33 



Ambassador CoLSON. But I do not think, Senator, they say that 

 all 700 of those boats are using nets that are greater than 2.5 kilo- 

 meters. 



Senator Kerry. There is no certainty that some of them are not. 



Ambassador CoLSON. I do not doubt for a minute that there are 

 fishermen that are breaking the rules in Europe or in the United 

 States. 



Senator Stevens. In the United States? 



Ambassador Colson. I believe that we probably have some fish- 

 ermen in the United States — not driftnets, but that break rules. 



Senator Stevens. No, I am talking about driftnets. 



Ambassador CoLSON. And the rules in Europe on driftnets are 

 the same as the rules in the United States, and the question is, 

 how vigorous are these governments being in enforcing these rules, 

 and are they getting the job done. I think that we can demonstrate 

 that there is progress being made. Now, how fast are they getting 

 it done? 



This incident a week ago, it brought about an immediate meeting 

 in Brussels. It brought about an agreement between the French 

 and the Spanish Governments on how they are going to monitor 

 and enforce the rules in that fishery. 



Senator Kerry. Let me just interrupt you for a moment. This is 

 a report on large-scale high seas driftnet fishing in the Mediterra- 

 nean from Greenpeace in November 1993, and they say they have 

 documented extensive violations of the U.N. General Assembly res- 

 olution by the Italian swordfish fleet in the Mediterranean. They 

 have been operating in violation of the European regulation whicn 

 prohibits EC vessels from using driftnets in excess of 2.5 kilo- 

 meters of net. The regulation has been in effect since June 1, 1992. 



They say that there are approximately 720 Italian driftnet ves- 

 sels which continue to use nets averaging 10 kilometers in length 

 within the territorial waters and the international waters of the 

 Mediterranean. Now, this is as of November of last year. This is 

 what I mean by saying that we are kind of washing around this 

 stuff. 



Senator Stevens. But, Mr. Chairman, that was updated Satur- 

 day with a report of a new conflict between the Spanish fleet and 

 the French fleet. 



What are we doing about trying to get an enforcement mecha- 

 nism like the Coast Guard in areas like the Mediterranean? Maybe 

 we should take some action through NATO and ask that there be 

 an enforcement group established over there. We are providing it 

 for the North Pacific. Why should not some other nation provide it 

 for the Mediterranean? 



Ambassador CoLSON. Well, that is a new idea. Senator. I do not 

 think we have thought about trying to promote an enforcement ca- 

 pability in Europe. 



We have been working hard with the European Community to 

 get them to be more vigorous in their enforcement of these rules. 

 We have been working hard with the Spanish that have the same 

 point of view as we do, and they are calling attention to the viola- 

 tions that they see, and we have been on top of this issue with the 

 French Government and the Italian Government since it became 

 clear that both the Italian and French fishing situation might be 



