B -19 



The American Fisheries Society (AFS) supports the nego- 

 tiation among the interested nations of the world of a re- 

 gime for the conservation, rational utilization and manage- 

 ment of fisheries in Antarctic waters. The Society's interest 

 stems from concern for the fisheries of Antarctica for the 

 Society, chartered in 1870, is the world's oldest and largest 

 scientific/professional organization dedicated to the advance- 

 ment of fisheries science and the conservation of renewable 

 aquatic resources. 



In the negotiation of the Antarctic fisheries regime 

 we urge that careful consideration be given to the inclusion 

 of the following provisions: 



1. Research . The regime should provide for an accel- 

 erated, fully coordinated fisheries research effort with par- 

 ticular emphasis given to development of an inventory of all 

 renewable resources plus an estimate of recruitment potential. 

 No utilization/management regime will have much chance of 

 success unless it is based upon a comprehensive understand- 

 ing of the resource. Every signatory nation should make a com- 

 mitment to this end. 



2. Inter im Exploitation. During the negotiation of 

 a management regime it seems likely, and not unreasonable, 

 that some exploitation of Antarctic resources will continue. 

 We urge, however, that caution will be the guiding principle 

 in any such interim exploitation. The often tragic conse- 

 quence of overharvest should be familiar enough to every coun- 

 try so that such a scenario will not be repeated in Antarctic 

 — the last of the world's virgin areas. A pledge of harvest 

 moderation from all nations would not only protect the re- 

 source but would improve the climate for negotiations. 



3. Optimum Sustainable Yield. In the absence of a bet- 

 ter plan, the American Fisheries Society supports management 

 for OSY with particular attention given to a broad ecosystem 

 approach in which the stocks of all organisms are viewed not 

 only for their potential yield to man but in terms of their 

 relationship to all other organisms in the Antarctic ecosys- 

 tem. 



4. Pollution Abatement. Even though the Antarctic may 



be already somewhat contaminated by modern civilization's debris, 

 no effort should be spared in preventing further degradation. 

 From the outset of negotiations every nation should be expect- 

 ed to affirm a strong commitment to prevent all forms of 

 pollution plus a strategy for surveillance and enforcement. 



