Rela tions with Foreign Countries and Causes of Disagreement 



Because of the very nature of the American tuna fishery^ 

 then, it is not at aU. surprising that incidents have arisen 

 involving American vessels and Latin American governments <> Perhaps 

 what is more surprising is the fact that, in general, relations 

 between the American tuna fleet and the Latin American countries 

 have been very good over a long period of time. Incidents involving 

 charges of fishing law violations and invasion of territorial 

 seas, with consequent vessel seizures and fines, have been relatively 

 few, considering the number of fisliing trips American vessels have 

 made in these waters o Recent disputed tuna boat seizures have 

 involved only one country, Ecuador. Such disputes, even though few 

 in number, present a serious problem to our tuna fishermen and to 

 our international relations* 



At present, the problem of conflicting concepts and regulations 

 respecting territorial seas, the continental shelf, and fisheries 

 control, is under study 'oy the International Law Commission of the 

 United Nations (Francois, 19?0, 1951, 1952 )o The Inter-Aiaerican 

 Council of Jurists of the Organization of American States has for 

 some time been studying similar international law questions 

 affecting the Americaso The problem is extremely complex, and 

 there seems to be little hope for a quick solution covering the 

 numerous and inconsistent national claims to territorial seas and 

 sovereignty thereiUo The specific problems involving fisheries interests 

 of the United States in international relations have for some time 

 been uiider continuous study by the Department of State. 



The three phases of interna tioi^l law which are of greatest 

 importance to the American tiona fishermen ax'St (1) the extent of 

 the territorial sea or fisheries jurisdiction claimed by the Latin 

 American countries! (2) the location of base-lines from which such 

 zones are measuredi and (3) the right of "irjiocent passage"* 



268 



