not and must not await such a strategy. In fact, many elements of reformed basin 

 governance can be made at once with little or no legislative action. By initiating these 

 reforms in the short term the region can lay the groundwork for and test the efficacy of a 

 long-term strategy. 



VI. Action Strategies 



A. Short Term 



Short-term strategies are now available to the Council, to Congress, and to the 

 sovereigns in the region. There was a consensus among the workshop participants that 

 several measures can and should be pursued at once. They may be precursors for longer 

 range changes, some of which may require broad federal legislation. Some can be 

 effected by administrative decisions of the Council; others are possible with cooperative 

 efforts among the sovereigns in the region; a few federal measures may be accomplished 

 with an Executive Order, perhaps modest legislative changes would be desirable. The 

 Council can take leadership in pursuing and promoting all of these short term strategies. 



• Bring Together Sovereigns to Coordinate Fish and Wildlife Governance. 



Sovereigns could be convened to achieve coordination of technical and policy 

 aspects of fish and wildlife governance. The fact that sovereigns will come to the table 

 with different legal authorities and responsibilities poses a special challenge, especially in 

 light of the Endangered Species Act. The National Marine Fisheries Service in particular 

 must seek ways in which its primary responsibilities under the Act can be satisfied 

 consistent with the region's need for collaborative decision making. A technical panel 

 should review current recovery plans, identify points on which there is agreement or 

 disagreement, and develop a process aimed at agreement on a single, coordinated plan. 

 Final decisions on a single plan, as well as resolution of substantial differences could be 

 refered to a multi- sovereign policy level panel. This policy level panel could also be 

 used to consider other elements of a short-term strategy. It would help to have a 

 Canadian representative attend both the technical and policy- setting groups. The 

 sovereigns could also explore broader participation in governance, such as altering the 

 composition of the Council (or other governing body), which would require a change in 

 statute. 



• A System for Resolving Disputes Concerning Technical Matters and Program 

 Implementation Could Be Established. 



Technical disputes could be addressed by setting up peer review panels. The 

 Council and other sovereigns could also agree to establish a mediator, special master or 

 an administrative law judge to evaluate technical issues in light of governing law and 

 policy. Such a judge could recommend decisions to the Council and other sovereigns as 

 they take a more active role in coordinating implementation efforts. It may require an 

 Executive Order for federal agencies to accept this approach. 



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