In February 1974, U.S. District Court Judge Boldt issued a decision on Indian treaty fishing rights that has drastically altered the salmon fisheries of Washington state and the management of these runs. In addition to a prescribed share of the runs, treaty tribes were granted certain fishery management rights. Salmon management has evolved from a system in which the Washington Department of Fisheries was the sole authority to one in which Indian tribes have a significant role. Violation of fishing regulations has become a major problem, and catch statistics are losing accuracy. Non-Indian fisheries have been cut back to provide more fish to Indian fishermen. The decision raised more new questions than it answered, and these have been the subject of litigation.
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