APPENDIX VI APPENDIX VI 
4O 
United Nations (FAO). Presumably the investigative function of the 
ICCAT is carried out with the assistance of FAO staff and facilities. 
Its orientation is strictly regional and its primary purpose limited to 
the investigation and study of pouplations of tuna and tuna-like species 
(Article IV). 
The Convention has been in force for slightly over ten years. 
During this time it has developed a much improved statistical system and 
its various committees, studying different species and stocks of tuna 
within the Convention area, have developed much information on the 
nature of the many species and stocks. The Commission has recommended 
to member governments conservation action as a result. 
Only one species, the northern bluefin tuna, is found consistently 
in any quantity off the Atlantic Coast of the United States within 
200 miles, but this species migrates widely throughout the North Atlantic 
and is subject to capture by fishermen of several nations as it migrates 
along the United States and Canadian coasts of North America and at 
other times of the year is found in the eastern North Atlantic off the 
coast of western European countries. Extended jurisdiction to 200 miles 
by the United States, Canada, and western European countries may well 
alter the catch of bluefin tuna by the fishermen of some countries, but 
the wide-ranging migratory habits of this species dictate that a regional 
international convention of one type or another is necessary to conserve 
the North Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks. 
Virtually the same situation prevails with all other species and 
stocks of Atlantic tunas. The catch of all Atlantic tunas has been 
about 300,000 metric tons in the past year or two and indications are 
that several species are now being fished at levels of fishing effort 
beyond that which will produce the average maximum sustained yield. 
Reductions in fishing effort must be accomplished by cooperation among 
nations fishing the resource; thus, the absolute necessity of an inter- 
national convention much along the lines of the present Convention. 
International Whaling Commission 
The International Whaling Convention entered into force November 10, 
1948. The current members of the Commission are Argentina, Australia, 
Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Panama, South 
Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the Soviet 
Union. The Soviet Union and Japan are the major whaling nations in the 
world today, although there are small land stations in a number of other 
coastal countries. The major whale hunting takes place in the Antarctic 
Ocean, with a moderate effort in the North Pacific and North and South 
Atlantic Oceans. 
In recent years, a world controversy has existed over the hunting 
of whales, with conservationists claiming that all whale hunting must 
stop or the animals will become extinct. Scientists of the International 
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