U.S. stand stalemating treaty
CQNTiNUgP FROM PAGET efits and burdens" of salmon originating in northern B.C. rivers — it intercepts salmon whether Skeena or Nass River runs are strong or weak. The southeast Alaska sockeye fisheries have been increasing steadily. In 1992, southeast Alaska fishers harvested 2.7 million sockeye, the bulk of them of Canadian origin.
To justify those overages, the U.S. complains of Cana-
da's alleged excesses in its Area 3 pink fisheries. If Canada exceeds the 0.9 million average of pinks in the northeast boundary area, it is because of the enormous increase in pink salmon in the northern boundary rivers. To fish to the 0.9 million average figure would result in a wasteful and perhaps even harmful escapement of pinks to the Nass and Skeena rivers. Canada ought not to be sub-
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jected to bargaining leverage extracted from inappropriate and outdated treaty language.
The U.S. raises the question of Portland Canal chums and seeks help for these depressed stocks. But southeast Alaska fisheries harvested about 2.3 million chums in 1992 and of this number, 668,000 were taken in south-southeast Alaska. Resolution of the Portland Canal chum
problem begins with the U.S. domestic fishers.
The negotiation of these difficult issues seems to be at an impasse. With any luck, the process can result in renewal on an equitable basis of the chapters of the treaty.
However, neither party should expect to stray too far from the principles of the treaty if the process is to work in the interests of both coun-
tries. Canada can only back up so far before the treaty becomes valueless.
A fish war is not a desirable alternative but neither is a surrender of the treaty's principles.
Government-to-government talks have been continuing. But if the Commission-Panel is pre empted by government intervention, then the survival of the Pacific Salmon Treaty is tenuous at best
Nichol caps 3 5-year union career
CONTINUED f ROM PAGE 1 " been a shop steward as well as a president and secretary-treasurer of the Vancouver shoreworkers' local.
He was acclaimed as union president in 1977, after moving up through various officers' positions — as business agent to which he was elected in 1964 and then as secretary-treasurer, a position which he assumed in 1970.
During his 16-year term as president, Nichol not only became a prominent figure in the fishing industry but also in the labour movement. He is a past vice-president of the B.C. Federation of Labour and a former member of the federation's executive council.
He is currently the co-chair of the Commercial Fishing
Industry Council, a member of the provincial government's advisory committee on aqua-culture and the third-party advisory committee on land claims.
For several years, he has been an alternate commissioner on the Pacific Salmon Commission where he has been an outspoken advocate of Canadian sovereignty.
While the positions on various advisory committee will likely be assumed by other UFAWU representatives, his post as salmon commissioner is subject to ministerial appointment.
Nichol said he had no specific projects in mind for retirement but added: "Obviously you can't just turn your back on 44 years in the fishing
industry.
"If there's anything I can do to serve the interests of the industry or the membership, IH willingly do that," he said.
He emphasized that many of the issues that he had to deal with in union leadership "are still facing us, including DFO plans to re-structure the industry, land claims, trade issues and problems involved in keeping the industry in Canada.
"But they're even more difficult now," he noted.
Those succeeding him "will have their work cut out for them,"he Osaid. "But they're equal to the task."
A celebration marking Nichol's 44 years in the union and the labour movement is being planned for April.
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6 V THE flSHERMAN / JANUARY 18; 1993'