!1 - 



managed. buch a mariaqement role would be significantly 

 qi cater than that the United States now enjoys since, at 

 the present, its management decisions for the majority of 

 these stocks can be ignored by Canadian fishermen. 



Specific n.anaqeinent programs developed for stocks in 

 the Aqieerent will impact the biological environment most 

 directly. As mentioned, however, these programs would be 

 adopted in accordance v/ith the Agreement's m.anaqement 

 principles only after it has entered into force. The 

 Agreeii'ent ' s principal impact v/ould be its assurance that 

 tag's v;ill be established, that both countries will be 

 entitled to a certain percentage share, and that disagree- 

 ments over management m.easures will not leave the stocks 

 unprotected . 



The United States and Canada have both experienced 

 the "tragedy of the commons" when important stocks of fish 

 were available to all and pressure to maximize current uses 

 was intense. In the 1960 's and 1970 's, attempts at fish- 

 eries management were made by the International Commission 

 for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) and through 

 various bilateral agreements. Despite these efforts, 

 stocks in the Georges Bank-Gulf of Maine area declined. 

 Countries pat tic ipat ing in the fisheries v/ere unwilling to 

 accept adequate restraint in the short term to assure long 



