    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 25 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
    [Pages 1090-1091]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Canada-United States Agreement on
    Pacific Hake/Whiting

    June 16, 2004

    To the Senate of the United States:

        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
    ratification, I transmit herewith the Agreement between the Government
    of the United States of America and the Government of Canada on Pacific
    Hake/Whiting (the ``Agreement''), done at Seattle, November 21, 2003. I
    am also enclosing, for the information of the Senate, the report of the
    Secretary of State on the Agreement.
        The Agreement establishes, for the first time, agreed percentage
    shares of the transboundary stock of Pacific hake, also known as Pacific
    whiting. It also creates a process through which U.S. and Canadian
    scientists and fisheries managers will recommend the total catch of
    Pacific hake each year, to be divided by a set percentage formula.
    Stakeholders from both countries will have significant input into this
    process.
        The Agreement not only allows the Parties to redress the overfishing
    that had led to a recent decline in stock levels, but also provides
    long-term stability for U.S. fishers and processors and a structure for
    future scientific collaboration.
        The recommended legislation necessary to implement the Agreement
    will be submitted separately to the Congress.
        I recommend that the Senate give favorable consideration to this
    Agreement and

    [[Page 1091]]

    give its advice and consent to ratification at an early date.
                                                    George W. Bush
     The White House,
     June 16, 2004.