[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.