B-13 



And that, coupled with this kind of language expressed — 

 has led to a lot of concern about exactly what kind of regime 

 is going to be set up. And I might say that some of the infor- 

 mation that we come across, comes from overseas where people 

 have access to other sources of information — from other gov- 

 ernments — and none of that information has been very posi- 

 tive in this regard. 



And it is, I think, widely thought in the environmental 

 community that this regime is going to be a weak regime, etc, 

 and won't have any teeth. And that really, I think, furnishes 

 the major focus of our concern as we approach this critical 

 drafting stage in February in Canberra. 



CHAIRMAN BREWSTER: We can't predict what kind of a re- 

 gime it will be. 



I would reiterate that the five principles that we went 

 to the Ninth Consultative Meeting with, and which were large- 

 ly encompassed in this recommendation, and one of those is 

 certainly an enforcement system, remain the governing princi- 

 ples of the administration. 



As Mr. Scully indicated, we have not finalized our ideas 

 on the nature of this regime. Indeed, we have no draft regime 

 and no draft convention to suggest. We will be el-oorating 

 those on the basis of our meeting here today, some consultations 

 I expect to have together with Mr. Scully later in January, 

 and further studies in the EIS. But our efforts are certainly 

 going to be devoted to achieving a legitimate conservation regime, 

 one with teeth in it. 



MR. JAMES BARNES: Would it be the State Department's cur- 

 rent intention to propose to the next special session, for 

 example, that all the traditional elements of a sound conserva- 

 tion and management regime be included — such as the one 

 to catch limited -- for catch limits — different kinds of 

 gear -- and effort restriction — closed areas — all the 

 things that would logically be incorporated into a sound 

 conservation -- 



CHAIRMAN BREWSTER: I really haven't gotten that far. 



MR, JAMES BARNES: When will the draft EIS be available? 



CHAIRMAN BREWSTER: February 1st, and I hope to distribute 

 it within a week, and have a public meeting subsequent thereto 

 in order to receive initial comments on it before decisions 

 are taken on our negotiating position. 



