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taxpaying public and too often ignored because it is indirect. But it is very 

 real, very expensive and very tragic. It is also avoidable. 



The commercial salmon fishing industry has never been politically 

 powerful or well organized. Sahnon-dependent commimities are often small 

 in population and removed fi-om larger population centers. But there is no 

 reason the commercial salmon fishing industry cannot continue to contribute 

 significantly to the economic vitality of the Northwest region and continue to 

 provide an important and healthy food source for millions of American citizens 

 and their families. If we continue to ignore the importance of responsible 

 stewardship of our public lands, one of our most valuable and cherished 

 natiural resources vdll soon disappear. Biologists are imanimous in recognizing 

 the importance of naturally spav^ming salmon to the health of the resource. 

 The genetic diversity upon which salmon survival depends is, in turn, 

 dependent upon the preservation and restoration of diverse spawning habitat 

 on public lands. 



Those lands can continue to be managed for multiple use. Those lands 

 can continue to provide substantial economic benefits to core industries. But 

 our public lands must also provide adequate protection of salmon spawning 

 habitat. 



The salmon crisis in the Northwest occurred primarily because public 

 land management is out of balance and has been for too long. The time to 

 redress that imbalance is now. Congressional oversight of public land 

 management is an enormous responsibility. To discharge that responsibility 

 fairly, prudently and zealously requires great political will and courage. It 

 requires saying "No" to powerful special interests and inflicting some 

 additional pain on an already depressed timber industry. But the salmon 

 fishing industry will also continue to pay a huge price during the transitional 

 process. These changes and the dividends they bring cannot occur overnight. 

 If the cost of this investment seems high to some, however, I submit the 

 payoffs are far greater: 



Predictability in industries that have experienced only chaos; 



Sustainable harvest levels to ensure long-term economic viability 

 for industry and resource dependent commimities; 



