the United States. In particular, vessels from both 
countries had been found fishing in areas closed under 
respective bilateral enforcement agreements. In re- 
sponse, the President notified Congress on 18 October 
that he had decided not to impose trade sanctions 
under the Pelly Amendment to the Fishermen’s Pro- 
tective Act pending an evaluation of both countries’ 
response to U.S. concern regarding their failures. 
On 3 April 1992 the Secretary of Commerce 
advised the President that both Taiwan and the Repub- 
lic of Korea had taken punitive actions against vessel 
owners who had violated the enforcement agreements 
and that both nations largely had complied with the 
terms of their agreements with the United States since 
the initial certification finding. Pending further 
evaluation of each nation’s actions regarding driftnet 
fishing, including adherence with the provisions of 
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/215, 
the Secretary noted that certification findings would 
remain in place. The Secretary also recommended 
that the President continue to defer sanctions against 
both nations. 
Both certifications remained in place in 1992, but 
no sanctions were deemed warranted. 
Related Activities 
On 11 February 1992 representatives of the United 
States, Canada, Japan, and the Russian Federation 
signed the Convention for the Conservation of Anad- 
romous Stocks in the North Pacific Ocean. The Con- 
vention would prohibit directed fishing for salmon on 
the high seas of the North Pacific Ocean north of 33 
degrees north latitude. It also would establish the 
North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission to 
promote conservation of salmon species, as well as 
ecologically related species such as marine mammals 
and seabirds, throughout their migratory range in the 
North Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas. The new 
commission would also help coordinate high seas 
fishery enforcement activities by contracting parties. 
At the end of 1992 all nations had ratified the Con- 
vention; entry into force early in 1993 is anticipated. 
On 28 February 1992 the United States also 
ratified the Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing 
with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific. Also called 
133 
Chapter V — International 
the Wellington Convention, this international agree- 
ment prohibits large-scale pelagic driftnet fishing with- 
in the Exclusive Economic Zones of South Pacific 
Island states and territories as well as in adjacent high 
seas areas. 
On 2 November 1992 the President signed into law 
the High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act 
(Pub. L. 102-582). The Act is intended to strengthen 
U.S. efforts to support and help implement the global 
moratorium on high seas driftnet fishing called for in 
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 46/215. 
Among other things, the law denies port privileges in 
U.S. waters to any foreign vessel known to engage in 
large-scale driftnet fishing on the high seas after 31 
December 1992. Such fishing by U.S. vessels both 
on the high seas and in U.S. waters has been prohibit- 
ed since 1990. The Act also directs the Secretary of 
the Treasury to prohibit imports of fish, fish products, 
and sport fishing equipment from any nation whose 
nationals engage in driftnet fishing contrary to the 
moratorium and which fails to take appropriate action 
to terminate that fishing. 
As of the end of 1992 Japan, the Republic of 
Korea, and Taiwan had each indicated its intent to 
comply with the terms of the U.N. Resolution and the 
ban on large-scale high seas driftnet fishing effective 
1 January 1993. For example, in December 1992 the 
Government of Taiwan released a statement describing 
actions it had taken in support of United Nations 
Resolution 46/215. It noted that fishing certificates 
for 14 vessels had been revoked for violating its 
driftnet fishing regulations. It also noted that it had 
reduced the number of driftnet fishing vessels permit- 
ted to fish in the North Pacific Ocean to 64 (half the 
number that permitted in 1991) and in the Indian 
Ocean to 31 (one third the number permitted in 1991). 
With regard to future restrictions, Taiwan’s state- 
ment noted that it had taken steps to prohibit all large- 
scale pelagic driftnet fishing by its vessels effective 1 
January 1993. Vessels leaving port to fish on the 
high seas will be prohibited from carrying driftnet 
fishing gear, vessels caught fishing illegally with 
large-scale driftnets will have their fishing certificates 
withdrawn, and captains and officers of vessels fishing 
illegally will have their professional certificates re- 
voked and face up to six months in prison. 
