Conservation Laws 



The Coast Guard enforces a number of fish and game conservation 

 laws, generally codifying provisions of conventions, treaties, or agree- 

 ments between the United States and other nations. Most of these 

 deal with deep-sea fishing, while others protect the fur seal and regu- 

 late whaling and sponge-fishing. 



The Interior Department (Fish and Wildlife Service), State De- 

 partment, and the Coast Guard all consider the conservation laws 

 adequate, but all agree that proper enforcement is not possible with 

 the men and equipment available. Coast Guard supplies all marine 

 enforcement except in the North Pacific, where the Interior Depart- 

 ment makes an unsatisfactory effort with a small vessel of its own and 

 three launches under contract. 



More enforcement will be required in the future. Treaty regula- 

 tions need to be expanded to protect additional species of fish and 

 shell fish, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Convention should be 

 changed to permit international policing of the fishermen of signa- 

 tory nations, and the large Kussian and Japanese fishing fleets in both 

 Atlantic and Pacific concern State, Interior, and the Coast Guard. 



It was recommeThded that, in order to assure survival of many of our 

 vanishing species of wildlife and so that the vast natural resources of 

 our fishing grounds not be diminished, sufficient Coast Guard person- 

 nel and facilities be allocated to carry out a more adequate enforce- 

 ment program. 



It was recomnmended that the Coast Guard and Departments of State 

 and Interior continue to study and coordinate marine conservation 

 law enforcement, with the Coast Guard assuming enforcement respon- 

 sibilities in areas of marine conservation under Interior's administra- 

 tive supervision. 



It was recommended that Treasury, Interior, and State develop 

 jointly standards and requirements for conservation law enforcement. 



Campeche Patrol 



In 1951, the Coast Guard began a continuous patrol in the Gulf of 

 Campeche (part of the Gulf of Mexico) to provide SAR assistance and 

 to prevent incidents with Mexico over claims that U.S. shrimp boats 

 were violating Mexican waters. Since the patrol began, the incidents 

 have decreased. 



Recently a part-time patrol was begim in the Western Gulf of 

 Mexico, at the request of the State Department. 



There is potential need for a full-time patrol, which cannot be car- 

 ried out with existing facilities and men. 



It was recommiended that these patrols be continued and the pro- 

 gram be reviewed periodically, 



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