Organizational Structure
The Pacific Salmon Commission is a sixteen-person body made up of four Commissioners and four alternates from each country, the United States and Canada, who represent the interests of commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, the conservation community, as well as federal, state, and tribal governments.
There are also five regional Panels, four of which report to the Commission. The Commission and the Panels carry out their responsibilities aided by scientific advice provided by a number of bilateral Technical Committees.
The Commission’s work is administered through a Secretariat head office located in Vancouver, Canada. The 30 Secretariat staff members include administrative and scientific professionals who facilitate meetings, provide scientific assessments, run field programs and maintain extensive archives dating back to the early 20th century.
Organization Chart
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Commissioners
The Commission is made up of eight Commissioners, and eight alternates, from both the United States and Canada as the principle deliberative body. Four Commissioners and four alternates are appointed by the Government of the U.S., and four Commissioners and four alternates are appointed by the Government of Canada by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
The Chair and Vice-Chair responsibilities alternate between the two countries each year. Each country has one vote in the Commission. The agreement of both is required for any recommendation or decision by the Commission. The decisions of the Commissioners are aided by the efforts of the Panels and Committees.
National Correspondents
Each Party (i.e., the four Commissioners and four alternates of each country) has one National Correspondent who is the primary day to day contact between the Executive Secretary (the head of the Secretariat office located in Vancouver, B.C.) and the respective Parties.
In general, the National Correspondents are responsible for coordinating the flow of information to and from the Commission. Their responsibilities include day to day correspondence, relaying membership information and data requests, tracking financial information, and coordinating the various reports necessary for the respective Party to meet their Treaty obligations. The National Correspondents liaise with the Executive Secretary on a regular basis.
Panels
The Treaty allows for five geographically oriented Panels to provide advice on the conservation and management of selected stocks.
Committees
The Commission and Panels carry out their responsibilities aided by scientific advice provided by a number of bilateral Committees.
Northern and Southern Funds
The Funds were created by agreement between the United States and Canadian governments in 1999.
Secretariat Staff
The Commission receives administrative and scientific support from its Secretariat staff, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada and overseen by an Executive Secretary.