    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [August 15, 1997]
    [Page 1109]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1109]]

    Statement on Signing the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act
    August 15, 1997

        I am pleased today to sign into law H.R. 408, the ``International
    Dolphin Conservation Program Act''. This Act is the product of a
    bipartisan effort by the Congress, my Administration, and a number of
    major environmental groups and U.S. fishermen. The Act will ensure that
    one of the best international programs to conserve marine resources will
    be strengthened and continued.
        The protection of dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean,
    where these marine mammals swim together with schools of yellowfin tuna,
    has long been a high priority for the United States. Strengthening the
    International Dolphin Conservation Program through this legislation is a
    major victory for strong international efforts to protect dolphins
    caught during tuna fishing in this region.
        The Act recognizes that ongoing international efforts have been a
    tremendous success--dolphin mortalities have been reduced by more than
    98 percent from previous levels. Foreign nations, whose fishing fleets
    have contributed to this success, will no longer face U.S. embargoes on
    their tuna products if they continue to participate effectively in this
    international program.
        One of the major provisions of this Act is the change in the
    definition of the standard for the ``dolphin-safe'' label affixed to
    canned tuna sold in the United States. The definition of dolphin-safe
    will be changed to mean that no dolphins were killed or seriously
    injured during harvesting of the tuna. The label change will take effect
    in March 1999 unless the Secretary of Commerce determines that tuna
    fishing by encircling dolphins has a significant adverse impact on
    dolphin stocks. United States policy on this question has been and will
    continue to be based on the best available scientific information.
        Unfortunately, H.R. 408 also contains provisions that could be
    construed to direct how the Nation's foreign affairs should be
    conducted. The Constitution vests the President with special authority
    to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, and this authority necessarily
    entails the exercise of discretion. Thus, section 4(e), that portion of
    section 6(c) that amends section 302 of the Marine Mammal Protection
    Act, and section 7(c) will be construed to be advisory within the
    executive branch.
        In approving H.R. 408, I would like to recognize Congressmen
    Gilchrest, Cunningham, Saxton, Cardin, and Green and Senators Breaux,
    Stevens, McCain, Kerry, Snowe, and Hollings for their efforts in the
    passage of this legislation.
        The strictly enforced dolphin protection regime that this Act
    endorses is a model of effective international cooperation on an
    important environmental matter, and I am pleased to sign it.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    August 15, 1997.

    Note: H.R. 408, approved August 15, was assigned Public Law No. 105-42.