The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Role in Salmon Fisheries

Because of concerns about overfishing, the Fishery Conservation and Management Act extended U.S. jurisdiction to 200 miles off its coasts and imposed on fishermen responsibilities for conserving and using fishery resources within the 200-mile zone. The act established eight regional fishery management councils to perform certain duties, including preparing management plans. The 1977 and 1978 plans developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council have objectives of maintaining optimum spawning stock escapements, helping fulfill Indian treaty obligations, and providing all ocean and inland water fisheries the continuing opportunity to harvest salmon. The act requires an increase in the use of economic, social, and ecological factors in the plans in addition to traditional biological considerations.