The Treaty Council, a natural resource organization management formed in 1974 by the Skokomish, Port Gamble, S'klallam, Jamestown S'klallam and Lower Elwha Klallam tribes of western Washington, has changed its policyregarding fishing practices in order to help the recovery of chum salmon populations. In 1999, under the Federal Species Act, the Hood Canal summer chum was listed as a threatened species. The run timing of Quilcene River hatchery coho salmon is earlier than other Hood Canal runs, leading to a problematic overlap with the wild summer chum that are also entering the river. The Council stated that “the goal of the tribes is to not only maximize treaty harvest opportunities, but it is also to sustain salmon runs forever. The tribes changed the way they fish so summer chum have a better chance of recovering.”
