IV.1 A BRIEF REVIEW OF MAJOR FISHING AREAS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

After the peak total catches of over 26 million t observed in the late 1980s, total landings in Area 61 declined from 25.7 million t in 1990 to 24.8 million t in 1993. The main fisheries in Area 61 are: salmon, flatfishes, cods, Alaska pollock, croakers, seabreams, Pacific sandlance, Atka mackerel, filefishes, Pacific saury, Japanese jack mackerel, scads, amberjacks, pomfrets, herrings, Japanese pilchard, anchovies, tuna and tuna-like species, hairtails, chub mackerel, sharks and rays, crabs, prawns, shrimps, oysters, mussels, scallops, cockles, Japanese carpet shell, clams and cephalopods. Landings of bony fishes not included above was 5,362,532 t in 1993. During that period, landings of Japanese sardine and Alaska pollock dropped by 2.24 million t and 678,000 t respectively. These declines were, to some extent, counterbalanced by increased landings of certain invertebrate species, principally Japanese flying squid, Japanese scallop, and Japanese clam. Landings of Japanese anchovy, largehead hairtail, chub mackerel, and Pacific cod also increased, though to a lesser extent.

In 1991, reported increases in marine landings (up some 150% from 1982) meant that China exceeded Japan in catch volume for the first time, and in 1992 the apparent gap continued to widen. The increases in landings for Japanese scallop, Japanese anchovy, largehead hairtail and chub mackerel for Area 61 were due to increased catch by China. The increase in total landings of Pacific cod was due to increased landings by the Russian Federation and Japan while Japan and the Republic of Korea increased landings of Japanese flying squid. The over-exploited state of the Alaskan pollack fishery, especially in the Okhotsk Sea and Nemuro Strait areas, has become more apparent, and the trend towards an increasing proportion of landings consisting of low value, undifferentiated fish has continued.

Total reported landings for Area 67 in 1993, at 3.38 million t, remain within a few percentage points of the average 3.24 million t reported in the late 1980s. The main fisheries in Area 67 are: salmon, flatfishes, cod, Alaska pollock, hake, lingcod, mackerel, Pacific herring, crabs, shrimps and oysters. Landings by the USA continue to dominate the statistics, constituting nearly 90% of the total landings by all countries for the area. The relatively low 1991 total of 2.97 million t, the lowest on record since 1985, was primarily due to reduced catches of North Pacific hake and Alaskan pollack, although lower than normal catches of flatfish due to early closures enforced by halibut by-catch restrictions also contributed.

The Western Central Pacific is dominated by a large area of continental shelf, which to the west stretches from Viet Nam and Thailand down to Malaysia and western Indonesia before ending at the Java Sea. To the east, the shelf reaches between eastern Indonesia,

Papua New Guinea and Australia. The area is rich in demersal resources, including penaeid shrimp, and small pelagic resources. In the offshore areas, including those adjacent to oceanic islands of the Pacific, there are rich tuna resources.

Total fisheries landings in this area in 1993 was 8.3 million t, representing a slight increase on the 1992 figure. The main fisheries in Area 71 are: catfishes, snappers, breams, ponyfishes, croakers, barracudas, mullets, scads, carangids, sardinellas, anchovies, tuna and tuna-like species, mackerels, sharks and rays, crabs, prawns, shrimps, cockles, clams and squids. Landings of bony fishes not included above were: 1,678,340 t in 1993. The main landings are still contributed by Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia with the bulk of the landings in Indonesia and the Philippines coming from the small-scale fisheries sector, whereas in Thailand the fisheries sector is on a larger, more commercial scale. Shrimp catches continued to increase due to increases in coastal aquaculture production throughout Southeast Asia, and landings of banana prawn in the Australian northern prawn fishery.

The total catches in this area continued to decrease. This has mainly been due to the impact of a medium intensity "El Niño" that affected the area in 1991 and 1992. Total catches decreased from 1.7 million t per year in the late 1980s, to 1.5 million t in 1991 and 1.3 million t in 1992 and 1.2 million t in 1993 (1.247.063). The main fisheries in Area 77 are: pilchard, mackerel, herring, anchoveta, tuna and tuna-like species, sharks and rays, shrimps and squids. Landings of bony fishes not included above were 232,109 t in 1993.

The most noticeable change has been in the landings of the North Pacific anchovy ( Engraulis mordax ) whose catches dropped sharply from 111,000 t in 1989 to only

6,000 t in 1990, 21,000 t in 1991, and 10,000 t in 1992 and 4,700 t in 1993. This is a sharp loss compared to catches well above 100,000 t per year obtained in the early 1970s and 1980s, and is due to a sharp decrease in stock size, which has mainly affected Mexican fish stocks and fisheries.

Some decrease has also been noticed in the total catches of the Californian sardine ( Sardinops sagax caeruleus ), chub mackerel ( Scomber japonicus ), Central Pacific anchoveta ( Cetengraulis mysticetus ), Eastern Pacific bonito ( Sarda chiliensis ) and several species of large pelagic fish, including the yellowfin tuna ( Thunnus albacares ).

Catches of other species have remained more or less unchanged in recent years. Squids (mostly Dosidiscus gigas ) seem to be abundant in the area and still remains underexploited.

The reported landings for 1993 totalled 777,157 t; down by 16% on the 1992 figure. Landings of southern blue whiting which had showed a clear trend; increasing from 34,050 t in 1990 to 92,167 t in 1992, fell to 32,443 t in 1993. The Foveaux Strait oyster fishery (for Ostrea spp. ), once the largest dredge fishery for oysters in the world, continues to be in an extremely depressed state because of severe mortalities caused by disease. Vessels are permitted a catch of two sacks, where at one time catches of 115,000 sacks/vessel/season were permitted. Thus, in reality, the fishery has been closed.

Total reported catches in Area 87 were 14,979,981 t in 1993. Total landings in this area seem to be levelling off at around 14 million t per year since 1990, after an increasing trend that started in 1983-84 and brought the total catches from around 10 million t per year to the current 14 million t per year. Major changes seem to be occurring in this area, with respect to the pelagic fish stocks such as anchoveta, sardine, mackerel and horse mackerel.

The Peruvian anchoveta ( Engraulis ringens ) has replaced sardine ( Sardinops sagax ) as the main fish stock in the area. Catches of anchovy continue in an increasing trend, which seems to be associated with a recovery of this stock after the 1972 collapse and the low stock levels observed since then. Catches of Chilean horse mackerel ( Trachurus symmetricus murphy ) continued to increase, reaching almost 4 million t in 1991, to decrease to 3.3 million t in 1993. To some extent, the reduced landings in this species are due to the reduced catches of the long-range fleets (mostly from the Russian Federation) that were exploiting this stock in the high seas. Total catches of the sardine ( Sardinops sagax ) continued in their decreasing trend which started in 1985. From a maximum catch of 6.5 million t in 1985, total catches have dropped almost continuously to 3.1 million t in 1992 and again to 1.6 million t in 1993. The decrease in the total landings of this species is related to reduction in the stock-size and total area of distribution of the species.

Changes in the abundance and total landings of anchovy, sardine and other small pelagic fishes in the area seem to be associated with similar "regime changes" in other areas of the world. Inside the Gulf of California in the Eastern-Central Pacific, the stocks of California sardine ( Sardinops caeruleus ) are decreasing consistently, while the stocks of anchovies in the same area seem to be increasing, as is the case for the Japanese sardine ( Sardinops melanostictus ) in the Northwest Pacific.

Catches of hake in area 87 decreased slightly in the last couple of years. Another major change occurring in this area has been the increase in abundance of catches of the squid ( Dosidiscus gigas ). Catches of this species increased from around 10,000 t per year during the 1980s to more than 200,000 t in 1993. Catches of other species are relatively stable or showing light year-to-year fluctuations.

Stretching across the eastern half of FAO Statistical Area 71 and the southern parts of FAO Statistical Area 77, there is a distinctive fisheries region encompassing Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia. The following review concentrates predominantly on this region, but certain parts may also be relevant to fisheries off adjacent Asian countries, northern and eastern Australia and Hawaii, USA. The small island countries support 5.25 million residents (67% in Papua New Guinea), who rely heavily on living marine resources as a source of food and foreign currencies from licence fees as well as exports. The average consumption of fish is about 50 kg per person per year, but reaches 250 kg in some atolls. This can be compared with 8 kg per person each year in a continental country such as Australia. Tuna (especially skipjack, yellowfin and, to a lesser extent, bigeye and albacore) are the primary living resources of the region. Landings from the capture fisheries in the coastal waters of the islands are relatively modest amounting to about 104,000 t per year.

IV.2 REGIONAL FISHERY BODIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Established by the Convention for a North Pacific Marine Science by Canada, China, Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union Organization, signed in Ottawa, Canada on 12 December 1990 and entered into force on 24 March 1992.

The area covered by the Convention is the temperate and Sub-Arctic region of the North Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas, especially northward from 30^oN latitude. The activities of the Organization may, for scientific reasons, extend farther southward in the North Pacific Ocean. This area coincides with FAO Statistical Area 67 as well as part of FAO Statistical Areas 61 and 77 (Map 18).

The species covered by the Organization are all living marine resources within its area of competence.

The membership of the Organization is open to the five signatory States. After entry into force, the Convention is open for accession by non-signatory States subject to a unanimous approval by the Contracting Parties. The present members of PICES are: Canada, Japan, China (People's Republic of), Korea (Republic of), Russian Federation and the United States.

The objectives of the Organization are (a) to promote and coordinate marine scientific research in order to advance scientific knowledge of the area concerned and of its living resources, including but not necessarily limited to research with respect to the ocean environment and its interactions with land and atmosphere, its role in and response to global weather and climate change, its flora, fauna and ecosystems, its uses and resources, and impacts upon it from human activities; and (b) to promote the collection and exchange of information and data related to marine scientific research in the area concerned.

The Organization consists of (a) a Governing Council, (b) Finance and Administration Committee, (c) Science Board, and (d) a Secretariat. The activities of the Organization is purely scientific and will cover both areas under national jurisdiction and the high seas under its competence. The Organization is not empowered to recommend regulatory measures.

Area to be especially covered by PICES

Established by the Convention for the Conservation of Anadromous Stocks in the North Pacific Ocean, signed at Moscow, Russia, on 11 February 1992 and entered into force on 16 February 1993. It replaced the International Convention for the High Seas Fisheries of the North Pacific which had been in force since 1952.

The area of competence of the Commission, referred to as the "Convention Area" is defined as the waters of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, north of 33^oN latitude beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. It is understood that activities under the Convention, for scientific purposes, may extend further southward in the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas. "The Convention Area" coincides mainly with the FAO Statistical Areas 61 and 67 and part of 77.

The species covered by the Commission are as follows: chum salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, sockeye salmon, chinook salmon, cherry salmon, and steelhead trout.

The members of the Commission are: the Untied States, Canada, Japan, and the Russian Federation. The Convention is not open to other States but at the invitation of the original Parties by unanimous agreement, other States may accede to it.

The main objectives of the Convention are to prohibit directed high seas fishing for North Pacific salmon and to strictly limit the incidental taking of Pacific salmon. The Commission inter alia has the authority (i) to recommend to the parties measures for the conservation of anadromous stocks and ecologically related species in the Convention Area; (ii) to promote the exchange of information of any activities contrary to the provisions of the Convention; (iii) to consider and make proposals to the Parties for the enactment of schedules of equivalent penalties for activities contrary to the provisions of the Convention; and (i) to review and evaluate enforcement actions taken by the Parties. The Parties may take action individually or collectively to prevent unauthorized fishing activities by others and prevent trafficking in illegally harvested Pacific salmon. Decisions of the Commission on all important matters are taken by consensus among all Parties that are States of origin of anadromous stocks which migrate into the Convention Area.

Created by the Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission signed by the Governments of the United States and Costa Rica, in Washington on 31 May 1949 and entered into force on 3 March 1950.

The area of competence of the Commission is defined was the "Eastern Pacific Ocean". There is no precise definition of this area by lines of longitudes and latitudes. In 1962, a Commission's Yellowfin Regulatory Area (CYRA) was created. This "Regulatory area" was defined as follows: All waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean bounded by the mainland of the Americas and the following lines: beginning at a point on the mainland where the parallel of 40 degrees north latitude intersects the coast; thence due west to the meridian of 125 degrees west longitude; thence due south to the parallel of 20 degrees north latitude; thence due east to the meridian of 120 degrees west longitude; thence due south to the parallel of 5 degrees north latitude; thence due east to the meridian of 110 degrees west longitude; thence due south to the parallel of 30 degrees south latitude; thence due east to a point on the mainland where the parallel of 30 degrees south latitude intersects the coast. This area which includes substantive areas of high seas, coincides with part of FAO Statistical Areas 77 and 87 (Map 19).

The species covered by I-ATTC are as follows: yellowfin and skipjack tuna, fish used as bait for tuna and other fish taken by tuna vessels. The I-ATTC staff has also studied other species of tuna (bigeye, black skipjack, bluefin tuna, albacore) and billfishes.

Membership of the Committee is open to any States whose nationals participate in fisheries in the I-ATTC Convention Area, provided that the Contracting Parties given their unanimous consent. The present members of I-ATTC are: Costa Rica, France, Japan, Nicaragua, Panama, the United States of America, Vanuatu and Venezuela.

The main objectives of the Convention are to maintain the populations of yellowfin and skipjack tuna and other kind of fish taken by tuna fishing vessels in the eastern Pacific and to cooperate in the gathering and interpretation of factual information to facilitate maintaining the populations of these fishes at a level which permits maximum sustainable catches year after year. The functions of the Commission include inter alia (a) to gather and interpret information on tuna, (b) to conduct scientific investigation concerning the abundance, biology, biometry, and ecology of yellowfin and skipjack tuna in the Convention Area, and to recommend proposals for joint action for conservation. The Commission has regulatory powers and catch quotas for yellowfin tuna have been set by the Commission since 1962. Since 1976, the Commission has implemented a programme on tuna dolphin relationship and since 1992 it has developed an International Dolphin Conservation

Programme aiming at progressively reducing dolphin mortality in tuna fishing. In 1995 the 30th Intergovernmental Meeting of members and observer nations of I-ATTC, held in Panama, made two declarations. The first, the Declaration of Panama, called for strengthening the Agreement for the Conservation of Dolphins. The second, the Declaration on Strengthening the Objectives and Operation of the Convention establishing I-ATTC, called for amending the Convention to conform with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including giving effect to the provisions of the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.

The I-ATTC Yellowfin Regulatory Area

The Eastern Pacific Ocean Tuna Fishing Agreement and its Protocol was signed in San José, Costa Rica, by the United States of America, Costa Rica and Panama on 15 March 1983. The Agreement will enter into force after it has been ratified or adhered to by five coastal States bordering the area covered by the Agreement. The Agreement has not yet entered into force.

The Agreement Area is defined as the area bounded by a line from the point on the mainland where the parallel of 40^oN latitude intersects the coast westward along the parallel of 40^oN latitude to 40^oN latitude by 125^oW longitude, thence southerly along the meridian of 125^oW longitude to 20^oN latitude by 125^oW longitude, then easterly along the parallel of 20^oN latitude to 20^oN latitude by 120^oW longitude, thence southerly along the meridian of 120^oW longitude to 5^oN latitude by 120^oW longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 5^oN latitude to 5^oN latitude by 110^oW longitude, thence southerly along the meridian of 110^oW longitude to 10^oS latitude by 110^oW longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 10^oS latitude to 10^oS latitude by 90^oW longitude, thence southerly along the meridian of 90^oW longitude to 30^oS latitude by 90^oW longitude, thence easterly along the parallel of 30^oS latitude to the point on the mainland where the parallel intersects the coast, excluding the areas within 12 nautical miles of the baseline from which the breadth of territorial sea is measured and those areas within 200 nautical miles of the baselines of coastal States not signatories to this Agreement, measured from the same baseline. This area coincides with part of FAO Statistical Areas 77 and 87.

The species covered by the Agreement are as follows: yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, albacore tuna, northern bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna, skipjack tuna, black skipjack, kawakawa, bullet tuna, frigate tuna, eastern Pacific bonito, and Indo-Pacific bonito.

Membership of the Council will be open to States bordering the Agreement Area or to members of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (I-ATTC) at the time when the Agreement enters into force, other States may also adhere to the Agreement subject to the unanimous approval by the Council.

The main objective of the Agreement is to ensure the conservation and rational utilization of tuna resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Agreement, when in force, would establish an Eastern Pacific Tuna Council whose main activity will be to issue licences permitting access to fishing in the Agreement Area to vessels of States parties to the Agreement against payment of a fee based on net registered tons of the vessel requesting the licence.

IV.2.5. International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)

Established by the Convention for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery, signed at Washington on March 2, 1923. The Convention was amended in 1930 and 1937. A new Convention between the United States of America and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Berring Sea was signed in Ottawa, Canada on 2 March 1953 and entered into force on 28 October 1953. When the two countries extended their fishery jurisdictions a Protocol Amending the Convention was signed in Washington on 29 March 1979 and entered into force on 15 October 1980.

The Convention covers the "Convention Area" defined as the waters off the west coasts of the United States and Canada, including the southern as well as the western coasts of Alaska, within the respective maritime areas in which either partly exercises exclusive fisheries jurisdiction. Maritime area includes without distinction areas within and seaward of the territorial sea or internal waters of the Parties. This area coincides with FAO Statistical Area 67.

The species covered by the Convention is halibut ( Hippoglossus ) found in the Convention Area.

The Convention is not open to other States. Membership is limited to Canada and the United States.

The objective of the Convention are the preservation of the halibut fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. The main functions of the Commission are to coordinate scientific studies relating to the halibut fishery and to formulate regulations designed to develop the stocks of halibut to those levels which permit optimum utilization. The Commission has regulatory powers and sets the total allowable catch of halibut in the Convention Area.

An Agreement Creating the Eastern Pacific Tuna Fishing Organization was signed by Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru in Lima on 21 July 1989. The Agreement has not yet entered into force.

The area covered is defined as the Eastern Pacific Ocean through which the species covered by the Agreement roam. This area includes, not only the 200 miles zones adjacent to island and continental territories of the States parties, but also high seas areas adjacent to these zones, up to the meridian 145^oW longitude (Map 20). This area coincides with part of FAO Statistical Areas 77, 81, 87 and 71.

The species covered by the Agreement are: yellowfin tuna, skipjack, northern bluefin tuna, southern bluefin tuna, albacore, and bigeye tuna.

The membership of the Organization will be open to Eastern Pacific Coastal Nations and other States whose vessels have fished the species covered by the Agreement within its area of competence. The admission of non-coastal States will be subject to the approval of the Governing Body of the Organization.

The main objectives of the Organization are (i) to achieve the conservation, protection and optimum utilization of the highly migratory species, (ii) to provide training, transfer of technology and to assist with development of fishing capacity and infrastructure of disadvantaged Latin American Eastern Pacific Coastal States who are Parties to the Agreement. The structure of the Organization will consist of the Governing Board, the Scientific Committee and the Secretariat. The Organization will have regulatory powers and its decisions are made by consensus or by a two-third majority.

Area covered by the OAPO Convention

Established by South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency Convention, signed in Honiara, Solomon Islands on 10 July 1979. The Convention entered into force on 9 August 1979.

The FFA's area of competence is the South Pacific region. There is no precise definition of this area by lines of longitude and latitude. It coincides mainly with FAO Statistical Areas 71 and 81 (Map 21).

The species covered by the FFA are all living marine resources and in particular the highly migratory species.

Membership of FFA is open to members of the South Pacific Forum and to other States or territories in the region on the recommendation of the Forum Fisheries Committee. The present members of FFA are: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Western Samoa.

The objectives of the Convention are (i) conservation and optimum utilization of the species covered by the Convention, (ii) promotion of regional cooperation and coordination in respect of fisheries policies, (iii) securing of maximum benefits from the living resources of the region for their peoples and for the region as a whole and in particular the developing countries, and (iv) facilitating the collection, analysis, evaluation and dissemination of relevant statistical scientific and economic information about the resources covered by the Convention. The functions of the Agency include inter alia: (i) harmonization of policies with respect to fisheries management; (ii) co-operation in respect of relations with distant water fishing countries; (iii) co-operation in surveillance and enforcement; (iv) co-operation in respect of onshore fish processing; (v) co-operation in marketing; (vi) co-operation in respect of access to the 200 mile zones of other Parties.

In 1987, following the signing of the Treaty on Fisheries between FFA and the United States (the Treaty was amended in 1992), the FFA Director was designated as the "Administrator" for the purpose of the Treaty. This Treaty covers tuna fishing vessels flying the flag of the USA operating both in certain areas under the fishery jurisdiction of the FFA Member States and in certain adjacent areas of high seas (see Map 21).

Moreover, the Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific, concluded at Wellington on 24 November 1989, sets forth specific functions for the FFA within a Convention area which includes substantial areas of high seas (see Map 22). These functions, to be performed by FFA with respect to the whole Convention area,

are (i) the collection, preparation and dissemination of information on driftnet fishing activities, (ii) the facilitation of scientific analysis on the effect of driftnet fishing activities and (iii) the preparation and transmission to the Parties of an annual report on any driftnet fishing activities and the measures taken to implement the Convention. In July 1992 the FFA members signed the Niue Treaty which entered into force in May 1993 under which they cooperate in the coordination of their surveillance and enforcement activities.

Areas under fisheries jurisdiction of FFA Island Member Countries

Area covered by the Wellington Convention

Established by the Agreement on the Organization of the Permanent Commission of the Conference on the Use and Conservation of the Maritime Resources of the South Pacific, signed by Chile, Ecuador and Peru at the First Conference on the Use and Conservation of the Marine Resources of the South Pacific, held in Santiago, Chile, in August 1952.

The Agreement does not define the precise area to be served by the Commission by lines of longitude and latitude. It merely provides that the Permanent Commission is established in order to achieve the objectives set forth in the Declaration on the Maritime Zone. This Declaration states that the three Governments proclaim as a principle of their international maritime policy that each of them possesses sole sovereignty and jurisdiction over the area of the sea, the sea floor and sub-soil thereof adjacent to the coast of its own country and extending not less than 200 nautical miles from the said coast. This area is part of FAO Statistical Area 87 (Map 23). In 1984, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of CPPS member countries referred to the "legitimate interests of the Coastal States in the conservation and optimum utilization of the marine resources beyond their 200 mile zones, when these resources are part of the same populations of species existing in their 200 mile zones, or populations of species associated with them". They instructed the CPPS Secretariat to take action with a view to considering the possibility of establishing adequate mechanisms for the conservation and optimum utilization of these resources.

The species covered by the Agreement are all living marine resources.

Neither the Agreement establishing the Commission nor any of the Declarations, resolutions or recommendations of the Commission mention conditions regarding eligibility for membership. The present members of the Commission are: Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

The objectives of the Agreement are those set out in the Declaration on Maritime Zone. The objectives of the Declaration were, inter alia, the necessity to provide for the peoples of the three governments food supplies and to furnish them with the means of developing their economy. To do so it is essential to ensure the conservation and protection of their natural resources in the areas of the sea adjacent to their coasts and to regulate the use thereof. The functions of the Commission, are inter alia, (i) to determine protected species; open and closed seasons and areas of sea; fishing and hunting times, methods and equipment; prohibited gear and methods; and to lay down general regulations for hunting and fishing, (ii) to study and propose to the Parties such measures as it considers suitable for the protection, defence, conservation and use of marine resources, (iii) to encourage scientific

and technical study of and research into biological phenomena in the South Pacific, and (iv) to prepare general statistics of the industrial use of marine resources by the Parties, and to suggest protective measures based on the study thereof.

The Commission collaborates closely with FAO and OLDEPESCA. CPPS, in collaboration with FAO has published a number of Bulletins on Fisheries Statistics of the Southeast Pacific. A monthly Bulletin on Climatic Alert, providing information on El Niño Phenomenon is also published by the Commission.

FAO Statistical Area 87

Established by an Agreement signed by Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States at Canberra on 6 February 1947, entered into force on 29 July 1948, amended in 1952, 1954, 1964 and supplemented by Protocols of understanding in 1974 and 1976. The Commission activities are not restricted to fisheries and also cover agriculture and plant protection, rural development, education, health information and cultural exchanges.

The territorial scope of the Commission was defined by the Canberra Agreement as all those territories in the Pacific Ocean which are administered by the participating Governments and which lie wholly or in part south of the Equator and east from and including the Australian Territory of Papua and the Trust Territory of New Guinea, and Guam and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. There is no precise definition of this area by lines of longitude and latitude in the Agreement. During many years the Commission published a map showing its area of competence (Map 24). This area coincides with part of FAO Statistical Areas 71 and 77.

The Commission operates a number of coastal fisheries projects covering all living marine resources and an oceanic programme, which deals exclusively with tunas and billfishes and consists of two projects (statistics, research).

The membership of the South Pacific Commission is as follows: American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, U.K., U.S.A., Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

The main objective of the Agreement is to encourage and strengthen international cooperation in promoting the economic and social welfare and advancement of the peoples of the South Pacific region. SPC does not recommend any management measures to its Member Countries but does provide scientific advice on the status of exploited stocks. With regard to high seas fishing, its works includes (i) the collection and analysis of catch statistics and related data, and (ii) scientific research on tuna and billfish.

The SPC Area

Established by Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada concerning Pacific salmon, signed in Ottawa, Canada on 28 January 1985 and entered into force on 18 March 1985.

The Treaty applies to "Pacific salmon stocks". There is no precise definition of the area covered by the Treaty although the area covered by the Fraser River Panel for Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon is defined in Annex 23 of the Treaty as follows:

1. The territorial waters and the high seas westward from the western coast of Canada and the United States of America and from a direct line drawn from Bonilla Point, Vancouver Island, to the lighthouse on Tatoosh Island, Washington--which line marks the entrance to Juan de Fuca Strait, --and embraced between 48 and 49 degrees north latitude, excepting therefrom, however, all the waters of Barkley Sound, eastward of a straight line drawn from Amphitrite Point to Cape Beale and all the waters of Nitinat Lake and the entrance thereto.

2. The waters included within the following boundaries:

Beginning at Bonilla Point, Vancouver Island, thence along the aforesaid direct line drawn from Bonilla Point to Tatoosh Lighthouse, Washington, described in paragraph numbered 1 of this Article thence to the nearest point of Cape Flattery, thence following the southerly shore of Juan de Fuca Strait to Point Wilson, on Quimper Peninsula, thence in a straight line to Point Partridge on Whidbey Island thence following the western shore of the said Whidbey Island, to the entrance to Deception Pass, thence across said entrance to the southern side of Reservation Bay, on Fidalgo Island, thence following the western and northern shore line of the said Fidalgo Island to Swinomish Slough, crossing the said Swinomish Slough, in line with the track of the Great Northern Railway, thence northerly following the shore line of the mainland to Atkinson Point at the northerly entrance to Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, thence in a straight line to the southern end of Bowen Island, thence westerly following the southern shore of Bowen Island to Cape Roger Curtis, thence in a straight line to Gower Point, thence westerly following the shore line to Welcome Point on Sechelt Peninsula, thence in a straight line to Point Young on Lasqueti Island, thence in a straight line to Dorcas Point on Vancouver Island, thence following the eastern and southern shores of the said Vancouver Island, to the starting point at Bonilla Point, as shown on the British Admiralty Chart Number 579, and on the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart Number 6300, as corrected to March 14, 1930, copies of which are annexed to the 1930 Convention and made a part thereof.

3. The Fraser River and the streams and lakes tributary thereto.

The Treaty covers all Pacific salmon stocks.

Membership of PSC is not open to other States. The membership consists of Canada and the United States of America.

The main objectives of the Treaty are the conservation and rational management of Pacific salmon stocks and the promotion of optimum production of such stocks and the cooperation in the management, research and enhancement of Pacific salmon stocks. The Commission has established three panels: Southern Panel, Fraser River Panel, and Northern Panel. These Panels provide information and make recommendations to the Commission which the latter reviews and then recommends fishery regimes to the Parties.