Tribal fisheries are based on sound science that puts a premium on getting enough fish back to the spawning grounds. Tribes operate their fisheries with significant time and place restrictions designed to protect weak wild stocks while allowing harvest opportunities on healthy stocks. Each treaty Indian tribe in western Washington typically maintains an individual fishery management staff that includes a fisheries manager. The manager oversees staff working in the areas of harvest management, enhancement, habitat protection and enforcement. A responsible treaty fishery is important to good salmon management and to the spirit of tribal fishing.
Law enforcement is a part of that.
If a tribal enforcement officer finds a tribal fisherman fishing in violation of tribal regulations, he is obligated to issue a citation or warning. If a citation is issued, the case is referred to tribal court. Uniformed tribal fisheries officers on Washington rivers provide a much-needed enforcement presence, particularly with a decrease in state enforcement due to budget shortfalls. On many rivers, tribal enforcement officers outnumber state officers. Tribal habitat staff are involved in issues ranging from forest practices to urban growth, and they conduct in-stream habitat improvement projects and restoration projects.