Contact: Gordon Helm FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/19/96
The Commerce Department is leading an international effort to support global and regional fishery management organizations by implementing today the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act of 1995, Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown has announced. The act was signed by President Bill Clinton last November.
By implementing this act, the United States is one of the first fishing nations to carry out the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, adopted by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization in 1993.
U.S. vessels fishing on the high seas will be required to obtain a permit and to comply with all international conservation and management measures recognized by the United States.
Negotiated largely at the initiative of the United States, the agreement was adopted in response to fisheries crises that have arisen in many areas of the world. As the size and efficiency of modern fleets have come to exceed the productivity of traditional coastal harvesting areas, fishery managers of coastal nations generally have reacted by imposing stricter management regimes. As a result, increasing numbers of vessels have sought fishing opportunities on the high seas, where regional organizations have tried to impose management measures.
"Too many high seas fishing vessels are fishing under 'flags of convenience' to get around the conservation rules set by world and regional fishing organizations," said Secretary Brown. "U.S. leadership is critical to a new regime requiring flag states to exercise effective control over their fishing vessels."
The agreement evolved from the concern that vessels of member nations were registering with and operating under the flags of non- member nations to continue fishing unconstrained by rules set by regional organizations. The agreement obligates those nations signing it to require vessels operating under their flags to obtain specific authorization to fish on the high seas, and makes those nations responsible for their vessels' actions.
Applications for high seas fishing permits are now being accepted by the Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service regional offices. (The "high seas" refers to areas outside the exclusive economic zone of any country, generally 200 miles from shore.) A fact sheet outlining the permitting process is available by fax by contacting the fisheries service public affairs.