Established in 1947 by consent of Congress, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is an interstate compact agency that helps resource agencies and the fishing industry sustainably manage our valuable Pacific Ocean resources in a five-state region.  Member states include California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.  Each represented by three Commissioners.

Mission

As stated by the governing compact, PSMFC's purpose shall be “to promote the better utilization of fisheries – marine, shell, and anadromous, which are of mutual concern, and to develop a joint program of protection and prevention of physical waste of such fisheries in all of those areas of the Pacific Ocean over which the compacting states jointly or separately now have or may hereafter acquire jurisdiction.”

Primary Goal

PSMFC's primary goal is to promote and support policies and actions to conserve, develop, and manage our fishery resources in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. We accomplish this through coordinating research activities, monitoring fishing activities, and facilitating a wide variety of projects. We work to collect data and maintain databases on salmon, steelhead, and other marine fish for fishery managers and the fishing industry.

Activities

PSMFC has no regulatory or management authority. Instead, as a neutral party, we serve a number of other vital functions that include:

• Providing for collective participation by the Pacific States to work on mutual concerns.
• Serving as a forum for discussion regarding our vital fisheries resources.
• Working for coast-wide consensus in cooperation with state and federal authorities.
• Addressing issues that fall outside state or regional management council jurisdiction.
• Acting as a primary contractor on grants and projects for states and other organizations.
• Dispersing monetary assets from the variety of federal, state, and other resources.
• Coordinating research and management projects related to interstate fisheries, and making these data available.
• Participating as a non-voting member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the North Pacific Fishery Management   Council.

PSMFC and Project Funding

PSMFC's activities are funded through federal grants, special contracts, and dues from its member states. Since 1978, PSMFC has maintained a low overhead rate. PSMFC regularly serves as a primary contractor on grants, projects, and contracts for states and other organizations in large part due to our low overhead and our proven management ability. The Commission provides administrative support in the form of payroll, procurement, accounting, travel arrangements, and contract monitoring.