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\;hoIe fresh fish, the U.S. balance of payments deficit in 

 fisheries would increase commensurate ly . 



The fishery resources agreement and the agreement to 

 arbitrate the maritime boundary are expressly linked; 

 neither can enter into force without the other. Thus, if 

 the proposed action is not implemented, current arrange- 

 ments between the United States and Canada to submit the 

 maritime boundary issue to binding dispute settlement would 

 lapse by their terms. Should this occur, Canadian fisher- 

 men presumably will have access indefinitely to a signifi- 

 cant portion of Georges Bank claimed by the United States. 

 Traditionally, about 95 percent of Canadian catches on 

 Georges Bank have been taken in the disputed zone. With 

 the exception of Loligo squid, all species for which Canada 

 has an entitlement under the proposed action are available 

 to Canadian fishermen in potentially greater amounts either 

 in the Canadian zone or in the area of overlapping boundary 

 claims . 



Thus, in the absence of a fishery agreement, 

 Canadian fishermen would be able to continue their tradi- 

 tional fisheries largely unaffected by denial of access to 

 the undisputed U.S. zone. Also, they would be under no 

 obligation to observe any restraints contained in U.S. 

 management plans to rebuild depleted stocks or to assure 



