What is salmon act of 1986?

The Salmon Act of 1986 is a United States law that was enacted to protect Alaska's salmon populations. The act prohibits the cultivation and harvesting of salmon in federal waters in North Pacific Ocean, except by a limited number of qualified vessels. The law also established a mechanism for allocating fishing privileges in federal waters, known as a "limited entry program." The limited entry program restricts the number of participating vessels to prevent overfishing and protect the rights of existing stakeholders. The law also mandated federal oversight of state-run salmon hatcheries. In addition, the act provided funding for research and development of salmon populations and habitat restoration efforts. The Salmon Act of 1986 is still in effect and continues to be an important framework for salmon management in Alaska.