813 



to be conducted with due regard to the conditions of the stocks of 

 king and tanner crabs in the Bering Sea. 



(5) With regard to the provisions of paragraph 3(5) of the draft 

 notes to be exchanged concerning crab fisheries, the said representatives 

 stated that after one year of operation of the arrangements set forth 

 in these notes, they would review the areas designated in paragraphs 

 3(l)B(a) and (b) for crab fisheries and would consult further, if 

 necessary. 



(6) With respect to the draft Japanese note concerning procedures 

 to reduce and control incidental catches of king and tanner crabs, the 

 Japanese representative stated that under the procedures referred 

 to in the above-mentioned note, all Japanese stern and pair trawlers 

 engaged in fishing operations in the eastern Bering Sea will, in 1975 

 and 1976, equip their trawl gear, during the months of concentration 

 of crabs, that is. May, June and July, with bobbins of the dimensions 

 indicated below, to be used in an effective manner to reduce the in- 

 cidental catches of king crabs and tanner crabs, and that king crabs 

 and tanner crabs caught incidentally will be returned to the sea im- 

 mediately with a minimum of injury. 



Vessel type and tonnage Bobbin diameter (cm) 



Stern trawl: 



Over 2,500 mt 53 



1,001 to 2,500mt 44-53 



501 to 1,000 mt 40-44 



500 mt and under 30-35 



Pair trawl: All 30-35 



The Japanese representative stated that his Government will study 

 further ways to improve the method of trawl fishing with a view to 

 reducing such incidental catch. 



The Japanese representative stated further that data concerning 

 incidental catches of king and tanner crabs will be kept by the Japanese 

 fisheries authorities and access to the data can be provided to the 

 United States Government upon request. 



(7) The Japanese representative stated that his Government will 

 provide special administrative guidance to nationals and vessels of 

 Japan operating for Pacific Ocean perch and other rockfish in the 

 northeastern Pacific and that such guidance will provide for the sub- 

 mission to the Fishery Agency of Japan of catch reports by fishing- 

 areas at least once each month to assure that the harvest of these 

 resources will be conducted in a prudent manner. He also stated that 

 the annual harvest of Pacific Ocean perch and other rockfish will not 

 exceed 60,000 metric tons in the northeastern Pacific. He stated further 

 that the annual Japanese catch of Pacific Ocean perch and other rock- 

 fish in the Vancouver area (50°30'-47°30' N) will not exceed 1,350 

 metric tons in 1975 and 1976. The United States representative stated 

 that his Government also will take appropriate account of the need 

 for prudent action to ensure conservation of Pacific Ocean perch and 

 other rockfish resources. He stated that the catch of these species by 

 U.S. fishing vessels will be undertaken with due regard to the con- 

 servation of the resource. Pie also requested that the data on the catch 



