[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RESOLUTION ADDRESSING CANADIAN LICENSE FEE S. RES. 226

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, my colleagues and I strongly object to 
Canada's announcement of a $1,500 license fee for United States 
fishermen to transit through the Inside Passage off British Columbia.
  We are introducing a resolution that expresses our objections and 
that will help protect our fishermen.
  The Canadian license fee is an attempt to get the United States to 
accept Pacific Salmon Treaty fishing arrangements sought by Canada.
  While we face tough issues under the Pacific Salmon Treaty, we simply 
cannot allow Canada to negotiate by putting United States lives in 
danger.
  The State Department now agrees with me that the Canadian fee is 
illegal under international law.
  Customary international law, and the Law of the Sea--which Canada has 
signed--guarantee the right of passage of vessels through waters such 
as the Inside Passage.
  Our resolution calls for the reimbursement of U.S. fishermen who are 
stopped and forced to pay the Canadian fee.
  Congress passed the ``Fishermen's Protective Act'' to protect U.S. 
fishermen against unfair and illegal actions such as this fee, and we 
must now utilize that law.
  Further, we should amend that law to ensure that U.S. fishermen are 
able to be reimbursed without having their vessels seized first.
  Our resolution also calls for an end to the courtesy we have extended 
to Canadian fishing vessels off Alaska.
  In the past, we have allowed Canadian fishermen to anchor off Alaska 
without proper customs clearance.
  If Canada insists on treating United States fishermen unfairly and 
illegally, we should no longer extend this courtesy.
  We are also asking the President to take immediate action to convey 
to Canada that the fee is not in its long term interest.
  The President must let Canada know that the United States will not 
tolerate restrictions on the right of passage of United States vessels 
in violation of international law.
  Finally, we are asking the President to direct the Coast Guard to 
provide for the safety of United States citizens exercising their right 
of passage in Canadian waters.
  Again, we view the license fee as a separate matter from the Pacific 
Salmon Treaty.
  Our resolution does, however, call for the United States to continue 
to seek agreement with Canada under the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
  We hope that Canada will abandon the license fee and return to 
negotiate salmon arrangements in good faith.
  I would like to thank Senator Gorton for leading the effort to put 
this important resolution together.

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