[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2227-S2228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 108-2

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction 
of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the 
Senate on February 11, 2003, by the President of the United States:
  Amendments to the 1987 Treaty on Fisheries with Pacific Island States 
(Treaty Document No. 108-2).
  I further 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 message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith Amendments to the 1987 Treaty on 
Fisheries Between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and 
the Government of the United States of America, with Annexes and agreed 
statements, done at Port Moresby, April 2, 1987 (the Treaty), done at 
Koror, Palau, March 30, 1999, and at Kiritimati, Kiribati, March 24, 
2002. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of 
the Secretary of State with respect to these Amendments, related 
Amendments to the Treaty Annexes, and the Memorandum of Understanding 
regarding provisional application. The United States enjoys positive 
and constructive fisheries relations with the Pacific Island Parties 
through the implementation and operation of the Treaty, which is one of 
the cornerstones of our overall foreign relations with the Pacific 
Island Parties. This Treaty, and the good relationships it has 
fostered, has provided new opportunities for collaboration between the 
Pacific Island Parties and the United States on fisheries conservation 
and management issues. The relationships established as a result of the 
Treaty have also helped to safeguard U.S. commercial and security 
interests in the region.
  The Amendments to the Treaty will, among other things, allow U.S. 
longline vessels to fish in high seas portions of the Treaty Area; 
streamline the way amendments to the Treaty Annexes are agreed; and 
allow the Parties to consider the issue of capacity in the Treaty Area 
and, where appropriate, to promote consistency between the Treaty and 
the relevant fisheries management convention, which is likely to come 
into force during the duration of the extended operation of the Treaty. 
Therefore, no new legislation is necessary in order for the United 
States to

[[Page S2228]]

ratify these Amendments. However, minor amendments to section 6 of the 
South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, Public Law 100-330 will be necessary to 
take account of the Amendment to paragraph 2 of Article 3 ``Access to 
the Treaty Area,'' which opens the high seas of the Treaty Area to 
fishing by U.S. longline vessels.
  I recommend that the Senate give favorable consideration to these 
Amendments and give its advice and consent to their ratification at an 
early date.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, February 11, 2003.

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