Protesting Fishermen Block Ferry From Dock Canadians Mad At State Of Alaska For Not Signing Fishing Agreement

Hundreds of Canadian fishing boats prevented an Alaskan ferry from docking Sunday, striking the first blow in a new fishing dispute between Canada and the United States.

Blowing their boats’ horns, the commercial fishermen prevented the Taku from docking to discharge passengers and pick up new ones for the voyage back to Ketchikan, Alaska, about 100 miles north.

The ferry stayed about 100 yards away from the dock.

The fishermen are angry over Alaska’s veto of a one-year fishing pact approved by Canada, Oregon and Washington, aimed at conserving dwindling stocks of West Coast salmon.

International maritime law prohibits intentionally impeding a vessel’s passage. But a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said there were no immediate plans to arrest the fishermen.

“I’m sure every operator of the fishing vessels here are aware of the marine law and what they are doing,” said Sgt. Randy Beck. “But due to the sheer volume, we are just keeping the peace at this point.”

Beck estimated 300 vessels were involved in the protest.

Canada’s fisheries minister, Brian Tobin, last week accused Alaska’s fishing industry of a “frenzy of greed,” and ordered unilateral reductions of up to 50 percent in Canada’s annual harvest of chinook and coho salmon.

Canada claims U.S. fishermen are catching about 6 million more salmon spawned in British Columbia than the Canadians take of U.S.-spawned salmon.

Talks on the one-year interim deal broke down after Alaska decided to let its fishermen take 230,000 chinook, 40 percent more than the level recommended by Canadian scientists.

The deal, which sets the number of fish to be caught by all parties, was intended to last until Canada and the United States could negotiate a more permanent agreement to replace one signed in 1985.

Alaskan Gov. Tony Knowles said in a Canadian TV interview Sunday that the state’s fishermen this year will take 175 million salmon, which he says represents a sustainable level of fishing.

Tobin has indicated Canada may take some action to put pressure on Alaska, but also has said he wants to avoid a major conflict with the United States.

Last year, in the absence of a salmon treaty, Tobin briefly imposed a $1,500 transit fee on U.S. trawlers seeking to pass through Canadian waters off British Columbia. The fee was later rescinded.

An Alaskan ferry spokesman said the demonstration caused a minor delay for the ferry, which planned to return to Ketchikan.

“This is not our issue,” Capt. Kelly Mitchell said from Juneau. “We’re a transportation company, not a fishing company.”