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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, visited
Washington, D.C., July 23, 1997, to discuss problems related to Pacific salmon and
the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
The Pacific Salmon Treaty is intended to provide a framework for Canada and the
U.S. to conserve and manage Pacific salmon stocks. However, the Treaty is not
functioning properly, in large part because the parties disagree on the
interpretation and implementation of its principles. Negotiations have thus far
been unsuccessful. Both parties agree that the stakeholder process is essential to
resolving our differences.
Canada and the U.S. have decided to appoint two prominent citizens, one Canadian
and the other American, who will report to the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada, and to the President and
Secretary of State in the United States, to undertake an effort, through
consultation with all interested parties, to find the most effective way to
reinvigorate the stakeholder process. The goal of the stakeholder process is to
resolve the differences over the interpretation and implementation of the
objectives of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The two representatives will act as a
resource to the stakeholders in that process and report periodically to the
Ministers and the Secretary of State. The objective is to move this process
quickly enough to make a positive difference in the 1998 salmon fishing season.
Canada and the U.S. have also agreed to open a channel between senior fisheries
officials to provide early warning of operational problems between our respective
fishing interests.
