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I have a lengthy written statement that I would like to offer into 

 the record at this time. 



The Chairman. The written statements will all be accepted in 

 their entirety for the record. You can deliver it or highlight it as 

 you wish. 



Captain Dorsey. Yes, sir, with your permission I will go ahead 

 and summarize the important points in my statement, after which 

 I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have. 



The theme of my summary today is a success story involving two 

 very important issues related to the Magnuson Fisheries Conserva- 

 tion and Management Act; Dixon Entrance fisheries enforcement 

 and fishing vessel safety. 



As I am sure you know, Coast Guard Group Ketchikan is a sub- 

 ordinate command of the 17th Coast Guard District. One of our 

 major missions is enforcement of U.S. fisheries laws and regula- 

 tions including the Magnuson Act. We accomplish that mission 

 using three 110-foot patrol boats, three utility boats from our sta- 

 tions, as well as air support from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, 

 Air Station Kodiak, and Air Station Astoria, OR. For other major 

 enforcement operations like halibut and black cod openings we also 

 use buoy tenders provided by the 17th Coast Guard District. 



We are the frontline units which translate Rear Admiral Rufe's 

 two areas of focus, providing enforcement in support of fishery 

 management goals and promoting the safety of fishermen into a 

 continuous program of public education, voluntary dockside exami- 

 nations, inport and at-sea boardings, and, when necessary, appro- 

 priate enforcement action. 



Our fishery enforcement effort is principally focused on three 

 areas; enforcement of the international fisheries boundary with 

 Canada in Dixon Entrance; enforcement of fisheries regulations 

 during Federal halibut and black cod openings; and enforcement of 

 the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act and its regula- 

 tions. 



Group Ketchikan conducts two principal activities in relation to 

 the Canadians in Dixon Entrance. We enforce the Magnuson Act 

 prohibitions against foreign fishing vessels fishing in waters of the 

 State of Alaska, and we assert and protect the right of U.S. fisher- 

 men to fish in the disputed area between the Canadian claimed A- 

 B Line and the U.S. claimed equidistant line. The disputed area is 

 claimed by both the U.S. and Canada and is currently managed 

 under a flag state enforcement agreement between the two nations. 



Approximately 500 Canadian fishing vessels fish in Dixon En- 

 trance at one time or another during the fishing season. In the re- 

 cent past, a number of Canadian vessels have crossed the A-B Line 

 to fish in undisputed U.S. waters within the boundaries of Alaska. 

 To prevent this illegal fishing activity, the Coast Guard has for a 

 number of years stationed patrol boats in Dixon Entrance during 

 the fishing season from mid-June to mid-August. 



The U.S. -Canada Fisheries Enforcement Agreement of 1991 pro- 

 motes coordination among the fisheries enforcement agencies of the 

 United States and Canada. For the past several years, we have 

 conducted some highly informative preseason meetings between all 

 the United States and Canadian agencies with an interest in Dixon 

 Entrance enforcement. In addition, we have communicated with 



