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hazards exist whenever vessels of any nationality transit 

 or fish in the U.S. FCZ. Compliance with the International 

 Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea (1972) , which 

 have been incorporated into the domestic law of both 

 countries, should minimize the potential for collision. 



The problem of marine pollution by fishing vessels in 

 the FCZ is not addressed in U.S. law. Nevertheless, pollu- 

 tion from these sources is considerably less threatening to 

 the physical environment than marine pollution caused by 

 larger vessels, particularly oil tankers. 



Potential impacts on the physical environment 

 associated with the act of trawling or dredging by Canadian 

 vessels under the Agreement include: gear conflicts with 

 other fishermen, damage to marine structures such as under- 

 sea communication cables, and disruption of sediments and 

 bottom dwelling marine life. These potential impacts may 

 also result from the activities of other foreign fishing 

 vessels that presently fish in the FCZ under Governing 

 International Fishery Agreements, as well as from the acti- 

 vities of our expanding domestic fleet. 



Although access granted to Canadian vessels would be 

 confined as noted, it would be on terms more liberal than 

 those applicable to other foreign vessels fishing in the 



