99 



STATE Of WASHINGTON 



OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 



l>.0. Bo* 40002 • Olvmpu. Wtsiiinwtoit 98504-0002 * i206> 753-6780 



February 9, 1993 



The Honorable Tom Foley 

 United States Representative 

 Speaicer of the House 

 1201 Longwonh House Office Building 

 Washington, D.C 20515 



Dearjr)?^A^ 



The critical finai negotiating session for 1993 of the Pacific Salmon Commission begins 

 this week in Bellevue. I warn to let you know my view of the status of these negotiations 

 in anticipation of the outcome later this month. 



At the outset, I want to thank you for your interest in ±ese negotiations and your 

 continued, close communicanon with state and tribal officials. I urge your continued 

 suppon of efforts to substantially reduce the harvest of Washington-bound coho and 

 Chinook salmon off the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI). The constraints we 

 currently must place on Washington's fisheries to meet our conservation objectives for 

 Chinook and coho as a result of the WCVI harvest are unacceptable. 



I am pleased that the entire US. Secdon of the Padnc Salmon Commission now 

 supports the objective of WCVI harvest reducnons. I am concerned, however, that some 

 factions of the U.S. Section recognize the need for the reductions but are unwilling to 

 discuss several realistic opuons to achieve them. 



Realistic options appear in four categories. In its position. Canada has made it clear 

 that it has serious concerns about fisheries in Alaska which intercept Washington-bound 

 and/or Canadian-boimd fish. We also know that Canada has been seeking for years to 

 have a more meaningful discussion about the so-cailed equity provisions in the Treaty. 

 Third, we strongly suspea that Canada would entertain discussions which link the UJS. 

 commercial harvest of the sockeye and pink salmon from Canada's Fraser River to 

 WCVI reducnons. Finally, we may be able to develop some other intangible, yet-to-be- 

 defined proposal that might gain Canada's agreement to reduce its harvest of 

 Washington-bound chinook and coho. 



The Treaty's implementing legislation does not allow the voong commissioners 

 representing the State of Washington and the treaty Indian tribes to proceed with 

 negotiations without the concurrence of the commissioner representing Alaska. While I 



