Management of the High Seas Fisheries of the 



Northeastern Pacific 



by 

 Richard Van Cleve^ and Ralph W. Johnson- 



INTRODUCTION 



On June 12, 1963 the ten-year period during which the North 

 Pacific Fisheries Treaty between Japan, Canada, and the United 

 States was to be effective came to an end. After this date any one of 

 the parties to the treaty is free to give a one-year notice of intention 

 to terminate. None of the countries has indicated this intention, but 

 apparently Japan did request revision of the treaty, and negotiations 

 toward this end were begiui in June in Washington, D.C. 



The North Pacific Fisheries Treaty was ratified on June 12, 1953 

 (App.). It established as one of its provisions the unique principle of 

 abstention. According to this principle when a country has fully 

 developed a fishery and, as a result of continuing scientific study, is 

 regulating it so as to obtain the maximiun sustained yield, newcom- 

 ers who are parties to the treaty agree to abstain from fishing the 

 stocks concerned. Under this provision Japan has, for the last ten 

 years, abstained from fishing salmon east of 175° West Longitude 

 and halibut of North American origin. Prior to 1959 the Japanese 



1 Professor and Dean, College of Fisheries, University of Washington. 



2 Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Washington. 



