This agreement falls within the mid-range of actual percentage shares and catches taken by U.S. fisheries since 1985, when the Treaty was signed. Today's announcement follows agreement on interim arrangements on southern coho and chinook fisheries announced by Mr. Anderson and Washington Governor, Gary Locke, on June 26. It concludes this year's interim arrangements on southern fisheries. They told us that harvest rules must be set and enforced if fish are to have a chance of survival and that governments must ensure that interim fishing arrangements are adopted. I am very pleased to be able to say today that this is what we have accomplished for the southern salmon stocks.
Discussions continue on northern salmon stocks.
In keeping with recommendations in the Strangway-Ruckelshaus report, negotiations for longer term arrangements and interpretation of the Article III principles on conservation and equity will follow agreement on interim arrangements. Interim arrangements do not prejudice the outcome of longer term negotiations.