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Canadian Press Release

NR-HQ-99-29E
June 3, 1999


CANADA AND US REACH A COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT UNDER THE PACIFIC SALMON TREATY


OTTAWA -- David Anderson, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today
announced a comprehensive long-term agreement under the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST), signaling a cooperative,
conservation-based approach to the management of Pacific salmon fisheries, and a more equitable sharing of salmon catches
between Canada and the United States.

"Last year, in Canada, we adopted very tough conservation measures to put fish first in our own waters," said Minister Anderson.
"This new agreement with the United States builds on the same approach. Instead of fighting over a shrinking pie, we will now be
working together to conserve stocks. It’s a good deal because conservation will mean more fish in the future for everyone."

"Today’s agreement represents a real achievement in Canada-US relations, and demonstrates that with political will and commitment,
it is possible to resolve even the most difficult issue for the mutual benefit of both countries," said Minister Axworthy.

There are four elements to today’s coast-wide agreement under the Pacific Salmon Treaty:

Long-term fishing arrangements governing northern boundary fisheries, transboundary rivers, northern boundary coho,
southern coho, Fraser River sockeye and pink, chinook salmon coast-wide, and southern chum. These arrangements are all
for ten years except for Fraser River sockeye and pink which is a twelve-year arrangement. These arrangements are based on
a new, cooperative framework called abundance-based management that is more sensitive to conservation requirements than
previous bilateral approaches, and move more fish to Canada for both conservation and harvest;

Two new Pacific Salmon Treaty Endowment Funds totalling $CDN 209 million ($US 140 million). These funds, one in the
North and one for the South, will be administered jointly by both countries and funded by the US Government to invest in
habitat, stock enhancement, science and salmon management initiatives in both countries;
Strengthened institutional arrangements for cooperation among Canadian and US scientists and fisheries managers. This
includes elaboration of the rules and procedures for technical dispute resolution, a new bilateral Panel on Transboundary
Rivers and the addition of a Committee on Scientific Co-operation to advise the Pacific Salmon Commission;

A formal, joint commitment by both nations to protect and restore salmon habitat.

Pacific salmon stocks have declined precipitously in recent years as a result of unpredictable environmental conditions, poor ocean
survival, habitat degradation and over-fishing. In 1998, in response to declining salmon stocks, Canada adopted unprecedented
measures to protect Canadian coho. This approach included a complete closure of fisheries where stocks were threatened, and the
announcement of a five-year, $400 million comprehensive program to reduce Canada’s commercial fleet, restore and improve habitat
and to assist fishermen and communities adjust to the changing fishery.

Today’s agreement applies this same precautionary and conservation-based approach to fisheries covered under the Pacific Salmon
Treaty and reflects the objectives established by Canada during the resumption of this year’s efforts to reach an agreement. Canada’s
objectives were:

Long term, coast-wide, conservation-based fishing regimes that put fish first;
Movement of fish to Canada, reducing US interception of Canada-bound salmon, consistent with the recommendations of
David Strangway and William Ruckelshaus;
Improved co-operation with the US on science and management of Pacific salmon stocks.

"The Treaty signed in 1985 helped address a number of issues between Canada and the United States at a time when most salmon
populations were generally in good health," said Minister Anderson. "Our challenge in reaching new agreements has been to
modernize the Treaty so that it addresses today’s reality and reflects changed domestic priorities and national interests. These new
agreements achieve these goals."

"I congratulate the Canadian negotiator Don McRae, the American team, and science and fisheries managers from both countries for
their hard work in reaching an agreement which, in addition to balancing bilateral salmon harvests, will provide greater certainty in the
management of the Pacific salmon fishery, and ensure that the burdens and responsibilities of conservation are shared on both sides of
the border."

"I would like to express my special thanks to U.S. Secretary of State Albright for her personal commitment to make these
negotiations a success," said Minister Axworthy.

Today’s announcement ends eight years of uncertainty and risks to stock which have characterized this issue since the original fishing
arrangements expired, in 1992.

The agreement also concludes eighteen months of work to implement the recommendations of David Strangway and William
Ruckelshaus, provided to Prime Minister Chrétien and President Clinton in January 1998, on a new approach for advancing progress
under the Pacific Salmon Treaty.



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Backgrounders:

Announcement Highlights
Abundance-Based Management Regimes
Fraser River Sockeye and Pink Salmon
Coastwide Chinook
Northern Boundary Sockeye and Pink Fisheries
Northern Coho
Southern Coho
Southern Chum
Transboundary Rivers
Pacific Salmon Treaty Endowment Funds
Improved Science and Fisheries Management Arrangements
Habitat Protection and Restoration
A History of the Pacific Salmon Treaty
Implementing the Strangway-Ruckelshaus Report
Pacific Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Program

Statement:

Statement by the Honourable David Anderson on the Pacific Salmon Treaty



FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Velma McColl
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 619-4441 (cell)
(604) 666-6288 (office)