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State or Wasnington 

 DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE 



-T-ccrar/ Moaress: -osx Office Box ^135 C:vmoia. Wasningion 93504-3135 - 2061 902-2200: TDD (206) 902-2207 

 March 21. 1994 



MEMORANDUM 



TO: Congressional Delegation 



FROM: Robert Tufn 



o^,-^ 



SUBJECT: PACIFMC SAblVlON TREATY NEGOTIATIONS - 1993/94 CYCLE 



This memorandum is intended to provide you a report on the status of negotiations with 

 Canada under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. I hope it may be helpful in responding to 

 inquiries about the talks. 



.As you know, the Canadians canceled the negotiating session scheduled for January in 

 Portland because of their concern about the lack of progress in the related govemment-to- 

 government negotiations on the so-called "equity issue' (discussed below). 



The February session in Vancouver was convened, but the Canadians again refused to 

 negotiate fishing regimes, insisting on U.S. concessions on equity. Further government to 

 government discussions on this key issue have been held and are scheduled. Nevertheless, 

 it is not clear when, or at what level, the 1994 negotiations on fishing regimes will resume. 



WASHINGTON'S NEGOTIATING OBJECTIVES 



Washington's primary negotiating objectives remain as they were last year — to address 

 conservation coruxms for Washington's stocks of chinook and coho. While I believe Canada 

 now shares some of our concerns about chinook. I am particularly troubled by the 

 extraordinary level of harvest off the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) of 

 Washington-bound coho. 



The current status of our coho stocks -- and the fisheries that depend upon them - only 

 confirms this critical negotiating objective as our priority. This summer's commercial and 

 recreational fisheries will be dramaticallv constramed. 



