U.S. and Canada Sign historic Salmon Agreement.

• Author: Pilkington, Steve
• Position: Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the signing of the Yukon River Salmon Agreement by representatives of the governments of Canada and the United States. This agreement is the product of 16 years of negotiations, and is intended to benefit salmon, and salmon users, along the 1,900 miles of the Yukon River.

Specifically, the agreement describes the rules that both countries will follow in their management of Canada-bound chinook and fall chum salmon. In addition, it establishes a Yukon River Salmon Restoration and Enhancement Fund, which will be used to support efforts to restore the health of Canadian-origin salmon stocks that are harvested in both U.S. and Canadian fisheries. A bilateral Yukon River Panel, established under the agreement, will have access to this fund ($1.2 million per year) to use for restoration and enhancement projects to be conducted on both sides of the border.

Under the new agreement, Alaska users will be allowed to take between 74 percent and 80 percent of the allowable catch of chinook (king)...