Number: 1988-25
WHEREAS, the activities of commercial fishermen and processors in the United States harvesting vast groundfish, salmon and herring resources are regulated in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by current laws of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the area of the Bering Sea outside the EEZ of the United States and outside the jurisdiction of the Soviet Union is not managed by any country or international organization; and
WHEREAS, the fish stocks in the EEZ circulate beyond the 200-mile boundary, where they are subject to unlimited and uncontrolled harvesting estimated to exceed 1 million metric tons a year; and
WHEREAS, the area is used as a staging area for illegal fishing within the United States EEZ by foreign vessels; and
WHEREAS, the unregulated harvest in the international water and the illegal harvest in the EEZ by the same vessels is in excess of limits set for fisheries conservation; and
WHEREAS, the cumulative effect of this harvest can have significant impacts on fish stocks of both economic and recreational importance; and
WHEREAS, unregulated foreign fishing in the international waters of the Bering Sea adversely affects the Bering Sea ecosystem, causing direct mortality of marine birds and mammals and reductions in their prey base; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a uniform observer program and the lack of accurate data on fisheries resources and harvest levels in the waters of the Bering Sea significantly hinder decision-making in management of fisheries and wildlife resources in the United States EEZ; and
WHEREAS, prompt action is necessary to protect the fisheries and wildlife resources of the United States that migrate into international water and to protect the integrity of the Bering Sea ecosystem;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 17-20, in New Orleans, Louisiana urges the President of the United States to seek negotiations with the Soviet Union to establish a system of joint resource management for the international waters of the Bering Sea; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President should seek agreements with foreign nations whose vessels fish in international waters of the Bering Sea that would provide for annual reporting of fishing activities in that area; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Secretary of Commerce should direct that, in accordance with the permit conditions established by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, the United States observer program be expanded to include foreign fishing vessels operating in the international waters of the Bering Sea and a consistent observer program for domestic vessels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President direct, and the U.S. Congress provide funding for, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard to increase patrols for enforcement of U.S. laws governing commercial fishing activities in the Bering Sea, and other entities of the federal government to cooperated in developing a joint surveillance and enforcement program to cover fishing vessels operating in the Bering Sea.