16 U.S.C. § 3301 : US Code - Section 3301: Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

Search 16 U.S.C. § 3301 : US Code - Section 3301: Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

(a) The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) The stocks of salmon and steelhead which originate in the
rivers of the conservation areas constitute valuable and
renewable natural resources. Many groups of commercial,
recreational, and treaty fishermen have historically depended
upon these stocks of fish for their livelihoods and avocations.
These fishery resources contribute to the food supply and
economic health of the Pacific Northwest and the Nation as a
whole, provide valuable recreational experiences for thousands of
citizens from various parts of the United States and represent a
central element of the cultures and economies of Indian tribes
and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest.
(2) Over a period of several decades, competing uses of salmon
and steelhead habitat and historical problems relating to
conservation measures, the regulation of harvest and enhancement
have depressed several of these stocks of salmon and steelhead.
(3) Improved management and enhancement planning and
coordination among salmon and steelhead managers will help
prevent a further decline of salmon and steelhead stocks and will
assist in increasing the supply of these stocks.
(4) Due in principal part to the Federal court decisions in the
United States against Washington and Sohappy against Smith, the
fishing capacity of nontreaty fishermen in the conservation areas
established by this chapter exceeds that required to harvest the
available salmon resources. This excess capacity causes severe
economic problems for these fishermen.
(5) The supply of salmon and steelhead can be increased through
carefully planned enhancement measures designed to improve the
survival of stocks and to augment the production of artificially
propagated stocks. By careful choice of species, areas, and
stocking procedures, enhancement programs can be used to -
(A) improve the distribution of fish among different groups
of treaty and nontreaty fishermen; and
(B) add stability to the treaty and nontreaty fisheries by
reducing variations in fish availability.
(b) In order to assist the harvesters of the salmon and steelhead
resources within the Columbia River conservation area and the
Washington conservation area established by this chapter to
overcome temporary dislocations arising from the decisions in the
cases of United States against Washington and Sohappy against Smith
and from other causes, this chapter authorizes the establishment of
a cooperative program involving the United States, the States of
Washington and Oregon, the treaty tribes acting through the
appropriate tribal coordinating bodies, and other parties, to -
(1) encourage stability in and promote the economic well being
of the treaty and nontreaty commercial fishing and charter
fishing industries and improve the distribution of fishing power
between treaty and nontreaty fisheries through -
(A) the purchase of nontreaty commercial and charter fishing
vessels, gear, and licenses; and
(B) coordinated research, enhancement, and management of
salmon and steelhead resources and habitat; and
(2) improve the quality of, and maintain the opportunities for,
salmon and steelhead recreational fishing.