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came together on a set of rules that were laid out in the 1982 Con- 

 vention on the Law of the Sea that previous administrations have 

 indicated our support for all the provisions except the deep seabed 

 mining conditions of that convention. 



That convention has served the international community well on 

 a full range of issues. It doesn't answer every question. In situa- 

 tions like this, it causes us to get out and negotiate hard to resolve 

 the problems. But it has resolved some fundamental issues and de- 

 bates around the world, and we have a real interest in holding on 

 to the consensus that has developed since the 1982 convention. 



It is a priority of the Clinton administration to work very hard 

 with the Secretary-General's initiative in the United Nations to try 

 to see if there is a way to make modifications in the deep seabed 

 mining parts of that convention so the United States could actually 

 sign up and join the treaty as a whole. 



Mr. Manton. Mr. Somerville, has Alaska done any studies to de- 

 termine the impact of the temporary moratorium on the pollock 

 fisheries? Are the stocks rebuilding? 



Mr. Somerville. I believe the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 could give a better answer relative to the rebuilding because they 

 do the bulk of the stock assessment work. Our indications are that 

 there is improvement. 



Mr. Manton. Mr. Matlock? 



Mr. Matlock. The information that the National Marine Fisher- 

 ies Service has indicates a similar situation. There may be some 

 improvement, but it is not possible to document any rebuilding of 

 the stock as a result of the cessation of fishing based on our survey 

 work or that of other countries. We see no sign of increase in our 

 estimates of biomass. There is certainly room for improvement 

 with additional protection of the fish in the Donut Hole. 



Mr. Manton. Mr. Morgan, Mr. Somerville testified that the clo- 

 sure of the pollock fishery had a great impact on the United States 

 fishing industry. Can you say what your thoughts are on the clos- 

 ing of that fishery? 



Mr. Morgan. We are strongly in favor of closing that fishery in 

 the Donut Hole primarily because that fish is either of U.S. origin 

 or Russian origin. 



In answer to your first question, I would have a different answer 

 than Ambassador Colson. 



Mr. Manton. I would suspect so. 



Mr. Morgan. Those fish are of U.S. origin. They straddle the 

 international zone where they are caught by other nations. The 

 ideal situation would be to mechanize that. That is a U.S. resource, 

 and it should be managed by the United States Government. 



Mr. Manton. Mr. Gianni, do you have any comments on any of 

 the questions? 



Mr. Gianni. A very brief comment, Mr. Chairman, on the ques- 

 tion of Ambassador Colson, the whole issue of extending out the ju- 

 risdiction beyond the 200-mile limit. It is certainly of concern to 

 Greenpeace. A number of countries have indicated that if the re- 

 sults of the U.N. Conference on Straddling and Migratory Fish 

 Stocks are not satisfactory they may extend out in some fashion. 



A number of countries, including Chile, have established a pres- 

 ence over the oceans beyond the 200-mile limit. We feel it would be 



