The Yukon River Panel

 

Established under the Yukon River Salmon Agreement, The Yukon River Panel is an international advisory body comprised of 12 individuals from the U.S. and Canada who are fishers and users of the Yukon River salmon resource. There are six representatives of the Canadian section serving five-year terms and there are six representatives of the United States section serving four-year terms.

The Canadian section must have four members who are members of the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee as required by the Umbrella Final Agreement, which is the common instrument for Yukon First Nation land claim agreements.

As mandated under the U.S. Yukon River Salmon Act of 2000, the U.S. section must have one U.S. federal and one State of Alaska official with expertise in salmon management and conservation. The other four members must be knowledgeable and experienced regarding salmon fisheries on the Yukon River and at least one must be an Alaska Native; and, one must represent interests of the Lower Yukon River fishing districts; and, one must represent interests of the Upper Yukon River fishing districts.

The Panel also has Alternate and Advisory members.

The Panel is supported by a bilateral Joint Technical Committee and has administrative support from the Pacific Salmon Commission Secretariat.

The Panel meets twice a year to make recommendations to the responsible management agencies on both sides of the Alaska-Yukon border that enable the conservation and coordinated management of Yukon River salmon of Canadian-origin.

Yukon River Panel Responsibilities

To implement the agreement, the Yukon River Panel:

  • Meets semiannually, usually in the fall and spring, alternating between venues in Alaska and Yukon and is open to the public.
  • Makes annual recommendations to the respective management agencies regarding conservation, restoration, rebuilding and management of salmon stocks originating in the Yukon River in Canada.
  • Makes recommendations to coordinate management of the Yukon River fisheries that affect Canadian-origin salmon stocks.
  • Manages the Restoration & Enhancement Fund; and
  • Makes bylaws and procedural rules as may be necessary for the functions and the conduct of meetings.

Yukon River Salmon Agreement

Yukon River Salmon Agreement is an international commitment to the restoration, conservation and management of salmon upon which Yukon River communities on both sides of the Alaska-Yukon border depend. Both countries have agreed to manage their salmon fisheries to ensure enough spawning salmon are available to meet escapement requirements and to provide for harvests, when possible, according to harvest sharing arrangements.

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Fisheries Management

Many communities of the Yukon River drainage have been utilizing salmon since inhabiting the area; indeed fish and wildlife resources, provide the foundation for their survival and livelihood. Salmon, the staple food in many communities, is one such resource that has been harvested since time immemorial through traditional subsistence and aboriginal practices.

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Yukon River Salmon

Salmon is a staple food for the people in many communities of the Yukon River drainage. There are three primary salmon species of concern addressed under the Yukon River Salmon Agreement. They are Chinook or king salmon; Chum or dog salmon; and, Coho or silver salmon.

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Related Web Sites

A collection of links related to Yukon River Salmon Fisheries

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