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Appendix 1 



EXAMPLES OF U.SyCANADlAN COOPERATION ON CONSERVATION ISSUES IN 

 NORTHERN PACIFIC SALMON TREATY AREAS 



Relatively few significant conservation issues have arisen in the northern treaty areas since the signing 

 of the treaty. This is because survival conditions have been very good, returns of many stocks have 

 been near record levels, and fisheries have been managed conservatively. 



Transboundarv Rivers 



For many years prior to the treaty, the U.S. unilaterally managed the transboundary (TBR) salmon 

 stocks since there were only minimal Canadian fishing activities on these rivers. With the exception 

 of Chinook, no stocks were seriously depressed prior to the treaty. In 1981, four years prior to the 

 signing of the treaty, Alaska initiated a chinook rebuilding program for Southeast Alaska chinook 

 stocks, including TBR stocks, with extensive hmitations on Southeast Alaska fisheries. Canada 

 subsequently joined this effort. The extensive joint upgrading of the stock assessment programs (with 

 Pacific Salmon Commission fiinding from both sides) combined with good survival conditions have 

 greatly improved the status of stocks on these rivers. 



To the extent that the U.S. and Canada have cooperative inseason management programs on the 

 transboundary rivers, such as for Taku and Stikine River sockeye and chinook salmon, Canada 

 annually cooperates with the U.S. in evaluating actual salmon returns and conducting management 

 activities to achieve escapement goals. 



Alaska and Canada initiated a cooperative sockeye enhancement program several years ago under the 

 treaty. Eggs taken from sockeye salmon in Canada are incubated in an Alaskan hatchery, then 

 released in underutilized lakes tributary to the Taku and Stikine rivers. Initial production goals were 

 100 thousand sockeye for each system. Initial returns will occur in 1994. 



Alaska/Canada Northern Boundary Area 



Examples of Alaskan responses to conservation concerns for intermingling Canadian stocks in 

 Southeast Alaska fisheries are listed below: 



1. In 1994, during the early weeks of the fishery, U.S. managers implemented conservative 

 fishery openings, including closure of a southern portion of the Tree Point gillnet fishery, in 

 response to a Canadian request to conserve Nass River sockeye. 



2. Inseason conservation measures for Nass sockeye were previously taken in 1981, 1983, 1987, 

 1988, and 1989. Fishing times were also reduced in other years in response to reduced 

 sockeye presence in the fishery although specific slock weaknesses were not identified. 



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