In response to salmon declines, Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association and regional Native organizations (Association of Village Council Presidents, Kawerak, Inc., and Tanana Chiefs Conference) joined with state and federal agencies to create the AYK SSI, a proactive science-based program working cooperatively to identify and address the critical salmon research needs facing this region. The AYK SSI is the largest example of co-management of research-funding addressing salmon within the Pacific Rim and one of the largest, most successful programs of its kind in North America.