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Washington State Congressional Delegation 

 September 3, 1992 



an approach could allow for expanded Canadian harvests in high 

 coho abundance years and restricted harvests when stocks need 

 protection. 



Canada views its current WCVI harvests as necessary for "equity." 

 Canada can be expected to seek concessions from the United States 

 in return for any reductions in Canadian harvests, even though 

 reductions may be necessary for conservation. 



FRASER RIVER SOCKEYE 



Some tribal and non-tribal commercial sockeye harvesters have 

 announced various objectives to increase Washington's commercial 

 harvest of Canadian Fraser River sockeye. While the state 

 understands these desires, the state is unwilling to embrace a 

 sockeye objective until it is clear how such an objective would 

 fit with the primary goal of reducing Canadian coho and Chinook 

 harvests. The following questions must be answered: 



1. Increased harvest of Fraser River sockeye in Washington 

 risks additional incidental harvest of Washington coho 

 during the sockeye harvest. How can this be prevented? 



2. Canada will expect an equity "payment" in exchange for an 

 increased interception of Canadian fish. How will we meUce 

 this payment in light of our knowledge that Canada will seek 

 payment on the WCVI and in coho? 



3 . If we pay for increased Fraser River sockeye with bargaining 

 chips other than coho, what will we have left with which to 

 bargain with Canada for the primary objective of reduced 

 Chinook and coho harvests? 



Commercial fisheries in Washington's strait of Juan de Fuca and 

 San Juan Islands target sockeye and pink salmon bound for 

 Canada's Fraser River. As described above, a 1930 convention 

 with Canada provided that Washington commercial fishers harvest 

 50 percent of the sockeye in waters under its control. 



Canadian unhappiness with U.S. harvest of Fraser sockeye led to 

 increased Canadian harvest of U.S. chinook and coho and 

 ultimately to the 1985 Pacific Salmon Treaty. The Treaty 

 included an eight-year Fraser sockeye and, pink salmon agreement 

 with two four-year components. In the first four years, the 



