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I. PURPOSE AND NEED 

 This statement analyzes the environmental impact of 

 ratifying and implementing the Agreement Between the Government 

 of the United States of America and the Government of Canada 

 on East Coast Fishery Resources, signed on March 29, 1979 

 (Appenaix I). This bilateral fisheries agreement with Canada 

 provides for (1) the conservation and management of east coast 

 fishery resources of concern to the U.S. and Canada and (2) 

 reciprocal fishing access. A joint East Coast Fisheries 

 Commission to provide for cooperative management of fish 

 stocks is also established. 

 A. Historical Background 



The United States has participated in the multilateral 

 management of Northwest Atlantic fish resources since 1949, when 

 it became a party to the International Convention for the 

 Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF). From 1950 until 1977, 

 ICNAF and various bilateral agreements with nations fishing 

 off the east coast of the U.S. served as the vehicles by 

 which the United States sought to study, manage and conserve 

 Northwest Atlantic fisheries. 



These agreements proved inadequate, particularly in light 

 of the trend toward extended coastal state jurisdiction over 

 fishery resources. In 1976, Congress enacted the Fishery 

 Conservation and Management Act (the FCMA) extending exclusive 

 U.S. fishery management jurisdiction from 12 to 200 miles 

 effective March 1, 1977. 



