[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 103-24

  Mr. MITCHELL. Madam President, as in executive session, I ask 
unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the 
Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and 
Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (Treaty 
Document No. 103-24), transmitted to the Senate by the President on 
April 25, 1994; and ask that the treaty be considered as having been 
read the first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that 
the President's message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The President's message is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
acceptance, I transmit herewith the Agreement to Promote Compliance 
With International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing 
Vessels on the High Seas, which was adopted at Rome by consensus by the 
Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization 
(``FAO'') on November 24, 1993.
  This Agreement was negotiated largely on the initiative of the United 
States, in response to the fisheries crises that have arisen in many 
corners of the world. In my view, it represents a significant 
breakthrough and offers the international community an opportunity to 
develop responsible fishing practices on a global basis. The Agreement 
once implemented, will begin to resolve many of the problems that have 
undermined the sustainability of high seas fishing resources. By 
becoming party to this Agreement, the United States would continue to 
demonstrate its commitment to preserving these resources and the 
livelihoods that depend on them.
  The Agreement sets forth a broad range of obligations for Parties 
whose fishing vessels operate on the high seas, including the 
obligation to ensure that such vessels do not undermine international 
fishery conservation and management measures. Parties must also 
prohibit their vessels from fishing on the high seas without specific 
authorization and must take enforcement measures in respect of vessels 
that contravene requirements flowing from the Agreement.
  The Agreement also creates an important role for the FAO as a 
clearinghouse of data relating to high seas fishing. Through the 
collection and dissemination of such data, it will be possible to 
improve our knowledge of all high seas fisheries, which is of critical 
importance if the international community is to protect these valuable 
resources successfully.
  I recommend that the Senate gives early and favorable consideration 
to the Agreement and give its advice and consent to acceptance.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, April 25, 1994.

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