Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 3.djvu/631

 PUBLIC LAW 96-561—DEC. 22, 1980

94 STAT. 3275

Public Law 96- -561 96th Congress An Act To provide for the conservation and enhancement of the salmon and steelhead resources of the United States, assistance to treaty and nontreaty harvesters of those resources, and for other purposes.

Dec. 22, 1980 [S. 2163]

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the U.S. salmon and United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I—CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF SALMON AND STEELHEAD RESOURCES PART A—GENERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the "Salmon and Steelhead Conservation and Enhancement Act of 1980". SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress fmds and declares the following: (1) The stocks of salmon and steelhead which originate in the rivers of the conservation areas constitute valuable and renewable natural resources. Many groups of commercial, recreational, and treaty fishermen have historically depended upon these stocks of fish for their livelihoods and avocations. These fishery resources contribute to the food supply and economic health of the Pacific Northwest and the Nation "as a whole, provide valuable recreational experiences for thousands of citizens from various parts of the United States, and represent a central element of the cultures and economies of Indian tribes and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest. (2) Over a period of several decades, competing uses of salmon and steelhead habitat and historical problems relating to conservation measures, the regulation of harvest and enhancement have depressed several of these stocks of salmon and steelhead. (3) Improved management and enhancement planning and coordination among salmon and steelhead managers will help prevent a further decline of salmon and steelhead stocks and will assist in increasing the supply of these stocks. (4) Due in principal part to the Federal court decisions in the United States against Washington and Sohappy against Smith, the fishing capacity of nontreaty fishermen in the conservation areas established by this title exceeds that required to harvest the available salmon resources. This excess capacity causes severe economic problems for these fishermen. (5) The supply of salmon and steelhead can be increased through carefully planned enhancement measures designed to improve the survival of stocks and to augment the production of artificially propagated stocks. By careful choice of species, areas,

steelhead resources, conservation. Salmon and Steelhead Conservation and Enhancement Act of 1980. 16 USC 3301 note. 16 USC 3301.

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