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Good afternoon Mr. Chairman and men\bers of the Subcomrruttee. 

 For the record, my name is Robert Morgan, I am here today in my capacity 

 as Director of Oceantrawl Inc., Seattle, Washington, one of the largest 

 harvesting, processing and marketing seafood companies in the United 

 States. In addition, I am presently President of the American Factory 

 Trawlers Association. I also have the pleasure of serving as an advisor to 

 the U.S. Department of State on the North Pacific and Bering Sea Fisheries 

 U.S. Advisory Body. 



At the outset, I would like to say that those of us in the Pacific 

 Northwest fisheries industry appreciate the leadership and supporting role 

 both you and Chairman Studds are playing on the critical issue of marine 

 conservation. Specifically, the conservation and management of poUock 

 resources in the Central Bering Sea. In this regard, I am quite pleased to be 

 here today to offer my unequivocal support for H. Con. Res. 135, calling for 

 the United States to take further steps to establish an international fishery 

 agreement for conservation and management of living marine resources in 

 international waters of the Bering Sea known as the "Donut Hole". Mr 

 Yoimg should be commended for his sponsorship of this important 

 Resolution. 



As we all know, diaring the mid-80's, foreign coimtries began taking 

 massive amounts of U.S. and Russian fish from the Donut area. This, of 

 course, precipitated major conservation problems in the fishery zones of 

 both the U.S. and Russia. The Donut Hole is one of the most productive 

 regions for commercial fishing in the world. The stocks straddle both the 

 U.S. and Russian Zones, and as a result of the Donut Hole's overutilization, 

 the U.S. experienced dramatic declines of its valuable fishery resources in 

 its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 



I am happy to report to the Subcommittee today that as a result of the 

 bilateral actions of both U.S. and Russia since the nnid-80's, significant 

 changes have occurred in the fishing practices of foreign nations in the 

 Donut Hole. Effective conservation and management regimes have been 

 negotiated and implemented with the foreign distant waters fishing nations 

 for the Donut Hole. However, these negotiations have not provided a 

 permanent solution for a controlled fishing regime in the Donut Hole. A 

 permanent enforceable solution is absolutely essential. 



Although foreign delegates signed a document in 1992 providing for 

 temporary suspension of all commercial fishing in the Donut Hole for 1993- 

 94 and subsequently met in 1993 to negotiate a long-term management 

 regime, nothing permanent has been agreed to as of this date. I would ask 

 the Subcommittee to pursue vigorously legislation to ensure permanent 

 conservation and management for these important resources. 



And lastly, Mr. Chairman, I wotdd like to bring to your attention The 

 U.S. "draft" Agreement for the Conservation and Management of Pollock 



