HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1997-063WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO-_1997 - 323
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To
Orig. Dept.: County Council
9/16/97
9/23/97
Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor:
Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT.-
Resolution encouraging agreement maintain equitable catch sharing and buy -out
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Related County Contract #: Should the Clerk schedule a hearing? (Y/N N Requested Date:
Resolution of the Whatcom County Council Encouraging an agreement to achieve and maintain equitable catch sharing and
encouraging a buy -out of the fishing permits in Washington State.
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
1997 - 323 9/23/97: Approved 7 - 0. Res. #97 -063
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
RfS - 0 '? 7-(�
1 permits.916 SPONSORED BY: T)nwcnn
2 PROPOSED BY: T)nwcnn
1 INTRODUCTION DATE: 9/23/97
2 RESOLUTION NO. 97 -063
3 RESOLUTION OF THE WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ENCOURAGING AN
4 AGREEMENT TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN EQUITABLE CATCH SHARING AND
5 ENCOURAGING A BUY -OUT OF THE FISHING PERMITS IN WASHINGTON STATE
6 WHEREAS, the commercial salmon industry injects millions of dollars into the State's
7 economy, Whatcom County being one of the main beneficiaries, and
8 WHEREAS, a fair and viable sockeye treaty with the Canadians is of great importance and
9 concern; and
10 WHEREAS, elected officials and the public must be educated and their support enlisted if
11 a sustainable commercial fishery with great economic benefits to our communities is to be retained;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, cutback and closures of salmon fisheries have been widespread, and severe
14 economic losses have occurred in fishing ports, and in businesses that serve the fishing community
15 at Bellingham, Blaine and Whatcom County; and
16 WHEREAS, the State of Washington and U.S. Senate and Congress are encouraged to
17 implement a buy -back of fishing permits, to aid distressed fishers and that the harvested catch not
18 be reduced proportional to the fleets reductions, and
19 WHEREAS, the United States /Canada Salmon Treaty was designed to protect and
20 EQUITABLY share each country's stocks of salmon; and
21 WHEREAS, negotiations of the current United States /Canada Salmon Treaty are at an
22 impasse; and
23 WHEREAS, continued overfishing may result in destruction of the stocks and bankruptcy
24 of the fishers and businesses that support them; and
25 WHEREAS, the right to catch an equitable percentage as stated in the 1985 United
26 States /Canada Salmon Treaty is imperative to the economic life of Puget Sound commercial fishers.
27 NOW, THEREFORE, the Whatcom County Council encourages Governor Gary Locke and
28 the U.S. Negotiators not to offer away valuable salmon in hopes of obtaining short term goals, which
29 would have a long term effect on the economy of our fishers and our local businesses.
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1 BE IT RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted to the
Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the Honorable Al Gore, Vice President of the
3 United States, Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the United
4 States Senate, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington, to Washington State
5 Governor Gary Locke, and to the State Department.
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APPROVED this 23 day of September, 1997.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Civil Deputy Prosecutor
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
. G%O Y, WASHINGTON
L. Ward Nelson, ouncil Chair