[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.