16 



avoiding fishing restrictions that would otherwise apply to them. However, 

 reflagging is only part of a larger problem. A growing number of newly built high 

 seas fishing vessels are registered directly in States that are not members of the 

 major multilateral fishery organizations. The Agreement also addresses the prob- 

 lems caused by this practice. 



The Agreement contains two primary objectives: (1) to impose upon all States 

 whose fishing vessels operate on the high seas obligations designed to make the ac- 

 tivities of those vessels consistent with conservation and management needs, and 

 (2) to increase the transparency of all high seas fishing operations through the col- 

 lection and dissemination of data. 



Under the Agreement, Parties must: 



• ensure that such vessels do not undermine international conservation and man- 

 agement measures; 



• prohibit such vessels from fishing on the high seas without specific authoriza- 

 tion from the appropriate authority of the Party; 



• not issue such an authorization unless it can exercise responsibility with re- 

 spect to such vessel; 



• not issue such an authorization to a reflagged vessel that has previously under- 

 mined the efTectiveness of international conservation and management measures, 

 unless certain conditions are met (e.g., real change of ownership and control); 



• ensure that such vessels are marked in accordance with recognized inter- 

 national standards; 



• ensure that such vessels provide to it sufficient information on its fishing oper- 

 ations; and 



• take enforcement measures in respect of such vessels that contravene the re- 

 quirements of the Agreement. 



Taken together, these obligations for Parties whose fishing vessels operate on the 

 high seas establish a sound basis on which high seas fishing must be conducted if 

 living marine resources are to be properly conserved and managed. 



Implementation of the Agreement bv the United States will require new legisla- 

 tion. The Administration proposed such legislation to Congress on July 1. While we 

 seek Senate advice and consent to accept the Agreement expeditiously, we would not 

 deposit the United States instrument of acceptance until such implementing legisla- 

 tion is passed. 



In summary, the FAO "Flagging" Agreement will protect the marine ecosystem 

 and further the goal of sustainable use of fishery resources. The United States, as 

 a member of most important fishery organizations whose measures will be strength- 

 ened by the Agreement, stands to benefit considerably from its entry into force. 



CENTRAL BERING SEA "DONUT HOLE" AGREEMENT 



On June 16, 1994, representatives of China, Korea, Russia, and the United States 

 signed the "Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources 

 in the Central Bering Sea." I was pleased to sign the Convention on behalf of the 

 United States. Japan and Poland, the other participating countries in the prepara- 

 tion of the agreement, are expected to sign the Convention in the near future. 



The Convention represents three years of intense negotiations to address high 

 seas overfishing of the pollock resources in the high seas areas of the Bering Sea 

 known as the Donut Hole." As you are aware, pollock in the Bering Sea is very 

 valuable resource, both economically and as a vital part of the marine ecosystem 

 in the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean. Unregulated fishing on that part of the 

 pollock stock which migrates from the U.S. ana Russian zones to the high seas 

 Donut Hole" area is of great concern to us. Vessels of Japan, China, Korea, and 

 Poland began fishing without restraint in mid- to late 1980s on the pollock stock 

 in the "Donut Hole. The result had a dramatic negative effect on the size of the 

 stock. It also raised serious concerns about possible long-term adverse impacts on 

 ecologically-related species. 



In coordination with Russia, in late 1990, we invited the governments of countries 

 fishing in the "Donut Hole" to begin considering with us arrangements for the con- 

 servation and management of the living marine resources in the Central Bering Sea. 

 In February 1991, the first often negotiating conferences over the next three years 

 was held. Over the course of that time, the Parties agreed to freeze fishing oper- 

 ations (which later was turned into a suspension of all fishing operations), discour- 

 age other countries from seeking to fish in the area, conduct cooperative research 

 efforts and exchange information, release any salmon or herring taken as bycatch, 

 and outfit vessels fishing for pollock with position-fixing satellite transmitters. The 

 U.S. and Russia made a number of summit-level statements on the status of the 

 negotiations as they progressed. The result of the negotiations is the "Convention 



