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WRTITEN TESTIMONfY FOR THE 



HOUSE MERCHANT MARINE AND HSHERIES COMMITTEE 



REGARDING 



THE PACinC SALMON TREATY 



by 



Jev Shelton 



Alaska Alternate Commissioner 



Pacific Salmon Commission 



August 2, 1994 



Dear Chairmen: 



My name is Jev Shelton. I own and operate the fishing vessel 'Kirsten 

 Anna' and am now the alternate Alaskan Commissioner for the Pacific 

 Salmon Conmiission. I have resided in Juneau, Alaska for 24 years, and 

 have fished conmiercially in Alaska waters for 23 years. Prior to that time 

 I fished as a crewman for eleven seasons in the State of Washington. My 

 involvement with Pacific Salmon Treaty issues dates from 1974. I 

 participated in all subsequent negotiations through the conclusion of the 

 Treaty in 1985. In recent years I have been a member of the Treaty's 

 Northern Panel and have served as Vice-chair and Co-chair in that body. I 

 appreciate the opportunity to provide testimony on an issue as important 

 to Alaskan fishermen as the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Unfortunately, this 

 Committee hearing is being held in the height of the salmon fishing season, 

 and therefore 1 have had limited time to develop full statements on the 

 issues posed by the Committee. 



ALASKA FISHERMEN'S TREATY PERSPECTIVE 



The Pacific Salmon Treaty of 1985 (hereinafter referred to as Treaty) 

 evolved over many years of negotiations and political posturing, and thus 

 was and is surrounded by a complex of impressions and even myths. But 

 its simple, fundamental rationale should not be lost to sight. Many, 

 probably most stocks of Pacific salmon are produced jointly by the U.S. and 

 Canada. That is, those salmon stocks in their intricate natural life cycles 

 utilize marine habitat off both countries and frequently are available for 

 harvests by the fleets of each nation. The straightforward, practical need 

 to cooperate in order to protect and foster the valuable resource 

 represented by these stocks motivated the consummation of the Treaty as 



