    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 21, 1991]
    [Pages 531-532]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Convention for the Prohibition of
    Fishing With Long Driftnets in the South Pacific
    May 21, 1991

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, the Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long
    Driftnets in the South Pacific, done at Wellington on November 24, 1989
    (the ``Wellington Convention''), and Protocol I, done at Noumea on
    October 20, 1990, to the Wellington Convention.
        The Wellington Convention was negotiated by the South Pacific states
    and is designed to prohibit driftnet fishing in the South Pacific Ocean.
    The Convention prohibits the use of driftnets or the transshipment of
    driftnet catches in waters under the fisheries jurisdiction of the
    parties within the Convention area, and by vessels and nationals of the
    parties anywhere within the Convention area. For the United States,
    these obligations will apply to the United States Exclusive Economic
    Zone around American Samoa and certain unincorporated U.S. islands and
    to U.S. nationals and vessels documented under U.S. laws fishing within
    the Convention area.
        Protocol I to the Wellington Convention was adopted by the South
    Pacific states as the instrument by which distant water fishing nations,
    whose nationals and vessels fish in the Convention area, agree to
    prohibit their nationals and vessels from fishing with driftnets in that
    area.
        Public Law 101-627 amends the Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and
    Management Act (MFCMA) to, among other things, prohibit driftnet fishing
    in waters subject to U.S. fisheries jurisdiction, and by U.S. vessels
    and nationals anywhere. As a result, no additional legislation will be
    required for the United States to implement the Convention.
        Ratification of the Wellington Convention and Protocol I is
    consistent with U.S. policy on driftnet fishing. Section 107 of Public
    Law 101-627 provides that it is the policy of the Congress that the
    United States should support the Wellington Convention and secure a
    permanent ban on the use of large-scale driftnets on the high seas of
    the world. Early ratification by the United States will demonstrate U.S.
    commitment to this policy and encourage similar action by other nations
    whose participation in the Convention and Protocol I is important.
        I recommend that the Senate give early

    [[Page 532]]

    and favorable consideration to the Wellington Convention and Protocol I
    and give its advice and consent to ratification, subject to the
    understandings described in the accompanying report of the Secretary of
    State.

                                                                 George Bush

    The White House,
    May 21, 1991.