Treaty Rights as an Effective Integrating Mechanism for Ocean and River Fisheries Management

The Columbia River Tribes fished sustainably for millennia. The Tribes signed Treaties with United States government in 1855. Human impacts, including fishing in the river and ocean, adversely affected Columbia River salmon populations. Starting in the late 1960s, the Tribes used court adjudicated fishing rights to realize changes in fishery management. Advances in stock identification methods allowed connections to be made between Columbia River and ocean fisheries. The Tribes became active participants in fishery management fora from Alaska to the Columbia River headwaters. Realizing salmon recovery requires a holistic life cycle approach, the Tribes developed their own restoration plan, Wy-Kan-Ush-Mi Wa-Kish-Wit, in 1995. In addition to harvest controls, the plan recommends improvements in habitat management, hatchery management and water management. Restoration of salmon populations will bring back marine nutrients essential for improved and sustainable ecosystem function. Renegotiation of three key management agreements in 2017-2018 and the Columbia River Treaty will shape the future of Columbia River salmon. Integrated management approaches across the life cycle of the salmon create opportunities to address future challenges, such as climate change, and maintain sustainable populations that benefit fishing communities and the ecosystem.