The Pacific Salmon Treaty provides little protection against southeast Alaskan interceptions of most Canadian salmon. The treaty was established in 1985 when salmon were abundant. The Treaty’s objective was to balance each country’s interceptions of the other’s salmon, particularly chinook. 

Since the Treaty was first signed, Canadian and southern US salmon stocks have declined to the point where many are threatened or endangered. Canada has closed most of its commercial interception fisheries to protect its remaining salmon and steelhead stocks. Alaska now has the only major interception fisheries in place that target salmon and steelhead returning to Canadian and southern US rivers.