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riiedqes in certain fisheries can be ininimi zed , if necessary, 

 by qear requlations. The specific environmental effects of 

 tiie use of such gear are more appropriately the focus of 

 the specific r.anaqei.ient plans for the various fisheries 

 under the Aarecrr.ent. 



The potential in pacts of all of the above can be 

 discounter; to some extent by the number of U.Ii. vessels 

 that vvould leave the l;.S. zone to fish once aqain in areas 

 Lnder undisputed Canadian fisheries jurisdiction. In 1977, 



more than 100 U.S. fishing vessels reported operatind during 

 some part of the year in the Canadian zone. Since June 1978, 

 these vessels have been confined to the U.S. zone, increasing 

 the potential for impacts on the physical environment of 

 the U.S. zone such as those described. Under the Agreement, 

 it is anticipated that some, if not all, of these vessels 

 again would operate in the Canadian zone. 



2 . Biological Environment 



The proposed action would create a framework within 

 which the United States and Canada would be able to coordi- 

 nate fishery management, decisions for stocks of mutual 



