Indian Fishing Rights: A Lost Opportunity for Ecosystem Management

This Article targets the problem of depletion of salmon and steelhead fisheries in the Northwest United States. The Article provides a brief overview of the Sohappy v. Smith and United States v. Washington decisions, which promoted regulation and conservation of these fisheries. Next, the Article discusses the Ecosystem Management Model, which these courts declined to adopt. Additionally, a description of the legislative measures taken in response to these two cases is provided.

The Article concludes that adoption of an ecosystem management approach to fisheries management is essential to the future well-being of the fisheries in the Northwest United States.