to date, has held four meetings. The United States continues to be a 

 prime force in MEPC. The work program of MEPC includes providing 

 for adoption and implementation of international pollution-related con- 

 ventions and amendments thereto; adopting recommendations, codes, 

 standard practices and guidelines as appropriate; initiating studies of 

 particular problems and making the results of such studies available to 

 interested states; and providing technical advice to member countries, 

 particularly developing countries. With the cooperation of the Govern- 

 ment of Mexico. MEPC is sponsoring a technical symposium on the pre- 

 vention of marine pollution, in Acapulco, Mexico, during April 1976. 





Photo: U.S. Coast Guard 



Foreign Relations Aspects of U.S. Fisheries 



Jurisdictional disputes between U.S. distant-water fishermen and 

 foreign governments continued to be a problem during 1975, with 

 seizures by Ecuador of seven U.S. tuna vessels in the early part of the 

 year. Under the terms of the Fishermen's Protection Act, the vessels 

 owners were reimbursed for most of their losses as a result of the 

 seizures. The confiscation of the catch and long detentions of several 

 weeks in port, however, made these latest seizure incidents particularly 

 difficult. Since February 1975, no seizures have taken place, and some 



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