FAO appointed a working Party for Rational Utilization of Tuna Resources in the Atlantic Ocean. 

 Ultimately, a Conference was convened under FAO auspices in Rio de Janeiro in 1966 and it produced 

 the Convention. 



The Convention covers "all waters in the Atlantic Ocean, including the adjacent seas."' ' * This wide 

 coverage is essential because the stocks of tuna fished off West Africa are Ukely to migrate across the 

 entire Atlantic and are heavily exploited by vessels from countries of North America, South America, 

 Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is also clear that the language of the Convention was intended to cover the 

 territorial seas and other waters over which the nations otherwise claimed exclusive jurisdiction. 



2. Administrative Organization and Powers 



The States Parties agree to estabUsh and maintain an International Commission for Atlantic Tunas, to 

 be composed of not more than three delegates of each Party, assisted by experts and advisors.'^' 

 Decisions of the Commission are to be made by a majority of the Parties voting, with each Party having 

 one vote and with two-thirds of the Parties constituting a quorum.' *° The Commission is to elect a 

 Chairman, a first Vice-Chairman and a second Vice-Chairman who shall not be re-elected for more than 

 one term.'*' 



The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Commission together with the representatives of not less 

 than four and not more than eight Parties elected at each regular meeting of the Commission are to 

 constitute the Commission's Council.'*^ 



However, if at any time the number of the Parties exceeds 40, the Commission may elect an 

 additional two Parties to be represented on the Council.'*^ The Parties of which the Chairman and the 

 Vice-Chairman are nationals shall not be elected to the Council.'*'* The Council is to perform such 

 functions as are assigned to it by the Convention or the Commission, and shall meet at least once in the 

 interim between the regular meetings of the Commission.' * ^ 



The Commission is also empowered to appoint an Executive Secretary to serve at its pleasure. The 

 Executive Secretary, subject to the rules and procedures prescribed by the Commission, shall select and 

 supervise the Commission's staff. He shall also perform, among other things, the following functions: 



(a) coordinate the programs of investigation by the Parties; 



(b) prepare budget estimates for review by the Commission; 



(cj authorize disbursement of funds in accordance with the budget; 



(d) account for the funds of the Commission; 



(e) arrange for cooperation with other organizations; 



(f) prepare the collection of and the analysis of data necessary to accomplish the purpose of the 

 Convention, especially those data relating to current and maximum sustainable catches of tuna stocks; 

 and 



158 



Convention, Art. I. Copy of Convention provided by United States Department of State. See also Carroz and 

 Roche, The Proposed International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, 61 Am. J. Int'l. L. 673 (1967). 



'^'W., Art. III. 



'«'/Wd. 

 '"/d., Ait.V. 



'''Ibid. 



VIIH27 



