Agreement Between The Government Of The Republic Of Finland And The Government Of The Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics Concerning Fishing And Sealing

Agreement concerning fishing and sealing between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (with annexes and exchange of notes)

Source: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20739/volume-739-I-1..., downloaded 20150502

Signed at Moscow on 13 June 1969. Came into force on 24 May 1970, 30 days after the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification, which took place in Helsinki on 24 April 1970, in accordance with article 14.

The Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

Having regard to the favourable development of relations between Finland and the USSR, founded on the 1948 Finnish-Soviet Treaty of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance, and considering that the Government of the Soviet Union, in compliance with the wishes of the Government of the Republic of Finland, has expressed its willingness to permit Finnish fishermen to engage in fishing and sealing in Soviet territorial waters in the Gulf of Finland,

Have decided to conclude this Agreement and have appointed their plenipotentiaries, who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics agrees to permit Finnish nationals to engage in fishing and sealing in Soviet territorial waters in the Gulf of Finland within areas (hereinafter referred to as "treaty area") which are bounded by lines passing through the following points:

Treaty area A

1. Latitude 60° 15.6' north, longitude 27° 30.7' east-a point on the Finnish­ Soviet State frontier in the Gulf of Finland indicated by frontier mark No. 14;

2. Latitude 60° 15.6' north, longitude 27° 50.6' east;

3. Latitude 60° 23.8' north, longitude 27° 50.6' east;

4. Latitude 60° 23.8' north, longitude 27° 44.0' east-turning point of the Finnish-Soviet State frontier, which is indicated by frontier mark No. 10, as shown on Soviet chart No. 403, 1968 edition, annexed to this Agreement (annex 1).1

Finnish vessels, in proceeding to the said area for purposes of fishing or sealing and in returning therefrom, may cross the State frontier of the USSR in the section of that frontier extending from frontier mark No. 10 the point marked by a buoy situated at latitude 60° 22.3' north and longitude 27° 41.4' east.

Treaty area B

1. Latitude 60° 13.7' north, longitude 27° 27.8' east;

2. Latitude 60° 12.3' north, longitude 27° 18.0' east;

3. Latitude 60° 08.8' north, longitude 27° 04.6' east;

4. Latitude 60° 08.8' north, longitude 27° 27.8' east, as shown on Soviet chart No. 403, 1968 edition, annexed to this Agreement (annex 1).

Finnish vessels, in proceeding to the said area for purposes of fishing or sealing and in returning therefrom, may cross the State frontier of the USSR in the section of that frontier extending from the point situated at latitude 60° 13.7' north and longitude 27° 27.8' east to the point situated at latitude 60° 08.8' north and longitude 27° 04.6' east.

Treaty area C

1. Latitude 60° 05.4' north, longitude 26° 49.5' east;

2. Latitude 60° 08.8' north, longitude 26° 47.9' east;

3. Latitude 60° 06.8' north, longitude 26° 38.4' east;

4. Latitude 60° 06.4' north, longitude 26° 32.6' east;

5. Latitude 60° 02.0' north, longitude 26° 24.8' east;

6. Latitude 60° 02.0' north, longitude 26° 49.5' east, as shown on Soviet chart No. 404, 1968 edition, annexed to this Agreement (annex 2).

Finnish vessels, in proceeding to the said area for purposes of fishing or sealing and in returning therefrom, may cross the State frontier of the USSR in the section of that frontier extending from the point situated at latitude 60° 05.4' north and longitude 26° 49.5' east to the point situated at latitude 60° 02.0' north and longitude 26° 24.8' east.

Article 2

Finnish nationals may engage in fishing and sealing in Soviet territorial waters in the treaty areas from 1 January to 31 December of each year in which the Agreement is in force.

In the period during which the sea is free of ice, the permissible types of fishing shall be net fishing from motor boats and row-boats, fishing by means of trawls and fishing by hook and line.

During the winter season, in treaty area A as defined in article 1, net fishing may be carried on underneath the ice and fishermen's huts may be brought to the fishing sites and used there for dwelling purposes.

Article 3

Finnish vessels engaged in fishing and sealing in the treaty areas shall, having regard to the provisions of this Agreement, be subject to the rules governing fishing and sealing in Soviet territorial waters and to the laws and regulations of the USSR relating to the presence of foreign vessels and foreign nationals in Soviet territorial waters.

Particulars of such laws, regulations and rules and of amendments and additions thereto shall be notified to the Finnish Party through the diplomatic channel.

Article 4

Finnish fishermen shall not exercise the right granted them to engage in fishing and sealing in Soviet territorial waters in the Gulf of Finland in cases where the competent Soviet authorities impose a temporary prohibition on all shipping in the treaty areas.

Article 5

For the guidance of fishermen, the areas of Soviet territorial waters in which Finnish nationals are entitled under this Agreement to engage in fishing and sealing shall be marked off by the Soviet Party with buoys and spar-buoys, the co-ordinates of which shall be indicated in the notices issued for navigators.

The Finnish Party undertakes to reimburse all expenses of the Soviet Party connected with the placing and maintenance of the floating navigational markers designating the treaty areas. The method of payment shall be determined by an agreement between the competent authorities of the two Parties.

Article 6

Finnish nationals engaged in fishing and sealing in the treaty areas shall have with them the following documents, which shall be drawn up in the Finnish and Russian languages:

(a) A fishing pass made out in the name of the owner of the vessel or vehicle (annex 3), which shall indicate the area or areas in which the holder of the pass is entitled to engage in fishing or sealing;

(b) A freedom-of-movement permit (annex 4), which must be in the possession of every person on board the vessel or vehicle;

Every person engaged in transporting a catch of fish or seals from the fishing site shall likewise be required to have a freedom-of-movement permit;

(c) A list of fishing gear and other cargo.

The documents and lists referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) shall contain the necessary notations indicating the area or areas defined in this Agreement to which they relate.

The documents referred to in paragraphs (a} and (b) of this article shall be issued by the competent Finnish authorities. The said documents shall, together with the list referred to in paragraph (c}, be certified by the Finnish frontier authorities.

The fishing pass, the freedom-of-movement permit and the list of fishing gear and other cargo shall be produced to the Soviet authorities upon request.

Article 7

The letter "S" and the fishing-pass number shall be painted in white characters on a black ground, the said characters being at least 15 centimetres high and at least 9 centimetres wide, on both sides of the bow of every vessel used for fishing or sealing in a treaty area. This designation may be replaced by the registration mark for fishing vessels of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture: SUOMI and the registration number. The home port of the vessel shall be shown on the stern.

Article 8

A list, certified by the Finnish frontier authorities, of the persons to whom the documents referred to in article 6 of this Agreement have been issued and a list of the fishing vessels and their numerical markings shall be transmitted by the Finnish frontier authorities to the Soviet frontier authorities, through the frontier commissioners, not later than 15 days before the beginning of each half year.

The frontier authorities of the Republic of Finland shall notify the frontier authorities of the USSR of all Finnish vessels proceeding to the treaty areas for purposes of fishing or sealing.

Article 9

Where necessary in order to ensure the safety of winter fishing and sealing operations and to prevent damage to fishing gear from movements of the ice,

the competent Finnish fisheries organization may dispatch to treaty area A, as defined in article 1, its rescue vessel stationed at Huovari Island, the said vessel being subject in all respects to the provisions of this Agreement.

Article 10

In the treaty areas fishing gear shall be considered to be adequately marked if, when drift-nets are being used, one end of the set of nets is attached to the vessel and the other end is marked by two signals. When fishing is carried on with fixed nets, two signals shall be attached to each end of the set of nets. In the case both of drift-net fishing and of fishing with fixed nets, the inner signals of the set of nets shall consist of white flags and the outer signals of red flags. The said flags shall measure 30 X 60 centimetres and shall be attached to floats rising at least two metres above the surface of the water.

Additional signals without flags shall be placed at intervals of 100 metres in the centre of each set of nets.

During the hours of darkness, the nets shall be marked with white signal­ lights visible in all directions. The signal-lights shall be placed not less than 70 centimetres above the surface of the water and shall be visible for a distance of one nautical mile.

Article 11

Claims for compensation in respect of material damage caused to the Finnish Party by Soviet nationals in the treaty areas as a result of a violation of the fishing and sealing rules shall be submitted by the Agricultural Administration of Finland to the North-Western Administration of the Central Administration for the Conservation and Reproduction of Fish Stocks and Fisheries Regulation of the Ministry of Fisheries of the USSR (Sevzaprybvod).

Claims for compensation in respect of material damage caused to the Soviet Party by Finnish nationals in the treaty areas as a result of a violation of the fishing and sealing rules shall be submitted by the North-Western Administration of the Central Administration for the Conservation and Reproduction of Fish Stocks and Fisheries Regulation of the Ministry of Fisheries of the USSR (Sevzaprybvod) to the Agricultural Administration of Finland.

Article 12

The Finnish Party shall bring to the attention of Finnish fishermen the fact that in the areas indicated in article 1 of this Agreement mines were laid during the Second World War and that, notwithstanding the fact that the said areas have been swept and opened for navigation, sunken mines may be present

on the sea-bed, constituting a hazard to fishing and other vessels when they engage in trawling or cast anchor.

In such cases, the Soviet Party shall not be liable for damage to fishing and other vessels.

Article 13

Finnish nationals who, while fishing or sealing in the treaty areas, contravene the provisions of this Agreement may be deprived by the competent Soviet authorities of the right to engage in fishing or sealing in the said areas.

Article 14

This Agreement shall be ratified. The instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible at Helsinki.

The Agreement is concluded for a term of five years and shall enter into force on the expiry of 30 days from the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

If neither Contracting Party denounces the Agreement at least six months before the expiry of the said five-year term, it shall remain in force for successive one-year terms throughout an additional period of five years on condition that either Contracting Party may denounce the Agreement by giving notice to that effect at least six months before the expiry of the current one-year term.

DONE in Moscow on 13 June 1969, in duplicate in the Finnish and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the Republic of Finland: Paul Gustafsson

For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: Nikonorov

ANNEX 3

FISHING PASS No.

In accordance with the Agreement of 13 June 1969 between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning fishing and sealing, the holder of this fishing pass is entitled to engage in fishing and sealing in treaty areas A, B, C (delete where inapplicable).

Description of holder:

PHOTOGRAPH Height

Colour of hair Colour of eyes

STAMP Other distinguishing features . . . . . . . . . .

Surname of owner of vessel/vehicle

Signature of holder

Given names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date of birth

Occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address

Horne port or place of registration of vessel/vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Address

This fishing pass is issued for the period

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19. . . . . .

Certification of the frontier authorities:

Signature and stamp

Signature and stamp

ANNEX 4

FREEDOM-OF-MOVEMENT PERMIT No.

Description of holder:

Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PHOTOGRAPH

STAMP

Colour of hair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Colour of eyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other distinguishing features . . . . . . . . . .

Surname

Signature of holder

Given names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date of birth

Occupation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . ... . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

The holder of this permit is a Finnish national and is entitled to move about and remain in treaty areas A, B, C (delete where inapplicable), in which Finnish nationals are entitled to fish and seal in accordance with the Agreement of 13 June 1969 between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

This freedom-of-movement permit is issued for the period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION

The holder of this permit shall, for the purposes of sealing in the area specified, be entitled to keep and use the following fire-arms, together with ammunition for the same:

This authorization shall remain in force until 19

........ . ............ . ........... . ... . ....... . ......, . . . . . . . . . . 19 . . . . . .

Certification of the frontier authorities:

Signature and stamp

Signature and stamp

EXCHANGE OF NOTES

Sir,

Moscow, 13 June 1969

With reference to the Agreement signed today between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning fishing and sealing, 1 have the honour to propose the following:

The Finnish Party shall reimburse to the Soviet Party the expenses con­ nected with the placing of the navigational markers designating the three treaty areas (eight medium marine buoys, 15 marine spar-buoys and 20 ice spar-buoys, the last-mentioned to be placed during the winter season in treaty area A), amounting to a total of 33,850 roubles. In addition, the Finnish Party shall, beginning in 1970, reimburse to the Soviet Party the expenses connected with the servicing of the said markers, amounting to 3,400 roubles per annum.

I have the honour further to propose that this letter and your reply should be regarded as an integral part of the above-mentioned Agreement.

Accept, Sir, etc.

Nikonorov

II

Sir,

Moscow, 13 June 1969

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:

I confirm my agreement with the contents of the above-mentioned letter and further agree that this exchange of letters is to be regarded as an integral part of the Agreement signed today between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics concerning fishing and sealing.

Accept, Sir, etc.

Paul Gustafsson