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COMMONWEALTH OF 



THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS 



Statement of Jesus C. Borja 



June 1, 1995 



insular areas. 



The Commonwealth favors these proposals, as far as they go. 

 They can and should be improved, however. The proposals do not, 

 for example, recognize an ownership interest in the fishing re- 

 sources by the people of the Pacific insular areas. They do not 

 allow Commonwealth participation in regional or international 

 fishery management organizations. They do not expressly estab- 

 lish that revenue-generating fees may be charged or that fines 

 and penalties accrue to the insular area governments. They do 

 not confer jurisdiction on the federal District Court for the 

 Northern Mariana Islands to enforce the Magnuson Act. 



THE COMMONWEALTH'S PROPOSAL 



The Commonwealth, using the NMFS's drafts as a starting 

 point, has developed additional proposals to amend the Magnuson 

 Act. We here offer these proposed amendments for your consider- 

 ation. 38 



38 The proposed amendments are attached as Exhibit 4 to this 

 statement . 



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