[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4875-S4876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 227--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
  POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE 19TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NORTH 
               ATLANTIC SALMON CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION

  Ms. SNOWE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

                              S. Res. 277

       Whereas wild Atlantic salmon of both European stocks and 
     those originating in North American rivers have experienced a 
     sharp decline in numbers in recent years;
       Whereas the return of these wild Atlantic salmon to the 
     rivers of United States and Canada to spawn is necessary to 
     continue the species' survival;
       Whereas the United States is deeply concerned about the 
     status of the last remaining stocks of wild Atlantic salmon 
     returning to United States rivers and is committed to their 
     protection and recovery;
       Whereas this situation is so serious that the United States 
     has closed all its Atlantic salmon fisheries and taken the 
     critical step of listing populations of Atlantic salmon as 
     endangered under the United States Endangered Species Act;
       Whereas salmon originating in the State of Maine and in 
     other New England salmon rivers migrate to the waters west of 
     Greenland to feed where they can be subject to commercial 
     harvest;
       Whereas Atlantic salmon migrate throughout the Northern 
     Atlantic and international cooperation is required to 
     successfully conserve and protect these stocks;
       Whereas scientific research and sampling programs to 
     determine the origin of harvested Atlantic salmon are 
     critical and necessary to better understanding and protecting 
     the stocks;
       Whereas in 1982 seven nations of the world adopted the 
     Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North 
     Atlantic which created the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation 
     Organization to promote conservation, restoration, 
     enhancement, and rational management of salmon stocks in the 
     North Atlantic through international cooperation;
       Whereas the United States cannot solve the difficulties 
     facing United States origin salmon alone and the assistance 
     of all Convention member nations is needed: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) at the 19th Annual Meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon 
     Conservation Organization the United States should--
       (A) advocate the use of science in making Atlantic salmon 
     resource decisions and ensure that any quota setting formula 
     provides adequate protection to those stocks originating in 
     the United States, Canada, and southern Europe that are now 
     at considerable risk of extinction;
       (B) remain firmly opposed to commercial intercept fishing 
     which takes wild Atlantic Salmon of North American origin;
       (C) support opportunities to create long-term conservation 
     agreements with other Convention member nations;
       (D) support adoption of a long-term rebuilding goal and 
     develop a plan for the recovery of North American salmon;
       (E) advocate the use of sampling programs by all nations to 
     determine the origin of harvested salmon; and
       (2) the United States should make full use of all 
     appropriate diplomatic mechanisms, relevant international 
     laws and agreements, and other appropriate mechanisms to 
     implement the goals set forth in subparagraph (A) through (E) 
     of paragraph (1).

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the policy of the United 
States at the 19th Annual Meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon 
Conservation Organization, NASCO.
  I am introducing this resolution today as our delegates prepare for 
the upcoming NASCO meeting in Torshvn, Faroe Islands which begins on 
June 3, 2002. At this meeting NASCO will set the annual allocation of 
commercial Atlantic salmon quotas and debate numerous issues related to 
protecting Atlantic salmon. NASCO is the international body which 
manages Atlantic salmon stocks and sets the annual allocation of 
commercial Atlantic salmon quotas. As such, the effective management of 
Atlantic salmon requires the cooperation of the member nations in this 
voluntary regime. Unfortunately, several member nations routinely take 
actions that undermine these efforts.
  Salmon originating in the rivers of Maine and the other New England 
states migrate to feed in the waters west of Greenland where they are 
subject to harvest in the West Greenland salmon fishery. Scientific 
analysis indicates that 66 percent of the fish caught in West 
Greenland's fishery comes from North American stocks. A significant 
amount of these fish are believed to be of U.S. origin. These harvested 
fish directly affect the rebuilding programs in Maine and the rest of 
New England.
  Protecting the stocks of Atlantic salmon is an ongoing issue which 
has state, national, and international components. The situation is so 
serious in the United States that we have closed all U.S. Atlantic 
salmon fisheries and have taken the critical step of listing 
populations of Atlantic salmon as endangered under the U S. Endangered 
Species Act. At the state and national level, Maine and the other New 
England states have taken significant steps at great cost to protect 
the spawning habitats of Atlantic salmon, but these efforts alone will 
not protect the Atlantic salmon. The biggest threat to the success of 
the salmon recovery plans is not having fish available to return to 
these improved habitats. The U.S. should continue to support a zero 
commercial mortality limit until these stocks can be rebuilt. This is a 
necessary step toward rebuilding the salmon population in our rivers.
  This resolution expresses the Senate's belief that the United States 
remain firmly opposed to commercial intercept fishing which takes wild 
Atlantic salmon, advocate the use of science in making international 
Atlantic salmon resource decisions, support adoption of a long-term 
rebuilding goal, develop a plan for the recovery of North American 
salmon, and advocate the use of sampling programs by all nations to 
determine the origin of harvested salmon.

[[Page S4876]]

  As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, and 
Fisheries, I am dedicated to protecting Atlantic salmon. This 
resolution is a critical step in ensuring that the international 
management plan approved by NASCO will compliment the efforts that we 
have made at the state and national level to protect critical Atlantic 
salmon habitats. I urge my colleagues to join me and support this 
resolution.

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