Agreement Between The Government Of The United States Of America And The Government Of The Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics On Certain Fishery Problems In The Northeastern Part Of The Pacific Ocean Off The Coast Of The United States Of America
Source: UNTS vol. 688, p. 157
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, being mutually interested in having the fisheries in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the United States conducted with due attention to their respective interests,
Considering it desirable that the fisheries in the said area be conducted with due regard to the conservation of fish stocks, and that measures be taken to prevent damage to the fishing gear used by fishermen of the two countries, and
Considering it desirable also to expand scientific research in the field of fisheries and the exchange of scientific data,
Have agreed on the following:
1. Fishing vessels of the Soviet Union may fish and conduct loading operations in the nine-mile zone contiguous to the territorial sea of the United States in the following areas:
(a) In the Gulf of Alaska between 140° 30' west longitude and 142° 30' west longitude, and
(b) In the Aleutian Islands between 169° west longitude and 173° west longitude and west of 178° 30' west longitude.
Fishing effort in these areas will not exceed the present level.
2. In addition, fishing vessels of the Soviet Union may conduct loading operations in the following areas in the nine-mile zone contiguous to the territorial sea of the United States:
(a) Near Cape Lookout in the State of Oregon between 45° 18' north latitude and 45° 23' north latitude;
(b) Near Destruction Island in the State of Washington between 47° 36' north latitude and 47° 45' north latitude;
(c) Near the mouth of the Rogue River in the State of Oregon between 42° 21' north latitude and 42° 33' north latitude;
(d) Near Forrester Island in the State of Alaska in the waters bounded on the north by 54° 54' north latitude, on the east by 133° 16' west longitude, and on the south by 54° 44' north latitude;
(e) On the east side of Kayak Island in the State of Alaska between 59° 52' north latitude and 59° 56' north latitude west of 143° 53' west longitude and on the west side of Kayak Island between 59° 56' north latitude and 60° 00' north latitude;
(f) On the west side of Sanak Island in the State of Alaska in the waters bounded on the north by 54° 36' north latitude, and on the south by 54° 26' north latitude, on the west by 163° 05' west longitude, and on the east by 162° 40' west longitude; and in the following alternate areas:
(g) Near Cape Blanco in the State of Oregon, between 42° 51' north latitude and 42° 56' north latitude; and
(h) Near Cape Elizabeth in the State of Washington between 47° 20' north latitude and 470 23' north latitude.
3. The Government of the Soviet Union will adopt the measures necessary to ensure that citizens and vessels of the Soviet Union :
(a) Refrain from fishing in the waters off the Pacific coast of the United States between 46° 14' north latitude and 46° 56' north latitude landward of the isobath of 110 meters and in the waters bounded by an arc with a radius of 15 nautical miles with its center at the mouth of Alsea Bay in the State of Oregon;
(b) Refrain from concentrating fishing vessels during the period from June 15th through September 15th between 47° 54' north latitude and 48° 28' north latitude east of 125° 10' west longitude;
(c) During the period May 9th to May 23rd, refrain from fishing in the following areas:
(1) The area enclosed by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order listed:
North Latitude [TAB] West Longitude
56° 30' [TAB] 156° 30'
56° 30' [TAB] 156° 07'
56° 22' [TAB] 155° 43'
55° 50' [TAB] 155° 50'
55° 35' [TAB] 156° 25'
55° 35' [TAB] 156° 44'
56° 30' [TAB] 156° 30'
(2) The area enclosed by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order listed:
North Latitude [TAB] West Longitude
58° 00' [TAB] 150° 49'
58° 00' [TAB] 150° 00'
58° 43' [TAB] 150° 00'
59° 07' [TAB] 150° 21'
59° 07' [TAB] 147° 57'
58° 12' [TAB] 148° 45'
57° 32' [TAB] 150° 13'
58° 00' [TAB] 150° 49'
4, It is agreed that nationals and vessels of the respective countries shall not engage in trawl fishing in the following areas of high concentrations of ocean perch for the period of this agreement :
(a) The area enclosed by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order listed:
North Latitude [TAB] West Longitude
45° 35' [TAB] 124° 26'
45° 35' [TAB] 124° 33'
45° 42' [TAB] 124° 45'
45° 49' [TAB] 124° 45'
45° 49' [TAB] 124° 37'
45° 40' [TAB] 124° 26'
45° 35' [TAB] 124° 26'
(b) The area enclosed by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order listed:
North Latitude [TAB] West Longitude
47° 56' [TAB] 125° 30'
47° 53' [TAB] 125° 33'
47° 55' [TAB] 125° 40'
48° 05' [TAB] 125° 40'
48° 05' [TAB] 125° 38'
47° 56' [TAB] 125° 30'
(c) The area enclosed by straight lines connecting the following coordinates in the order listed:
North Latitude [TAB] West Longitude
44° 48' 30" [TAB] 124° 32'
44° 48' 30" [TAB] 124° 43'
45° 08' [TAB] 124° 45'
45° 08' [TAB] 124° 20'
45° 00' [TAB] 124° 20'
44° 48' 30" [TAB] 124° 32'
This paragraph shall not apply to vessels under 110 feet in length.
5. The Government of the United States will adopt the measures necessary to ensure that nationals and vessels under its control engaged in the ocean perch fishery in waters off the coasts of the States of Oregon and Washington will use trawl gear having a mesh size of no less than three inches (76 mm.) in the cod end.
6. Each Government will take appropriate measures with regard to areas of heavy concentration of fishing operations of both countries directed at prevention of damage to fishing gear, including:
(a) Measures leading to improvement of the means for marking fixed fishing gear and for reciprocal notification of areas in which fixed gear is concentraded;
(b) Measures to ensure that fixed gear is set with due regard for the operation of mobile gear;
(c) Measures to ensure that vessels operating with mobile gear will pass clearly marked fixed gear at a distance of not less than 400 meters from the nearest marker.
7. Both Governments will take appropriate measures to ensure that, to the extent practicable, waste materials are discharged at sea only in waters deeper than 1000 meters.
8. Both Governments consider it useful to arrange, when appropriate, for visits of representatives of fishermen's organizations of the two countries to each other's fishing fleets operating in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. Such visits may be arranged on mutually agreeable terms determined in each particular case by the Chief of the Joint Expedition in the Soviet fleet, Dalryba, and the Regional Director of the United States Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in Seattle, Washington or Juneau, Alaska, as may be appropriate.
9. Both Governments consider it desirable to expand fishery research in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean on species of common interest, both on a national basis and in the form of joint investigations. The competent agencies of the two Governments will arrange for the exchange of scientific data and results of research on the fisheries, for meetings of scientists and, when appropriate, for participation by scientists of each Government in investigations carried out on board research vessels of the other Government. Each Government will, within the scope of its domestic laws and regulations, facilitate entry into appropriate ports for research vessels of the other Government engaged in such joint research.
10. Nothing in this agreement shall be interpreted as prejudicing the views of either Government with regard to freedom of fishing on the high seas or to traditional fisheries.
11. This agreement shall remain in force for the period of one year. Representatives of the two Governments will meet at a mutually convenient time prior to the expiration of the period of validity of this agreement to review the operation of this agreement and to decide on future arrangements.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized for this purpose, have signed this agreement and have affixed their seals thereto.
DONE at Washington, February 13, 1967 in two copies, each in English and Russian, both texts being equally authentic.
For the Government of the United States of America:
Donald L. MCKERNAN
For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
M.N. SUKHORUCHENKO
Exchange of Letters
Letter I
Washington, D.C., February 13, 1967
Sir:
See letter II
Accept, Sir, etc.
M.N. SUKHORUCHENKO
Deputy Minister of Fisheries of the Union of the Society Republics
His Excellency Donald L. McKernan
Special Assistant for Fisheries and Wildlife to the Secretary
Letter II
DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON
February 13, 1967
Dear Mr. Minister:
I refer to your letter of February 13, 1967, which reads as follows:
"In connection with the signing today of an Agreement between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the Government of the United States of America on certain fishery problems in the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean near the coast of the United States, I have the pleasure to confirm the following understandings:
"1. Arrangements for dealing with unresolved problems which relate to certain fisheries of the Soviet Union and the United States of America in the northwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean and which are not within the competence of the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries [2]will be considered by representatives of the two Govvernments at a meeting to be held during the week preceding the 1967 annual meeting of the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.
"2. As an initial step in implementing paragraph 9 of said Agreement Soviet and United States scientists will meet in Seattle in early May 1967 to arrange for data exchanges and joint research to be carried out during 1967.
"I also have the pleasure to inform you that -
"(a) Soviet authorities do not intend to alter the manner in which bottom trawl gear is rigged and operated by the Soviet fishing fleet operating in waters off the Pacific coast of the United States in 1967; and
"(b) Soviet authorities do not intend to conduct a specialized fishery for ocean perch in the waters off Oregon and Washington south of 48° 10' north latitude during 1967."
I am pleased to inform you that the above understandings are acceptable to the Government of the United States of America.
Sincerely yours,
DONALD L. MCKERNAN
Special Assistant for Fisheries and Wildlife to the Secretary
His Excellency M. N. Sukhoruchenko
Deputy Minister of Fisheries of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
