146 



18 



In recent years, the problem has been aggravated by large population increases and 

 changing environmental conditions affecting migratory patterns, salmon from both 

 countries have flooded into the Northern Boundary Area. More to the point, high 

 numbers of Canadian-origin sockeye are appearing in the Noyes Island fishery at a time 

 when southeastern Alaskan salmon production is at record levels~65 million salmon in 

 1993. Similarly, Canadian net and troll fisheries are harvesting ever-increasing catches of 

 Alaskan pink salmon, incidentally to increased harvests of Canadian fish. 



In the 1992/93 and 1993/94 negotiations, the Canadians again urged that the pink 

 fishery be managed to reduce interceptions of sockeye. In the 1 992/93 talks, the United 

 States noted that Canada had not addressed its massive interceptions of pink salmon 

 originating in Alaska, and no change was made to the management of the Noyes Island 

 pink salmon fishery. In the 1993/1994 negotiations, the U.S. offered a minor adjustment, 

 but Canada rejected the concession as being wholly inadequate. 



There is, in my opinion, no justification in the Treaty or the MOU for any 

 substantial concession by the United States on this issue in future negotiations. We should 

 stand by the reasoning set forth in the Letter of Submittal, and thus continue to rely on our 

 correct interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Treaty. 



Closing Observations 



I have pointed out that, in the negotiations that led to the conclusion of the 

 Treaty, the United States agreed to trade a portion of the Fraser River salmon for a 

 reduction in the Canadian catch of U.S. coho Again, in the 1992/93 and 1993/94 

 negotiations, the U.S. adopted this approach. 



