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zone is an unacceptable solution. If every nation declared a
200 mile territorial sea, more than 30% of the world's oceans
would become national territory -- and in the very areas in
which much of the world's shipping travels.

The United States supports the concept of a 200 mile
economic zone in which the coastal state would have control
over living and mineral resources while ensuring that the
interests of the international community -- such as navigation and
overflight -- are preserved.

The question of fishing within the 200 mile economic zone
illustrates the problem of harmonizing coastal and international
interests. The U.S. agrees that coastal states should manage
fisheries in this area, with special arrangements regarding the

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management of fish that do not stay within economic zones, such as tuna and salmon. But provisions should also ensure that the living resources of the economic zone are conserved, and effectively utilized in a manner providing maximum protein supplies for the world in coming years.

## Interim Solutions to Fisheries Problems

For the United States and for many other nations, a solution to the problems of depletion of fish stocks off their coasts is one of great urgency. Pending agreement on a Law of the Sea treaty, solutions on an interim basis are needed.

The United States cannot accept the continuation of indiscriminate fishing off its coasts. Many fish stocks are near extinction as a result of foreign overfishing. During the past

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year we have directed our fisheries negotiators to secure substantial reductions of the levels of fishing in bilateral negotiations with nations fishing off our coasts. We have also increased our enforcement powers over illegal harvesting of our continental shelf fisheries resources.

The United States has recently concluded agreements with the Soviet Union in which the Soviets have agreed to reduce their annual fishing catch off our coasts by an average of ____% for the rest of this year and 1976. This represents a reduction of ____ tons of fish annually. We have also concluded an agreement with Japan in which Japan has agreed to reduce its fishing catch off our coasts by an average of ____%, representing a reduction of approximately ____ tons of fish annually. These agreements are only a first

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step in our efforts to solve the serious problems of our coastal
fishermen. We intend to obtain continued, significant reductions
from all nations fishing off our coasts.

The time has come to negotiate interim arrangements with all
nations fishing off our coasts as a transition step toward Law of
the Sea Conference provisions which would establish coastal
state control over conservation and management of
fish stocks. We must agree on better conservation measures now
or the depletion of fish stocks could render pointless any solution
arrived at by the Law of the Sea Conference. These arrangements
must include drastic measures, including closed areas and
seasons, moratoriums, reduced quotas and economic protection
for local fishermen who cannot send their boats to other parts of
the world.

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Some states, particularly those that support agreed solutions to interim fisheries problems, must decide whether they will cooperate with us or, in an attempt to preserve short-term economic interests, compel us to seek other solutions less compatible with our mutual interests.

Many within the Congress are urging us to solve the problem of depletion of fisheries stocks by unilaterally extending our jurisdiction over our fisheries, currently 12 miles, to 200 miles off our coasts. A bill which would establish a 200 mile fishing zone and which would require us to arrest vessels fishing in violation, is currently before the House.

The Administration believes that enactment of legislation unilaterally extending our fisheries jurisdiction to 200 miles