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 or-
dered an overall management plan, to include fishing reg-
ulations, to be completed within 1 year; 
Whereas, in late 1994, the Mexican Navy closed the islands 
to fishing until the management plan was complete;
•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 man-
agement 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 eco-
nomic harm to the San Diego long-range sportfishing in-
dustry 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 nu-
merous United States and Mexican businesses and the 
San Diego region;
•HRES 30 IH 
Whereas the San Diego region and Mexico have enjoyed a 
long history of excellent trade relations and working to-
gether 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
Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges 
the Departments of State and Commerce to work with 
their counterparts in the Mexican Government to resume 
issuing permits for the San Diego long-range sportfishing 
fleet to fish the waters more than 500 meters from the 
Revillagigedo Islands, as they have for the past 30 years.
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