10 - Wednesday, June 16, 1999 - North Shore News More Fish for Canada ’s Future Canada and the United States have reached a comprehensive agreement under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. it’s the first long-term agreement in seven years, and it’s important news for all those who care about the salmon. .What is the Pacific Salmon Treaty? - The Treaty is an international agreement setting out tules and catch shares for 14 separate fisheries of five ’ salmon species in the waters off British Columbia, Oregon, Washington State, and southeast Alaska. - Pacific salmon hatch in rivers all along Canada and the United States, then migrate thousands of kilome- tres through the ocean. As they return to their rivers _of origin, they swim through the waters of both nations. Fishing fleets in each country have always intercepted salmon heading for rivers in the other country. This is exactly the reason for adopting the Treaty in 1985. The Treaty i is based on the two principles of conservation and equity. ‘Disagreements over their interpretation have prevented re-negotiation of detailed catch shar- ing arrangements under the Treaty since they expired -in 1992. . The New Agreement: Conservation benefits New, fishing arrangements use Abundance Based . Management, which is more sensitive to the health of the stocks than previous.quota systems. . ‘Alaska and Washington State fizheries will pass more “ of the ‘weaker: chinook:and coho stocks through. to.. ‘their spawning. grounds i in Canada. The agreement , ‘includes the first. ever restrictions on southeast Alaska : fisheries that will protect northern coho when abun- ‘dance is low. ’. + Canada and the United States will jointly administer ". two Endowment Funds totalling $209 million, for » Salmon conservation initiatives in habitat, marine sci- -ence and stock riianagement. The money will be pro- vided by the US, and spent in both countries. + Cooperation among scientists and local officials from . both countries will be improved through several new. joint comnnittees. . - The two countries have added to the Treaty a commit- ‘ment to restore and protect salmon habitat. The New Agreement: More fish for Canada - For sockeye, pink and chum salmon fisheries, where stocks are in relatively good health, all the new fish- ing arrangements will restrict US interceptions, or ; increase Canadian catch. - For the prized Fraser River sockeye salmon, the new agreement restricts the US to a share of 16.5%. This is ° down from last year’s agreed share of 24.9%, and an " average of 20.5% between 1985 and 1996. This. means that Canadian fishermen would have caught 4.1 million more sockeye had the new provisions been in place since 1985. re « Alaska will reduce its chinook harvest when abundance is lew. For example, in 1996, Canada’s chinook fisheries had . io be closed because of low abundance and interceptions by Alaska. Had the new arrangements been in place, Canadian fishermen would have been able to catch chinook. ‘What the New Agreement means for Canada - More fish for Canada rneans larger harvests when stocks are healthy, and more salmon-returning to spawning beds when stocks are weak. - The agreement means Canadians and Americans . will share the burden of tough conservation measures . more equitably. ’ + The agreement will allow earlier. announcement of annual fishing plans, and greater stability and certain- ty of fishing opportunity for all industry sectors and West Coast fishing communities. - Strict conservation’ measures remain necessary, but the 1999 agreement means the US complements Canadian efforts, and this improves the chances of rebuilding - ¥ salmon stocks. . ” ae “Last year we adopted very tough conservation measures to put the fi sh first in our own waters. The new agreement with the United States bitilds on the same approach. Instead of fighting over a shrinking pie, we will now e be working together to conserve and rebuild salmon stocks. [t's.a good . deal because conservation will mean more fish for Canada’s future.” eee David Andersoit, Minister of Fiskeries and Oceans > _ Get the facts. For more details on the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement visit our website, www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca, — ’ or call toll-free 1- 800-OCANADA G-800- 622-6232}. 1 Fisheries and. Oceans Péches et Océans Canada + Gan ada