Haley Stevens: “today I urge the Senate to support the passage of S. 267, the Fisheries Act of 1995--what the Subcommittee on Oceans and…”

“today I urge the Senate to support the passage of S. 267, the Fisheries Act of 1995--what the Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries calls ``the international fish package.'' I introduced S. 267 on January 24, 1995. It was approved by the Commerce Committee in executive session on March 23, 1995 and reported to the full Senate on May 26, 1995. Senators Kerry, Gorton, Breaux, Packwood, Murkowski, and Murray join me as cosponsors to the bill. What I am presenting today with Senator Kerry is a bipartisan substitute to the reported bill, which includes additions and minor changes I will briefly address. We've added an important new section--title VII--to the bill that will implement the agreement reached between the United States and Canada on February 3, 1995 to conserve and manage Yukon River salmon stocks. This agreement and the necessary implementing legislation will help assure commercial and subsistence fishermen living along the Yukon River in both Alaska and Canada that our shared salmon resources are carefully managed and restored in the years ahead. I introduced the Yukon legislation (S. 662) on April 3, 1995. The committee received testimony on it at our Magnuson Act reauthorization field hearing in Seattle, WA, on March 18, 1995. The agreement requires the United States to pay $400,000 annually into a Yukon River restoration and enhancement fund for mutually beneficial salmon restoration and enhancement activities along the Yukon River.”