APPENDIX VI 
THE EFFECT OF EXTENDED FISHERY JURISDICTION BY THE UNITED STATES ON 
INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES CONVENTIONS AND AGREEMENTS 
INTRODUCTION 
On Monday, April 13, 1976, the President signed into law the Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law PL 94-265). In the 
statement made by the President at the time of signing, he stated his 
concern with regard to our ability to fulfill the tasks called for by 
the legislation in the time and manner provided for in the Act. He 
indicated that he was anxious that no action be taken which would 
compromise our commitment to protect both the rights of navigation as 
well as the welfare of distant water fisheries, and further that no one 
in this country wanted to see the United States engaged in unnecessary 
national disputes simply because of a lack of flexibility in applying 
the provisions of the legislation. 
Four issues were specifically raised in the President's statement. 
First, in the absence of timely action, the bill might cause serious 
impediments for the United States in meeting its obligations under 
existing treaties and bilateral agreements. Second, the bill contem- 
plates unilateral enforcement by the United States over foreign fishing 
for salmon and other anadromous species of fish seaward of the 200-mile 
zone. Enforcement of such a provision in the absence of bilateral or 
multilateral agreements would be contrary to accepted international law. 
Third, the enforcement provisions of PL 94-265 dealing with the seizure 
of unauthorized fishing vessels, lack adequate assurances of reciprocity 
in keeping with the tenets of international law; and fourth, the measure 
purports to encroach upon the exclusive province of the executive with 
respect to international negotiations. The President went on to say 
that he was hopeful that these issues could be resolved by responsible 
administrative action and, where necessary, curative legislation. 
Congress, obviously anticipating passage of this bill and/or the 
signature and ultimate ratification of the multilateral multi-national 
Law of the Sea convention, has asked the General Accounting Office to 
examine the international implications of the 200-mile fishery zone soon 
to be implemented by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 
(PL 94-265). 
In this paper we will attempt to: (a) assess the effects of extended 
fishery jurisdiction by the United States on international fisheries 
commissions and conventions and on bilateral executive fishery agreements; 
(b) look at the expected impact of the 200-mile zone on foreign fishing; 
and (c) make an assessment of the status and effectiveness of present 
United States conventions and bilateral agreements. We will comment on 
expected changes in these commissions and conventions as extended juris- 
diction is implemented by the United States. The report will also 
comment on international fisheries agreements now in effect in other 
parts of the world with appropriate comments on the operative sections 
3g2 
APPENDIX VI 
