IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 30

Concerning the San Diego long-range sportfishing fleet and rights to fish 

the waters near the Revillagigedo Islands of Mexico. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 27, 2003

Mr. CUNNINGHAM submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Resources 

RESOLUTION

Concerning the San Diego long-range sportfishing fleet and 

rights to fish the waters near the Revillagigedo Islands 

of Mexico.

Whereas the long-range sportfishing fleet of San Diego has 

fished the waters off Mexico’s Revillagigedo Islands since 

the early 1970’s under agreements with various agencies 

of the Mexican Government including the Mexican Navy, 

the National Ecology Institute, and the Department of 

the Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries; 

Whereas, in June 1994, the President of Mexico declared the 

islands would become part of a biosphere reserve and ordered an overall management plan, to include fishing regulations, to be completed within 1 year; 

Whereas, in late 1994, the Mexican Navy closed the islands 

to fishing until the management plan was complete; 
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•HRES 30 IH 

Whereas, on January 21, 1995, the Mexican Government 

agreed to issue provisional permits allowing the San 

Diego sportfishing fleet to fish the waters more than 500 

meters from the islands and announced that it would 

continue to do so until such time as a management plan 

was completed; 

Whereas the Mexican Government has not completed a management plan for the islands; 

Whereas, on March 26, 2002, without warning, the Mexican 

Government revoked all permits to fish within 6 nautical 

miles of the islands; 

Whereas this action is having a devastating impact on the 

San Diego long-range sportfishing fleet, its employees, 

and tourism associated with the fleet; 

Whereas Mexico’s continued refusal to allow the sportfishing 

fleet access to the islands’ waters will cause serious economic harm to the San Diego long-range sportfishing industry including layoffs, loss of boat sales, bankruptcies, 

and a negative annual economic impact of $5,500,000; 

Whereas, since March 26, 2002, the San Diego long-range 

sportfishing fleet has been working with the Mexican 

Government and the United States Departments of State 

and Commerce to restore their right to fish these waters 

off the islands, as outlined by previous agreements made 

with agencies of the Mexican Government; 

Whereas the Mexican Government’s inaction in addressing 

this dilemma is impacting the economic well being of numerous United States and Mexican businesses and the 

San Diego region; 
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Whereas the San Diego region and Mexico have enjoyed a 

long history of excellent trade relations and working together for mutual benefit; and 

Whereas unilateral action such as the closure of the islands 

to all sportfishing represents a step backward from the 

free-trade environment and spirit of cooperation that the 

region and the Nation have tried to build with Mexico: 

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges 

2 the Departments of State and Commerce to work with 

3 their counterparts in the Mexican Government to resume 

4 issuing permits for the San Diego long-range sportfishing 

5 fleet to fish the waters more than 500 meters from the 

6 Revillagigedo Islands, as they have for the past 30 years.

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