22 



wholesale renegotiation of our existing international fisheries 

 agreements, as mentioned by Ambassador Colson. 



We would not harm our distant water fishing interests in terms 

 of their ability to have fair and reasonable access to fisheries re- 

 sources on the high seas, because we would preserve fair opportu- 

 nities to share the resources both for coastal nations and distant 

 water nations. 



Mr. Chairman, I would also like to add a few remarks about 

 NOAA's support for the flagging agreement. Our personnel assisted 

 directly in the negotiations which produced this agreement within 

 a 9-month period. NOAA also prepared the implementing legisla- 

 tion which was introduced on July 14 in the House of Representa- 

 tives by Congressman Studds. It is our hope that you. Senator 

 Kerry, will introduce it in the Senate. 



This legislation calls for NOAA to assume substantial respon- 

 sibility for implementing the agreement. We will authorize fishing 

 on the high seas by U.S. vessels and be responsible for receiving 

 and maintaining information on behalf of those vessels. Enforce- 

 ment of the new requirements on such vessels will be a shared re- 

 sponsibility between NOAA and the Coast Guard. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This concludes the summary of my 

 written remarks, which I would ask that you make a part of the 

 record. I would be happy to try to answer any questions that you 

 may have. Thank you. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Martin follows:] 



Prepared Statement of Will Martin 



Mr. Chairman and Members of the committee: I am Will Martin, Deputy Assist- 

 ant Secretary for international Affairs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- 

 tration (NOAA). I am pleased to be here today along with Ambassador Colson to 

 discuss international fisheries concerns, particularly the United Nations (UN) Con- 

 ference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. 



INTRODUCTION 



The UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks 

 is moving dramatically toward a binding international convention. I am happy to 

 report that the United States has played a key role in this Conference. We have 

 sought to bridge the interests of both coastal and distant-water fishing nations, and 

 we have successfully introduced many of our key fisheries conservation and manage- 

 ment principles into the Chairman's negotiating text. 



This convention will play a critical role in resolving future fisheries disputes, like 

 the one we settled successfully in the Central Bering Sea pollock negotiation. All 

 participants in the UN Conference have agreed that tneir work must be consistent 

 with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The work of the Con- 

 ference thus builds on UNCLOS, on our success in negotiating the Food and Agri- 

 culture Organization (FAO) "flagging" agreement, and on our experience in outlaw- 

 ing high seas driflnet fishing. It underlines the fact that fishery management within 

 EEZs (exclusive economic zones) is not enough. But the outcome of the UN Con- 

 ference will also have important implications for how we manage domestic fisheries 

 in the United States. Let me review the background to the Conference and the is- 

 sues at stake. 



BACKGROUND 



In recent years the world community has become aware of a shocking and ines- 

 capable fact: fisheries harvests are declining all over the globe. The harvesting ca- 

 pacity of fishing fleets and their imperative for an economic return have over- 

 whelmed the financial and technical resources and the political will of fisheries 

 managers worldwide. High seas fisheries present particular difficulties, because no 

 one nation has jurisdiction over their management. The theme of sustainable devel- 

 opment, amplified at the UN Conference on Environment and Development 



