6 



began as an effort to prevent vessels from reflagging for the pur- 

 pose of avoiding agreed fishing restrictions, will require that all 

 vessels fishing on the high seas observe international fishing rules 

 and fish only with specific authorization from their flag States. The 

 treaty also will create a transparent regime in which information 

 on high seas fishing activities is made generally available through 

 FAO. This treaty could greatly assist the United States and the 

 international community in dealing with the growing problems of 

 uncontrolled fishing on the high seas, particularly by vessels flying 

 flags of convenience. I hope that FAO can wrap up this negotiation 

 as early as this November. 



While we advance toward solutions to these issues through global 

 negotiations and through negotiations with the countries directly 

 concerned in the Donut Hole, we, unfortunately, do have another 

 situation that calls into question our support for regional approach- 

 es. That is the situation in the northwest Atlantic where the U.S. 

 remains outside of the relevant organization, NAFO. 



The Senate gave advice and consent to the NAFO treaty in 1983, 

 but we have never deposited the relevant legal instrument to join 

 because no implementing legislation has been passed through 

 which we could meet our obligations. 



The reasons for this are none too clear, although it is clear that 

 some fishermen in New England would prefer to fish in the NAFO 

 region without regulatory control. That is understandable, but it is 

 an attitude that cannot be supported in today's world where we 

 must act vigorously to protect the environment and act with other 

 countries to assure the sustainable use of fishery resources over 

 time. 



We must have credible and consistent positions to be effective on 

 global fishery and environmental issues like driftnets or the Donut 

 Hole, and that means we must join NAFO and work within it to 

 accomplish our objectives. 



Last year, the Bush administration forwarded implementing leg- 

 islation for the NAFO agreement to Congress. Unfortunately, there 

 was not time to act upon it. 



The Clinton administration reviewed this early on in the context 

 of a National Security Council directed review of global environ- 

 mental issues and likewise concluded to support early passage of 

 legislation. 



Thus, we are pleased that H.R. 3058 has been introduced, and I 

 can state full administration support for its passage. 



Returning now to the Donut Hole. The fishery problem in the 

 Bering Sea has been a subject of statements of concern during the 

 last three summit meetings between the Presidents of the United 

 States and Russia, including most recently in Vancouver. 



It was the subject of legislation last year, and it is the subject of 

 H. Con. Res. 135 introduced this year, which enjoys the full support 

 of the Administration. 



The negotiations with Poland and Korea, Japan and China on 

 the one hand and Russia and ourselves on the other have been 

 tough and intense. There have been seven major meetings since 

 early 1991, and the eighth will occur in two weeks in Korea. 



Some progress has been made. Particularly, there is in place now 

 the voluntary suspension of fishing for this year and next which 



