---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3311"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3311"
heading: "Salmon and Steelhead Advisory Commission"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3311"
units:
  - "Chapter 52 — Salmon and Steelhead Conservation and Enhancement"
  - "Subchapter II — Coordinated Management of Salmon and Steelhead"
---

# §3311. Salmon and Steelhead Advisory Commission

- (a) **Establishment—** Within 90 days after December 22, 1980, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “[Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)”) shall establish the [Salmon](/usc/16/3302.md?p=11) and [Steelhead](/usc/16/3302.md?p=13) Advisory [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) (hereinafter referred to in this chapter as the “[Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c)”), which shall consist of one voting member from each of the following:
  - (1) The [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Washington.
  - (2) The [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Oregon.
  - (3) The [Washington tribal coordinating body](/usc/16/3302.md?p=18).
  - (4) The [Columbia River tribal coordinating body](/usc/16/3302.md?p=5).
  - (5) The Pacific Fishery Management Council.
  - (6) The National Marine Fisheries Service.
- (b) **Membership—**
  - (1) The voting representatives shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) from a list of qualified individuals submitted by the Governor of each applicable [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), by each [appropriate tribal coordinating body](/usc/16/3302.md?p=1), and by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The representative for the National Marine Fisheries Service shall be the Northwest regional director of the Service or his designee.
  - (2) The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall have 6 nonvoting members, 5 of which shall be qualified individuals appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). The sixth nonvoting member shall be the regional director of the United States [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service or his designee.
  - (3) For the purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified individual” means an individual who is knowledgeable with regard to the management, conservation, or harvesting of the [salmon](/usc/16/3302.md?p=11) and [steelhead](/usc/16/3302.md?p=13) resources of the conservation [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (c) **Report by Commission—** Within 15 months after the date of the establishment of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), it shall prepare, and submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and Congress, a comprehensive report containing conclusions, comments, and recommendations for the development of a management structure (including effective procedures, mechanisms, and institutional arrangements) for the effective coordination of research, [enhancement](/usc/16/3302.md?p=8), management, and enforcement policies for the [salmon](/usc/16/3302.md?p=11) and [steelhead](/usc/16/3302.md?p=13) resources of the Columbia River and [Washington conservation areas](/usc/16/3302.md?p=17), and for the resolution of disputes between management entities that are concerned with [stocks](/usc/16/3302.md?p=14) of common interest. The principal objectives of, and the standards for, the management structure shall include, but not be limited to—
  - (1) the development of common principles to govern and coordinate effectively management and [enhancement](/usc/16/3302.md?p=8) activities;
  - (2) the prevention of overfishing;
  - (3) the use of the best scientific information available;
  - (4) the consideration of, and allowance for, variations among, and contingencies in, fisheries and catches;
  - (5) the promotion of harvest strategies and regulations which will encourage continued and increased investment by the [salmon](/usc/16/3302.md?p=11) and [steelhead](/usc/16/3302.md?p=13) producing jurisdictions;
  - (6) the optimization of the use of resources for enforcement;
  - (7) the consideration of harvest activities as they relate to existing and future international commitments;
  - (8) the minimization of costs and the avoidance of unnecessary duplication; and
  - (9) the harvest of fish by [treaty tribes](/usc/16/3302.md?p=16), in accordance with [treaty](/usc/16/3302.md?p=15) rights, unless agreed otherwise by the affected [treaty tribes](/usc/16/3302.md?p=16).
- (d) **Unanimous vote required—** No report or revision thereto may be submitted by the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) for approval under this section unless the report or revision is approved by all of the voting members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c).
- (e) **Secretarial action on report—** Within 4 months after the date of the submission of the comprehensive report, or any revision thereto, under [subsection (c)](#c), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, shall review the report and, if he finds that the management structure recommended in the report would, if implemented, meet the objectives and standards specified in this section and be consistent with this chapter, approve the report. If the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior, finds that such structure is not in conformity with the standards and objectives set forth in this section, the provisions of this chapter, or other applicable law, he shall return the report to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) together with a written statement of the reasons for not approving the report. If the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) submits a revised report to the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) within 2 months after the date of return, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall approve the report if he finds that the objections on which the prior disapproval was based are overcome.
- (f) **Per diem and travel allowances—** The members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) (other than those who are full-time employees of the Federal or a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) government), while away from their homes or regular places of business for purposes of carrying out their duties as members, shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) intermittently employed in Government service.
- (g) **Administrative support—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall provide such clerical and technical support as may be necessary to enable the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) to carry out its functions.
- (h) **Termination of Commission—** Unless otherwise agreed to by the voting members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) and approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1), the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall terminate upon the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1)’s approval of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c)’s report pursuant to [subsection (e)](#e).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–561, title I, § 110, Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3277.)