Ferry Blockade May Spur Salmon Pact, Daley Says

Wed., Aug. 6, 1997

Associated Press

The Canadian blockade of an Alaskan ferry may actually help settle the salmon war between the United States and Canada, the U.S. secretary of commerce suggested.

“Maybe the activities that have occurred have gotten everyone to the point of a different attitude,” William Daley said after a speech Monday to the Montreal Board of Trade.

Fishermen in British Columbia blockaded the ferry Malaspina last month for three days after they accused Alaskans of catching too many Canada-bound sockeye.

“I am not saying those actions were positive and that they should have occurred,” Daley said.

But he added that it seems to have “jump-started the negotiations” to renew the Pacific Salmon Treaty, which governs salmon harvests in waters off Washington, Oregon, Alaska and British Columbia.

He noted the actions led to both governments appointing special envoys to resolve the diplomatic deadlock over the salmon catch.

Daley was in Montreal on the first leg of a trade mission to Canada. He will visit Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver later this week.

Daley stressed the positive aspects of trade between the two countries - $370 billion last year - and said the salmon dispute won’t jeopardize that.

“We have lots of issues that rise up and become problems, but none of which go to the heart of our relationship,” he said.

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