 Murkowski Calls For International Effort On Farmed Salmon News Release
In his letter, announced during his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature in Juneau, Murkowski noted that farming of Atlantic salmon, while illegal in Alaska, is a thriving business in southern British Columbia. Murkowski also observed that the Provincial government recently lifted a moratorium that had prevented the farmed salmon business from expanding northward toward the Alaska border. Murkowski cited a number of reasons for concern, including possible water pollution and disease, but especially the danger that Atlantic salmon, a non-native species, will become established in the North Pacific. Murkowski called for a new Annex to the Pacific Salmon Treaty to establish "a mutually agreed upon framework for the control of further migration of Atlantic salmon into the habitat of native species" and to address disease and pollution issues. "This is not an unwarranted fear," Murkowski wrote. "Fish farms on the British Columbia coast have been plagued by mass escapes due to weather, marine animals, and other factors including vandalism, resulting in the inadvertent release of millions of fish. "Not only are these fish turning up in ever-growing numbers in commercial and sport fisheries regulated under the Pacific Salmon Treaty, they are also being observed spawning, or attempting to spawn, in local streams." Murkowski told the Secretary of State that many observers believe it is only a matter of time before Atlantic salmon populations become established. "If they do," Murkowski wrote, "they will pose a grave danger to the five native species through predation, competition, displacement and increased risk of disease." Murkowski, an observer and participant in the process since the treaty was signed in 1985, noted that the current treaty addresses only the conservation of the five native Pacific salmon species. In addition, the treaty has had a troubled history; its required annual decision-making process broke down in 1992 and the treaty, itself, was significantly amended in 1998. "That being the case, I am reluctant to propose anything that may further complicate this important U.S.-Canadian relationship. Unfortunately, I feel there is no other alternative," Murkowski wrote, adding that he does not wish to interfere in the internal matters of another nation. "This matter, unfortunately, is not a strictly internal affair," Murkowski wrote.
Attachment: Letter to Secretary Powell February 15, 2002 The Honorable Colin L. Powell Dear Mr. Secretary: I write to seek your assistance on a matter of grave importance to U.S.- Canadian relations generally and to my State of Alaska especially. As you know, the Pacific Salmon Treaty is a bilateral agreement dating to 1985, which commits both countries to the conservation of the five Pacific salmon species, and to mutually agreed programs for ensuring these resources are utilized responsibly by both parties. For the reasons discussed below, I believe it is imperative that we move toward the establishment of a new Annex to the existing treaty. In President Ronald Reagan's letter of transmittal to the U.S. Senate, dated February 12, 1985, the President described it as a basis for "bilateral cooperation in salmon management, research and enhancement." The preceding letter of submittal to the White House from the Department of State (Feb. 4, 1985) notes that "Pacific salmon is one of the most valued resources of the Northwest, prized by fishermen of both countries. Effective salmon management requires international cooperation. Conservation of salmon resources requires coordination among all management regimes which affect stocks throughout their migratory range. both Parties must share responsibility for the development and preservation of the salmon stocks..." The Pacific Salmon Treaty was not easy to achieve. It took 14 years of difficult negotiations before it was signed. Nor has it been easy to maintain. The annual decision making process it required broke down in 1992, and was not fully restored until the treaty was significantly amended in 1999. As an observer and participant in discussions throughout the period, I can personally attest to the difficulty of the issues and the depth of relief when the changes were finalized. That being the case, I am reluctant to propose anything that may further complicate this important U.S.-Canadian relationship. Unfortunately, I feel there is no other alternative. In recent years, British Columbia business interests have developed a very substantial salmon farming industry based on Atlantic salmon, due to the ease of raising that species in marine pens sited along the coast. As with salmon farming elsewhere, the development of these farms has generated significant controversy. I do not believe in interfering in the internal affairs of another nation, but this matter, unfortunately, is not a strictly internal affair. The farming of Atlantic salmon has been largely concentrated in the southern portion of British Columbia. Even so, it has generated a great deal of criticism internally from fishermen, environmental organizations and others. Indeed, it was controversial enough for the Provincial government to adopt a moratorium on new farming operations. That moratorium was lifted last month, despite the fact that many of the recommendations made by a provincial task force for safe, environmentally sound aquaculture have not been addressed. It also appears likely that renewed expansion of this industry is likely to be focused in northern British Columbia, closest to the Alaska border. All this has given rise to great concern in Alaska over the potential impact expansion may have on the conservation of the five native salmon species which are the subject of the current treaty. There are a number of valid reasons to be concerned, including pollution of coastal waters from unused food and fish wastes, the possibility of transmitting diseases to native species, and the possibility that antibiotic use in farmed fish will lead to more forms of various disease-causing organisms. However, by far the most serious danger is that Atlantic salmon, a non-native species on the West Coast, will become established in the region's streams. This is not an unwarranted fear. Fish farms on the British Columbia coast have been plagued by mass escapes due to weather, marine mammals and other factors including vandalism, resulting in the inadvertent release of millions of fish. Not only are these fish turning up in ever-growing numbers in commercial and sport fisheries regulated under the Pacific Salmon Treaty, they are also being observed spawning, or attempting to spawn, in local streams. I, along with many other observers, believe it is only a matter of time before Atlantic salmon populations become established. If they do, they will pose a grave danger to the five native species through predation, competition, displacement and increased risk of disease. The Pacific Salmon Treaty, while committing both Parties to the conservation of the five native Pacific species, is restricted in its application to solely those five species. The presence of a 6th species, artificially (albeit accidentally) introduced into the habitat of the native species, poses a very serious threat to the ability of both countries to satisfy the treaty commitment to the conservation of the original five species. For that reason, I believe it is imperative for the United States to convey its deep concern to the Government of Canada as soon as possible, and to request, in the strongest possible manner, that the Parties immediate begin negotiations toward the establishment of a new Annex to the existing treaty. The new Annex should be directed at establishing a mutually agreed framework for the control of further migration of Atlantic salmon into the habitat of the native species, at developing mechanisms to ensure that the treaty's intended purpose of conserving native fish populations is not imperiled by the internal activities of either party, and at establishing a method to determine appropriate reparations for any damage that may already have occurred, or may occur in the future. I further suggest that this be presented to the U.S. Section of the Pacific Salmon Commission as a priority item for its consideration and action, as initial substantive discussions should certainly begin in that forum. Thank you for your consideration of this very immediate threat to our valuable resources, to our close relationship with our close friends and neighbors in Canada, and to the integrity of our current salmon treaty. I look forward to receiving your response. Sincerely, Frank H. Murkowski United States Senator
Source of News Release: Office of Senator Murkowski
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