U.S. Rejects Canada’s Final Offer To End Salmon War Negotiators Say Provisions For Conserving Coho Inadequate

With the start of commercial salmon fishing season almost here, the United States told Canada on Wednesday that its final offer on how to divide Pacific salmon between the countries is unacceptable.

The State Department expressed dissatisfaction in a letter to Ottawa.

“It says we feel that we cannot accept the proposal Canada made because it fails the key tests we’re using, which is conserving coho and sustaining fisheries for both countries,” said Larry Rutter, a member of the U.S. negotiating team.

But Valerie Noftle, a Canadian Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, characterized the letter as “requesting clarification … on the Canadian proposal related to coho.”

It is the latest stalemate in negotiations to renew the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The pact, signed in 1985 and intended to be renewed annually, spells out how each country and Indian tribe will share and manage fish in the waters off Oregon, Washington, southeast Alaska and British Columbia.

The treaty has not been renewed with full agreement on management of fishing seasons since 1992. Each side claims the other takes a disproportionate share of the catch.

Rutter said no further face-to-face talks were scheduled - negotiations broke down Friday for the second time this year - though the two sides were still communicating by phone.

U.S. and Canadian fishermen said that barring an agreement, they will fish according to their own set harvest levels. Commercial fishing in Washington waters could start Monday if officials determine conditions are right.

The main sticking points this year have been fishing quotas for coho and Fraser River sockeye.