Yukon River Panel

The 1985 Pacific Salmon Treaty included commitments by the Parties to further negotiate on Yukon River salmon. Seventeen years later, the Yukon River Salmon Agreement establishing the Yukon River Panel and its Joint Technical Committee was recognized in an exchange of notes by both the United States and Canada on December 4, 2002. The Agreement now forms Chapter 8 of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (1985).

In a departure from other Panel arrangements, the Agreement assigns many functions and responsibilities of the Pacific Salmon Commission directly to the Yukon River Panel itself. Further, in the event the Pacific Salmon Treaty is ever terminated, the Agreement can stand on its own under the name Yukon River Salmon Treaty with the functions of the Panel to be assumed by a new commission referred to as the Yukon River Salmon Commission.

The Yukon River Panel’s main responsibilities, pertaining to Yukon River salmon stocks of Canadian-origin, are to:

• • Develop and implement agreed research and management programs;
  • Make annual recommendations to the respective responsible management agencies of both countries concerning conservation and management coordination;
  • Set and adjust annual salmon spawning escapement objectives, if necessary, based on pre-season projections, stock status and recommendations from the JTC; and
  • Oversee the use and administration of the Restoration and Enhancement Fund.