement initiative for Pacific Northwest salmon stocks. 



The challenge of the next decade of the treaty will be to use the experience gained during the first 

 decade to build on the progress already made. Inabilities to find quick solutions to very complex 

 problems must not be allowed to prevent progress on cooperative salm n conservation and 

 management programs which is possible through known solutions. However, the two countries must 

 also rededicate their efforts to find innovative solutions to complex, unresolved problems. This will 

 clearly be in the best interests of the Pacific salmon resources and the fishing communities which 

 share these resources. 



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