|
For Immediate
Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 9, 2003
Message to the Senate of the United States
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate
to ratification, I transmit herewith the Agreement Amending
the Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America
and the Government of Canada on Pacific Coast Albacore Tuna
Vessels and Port Privileges done at Washington May 26, 1981
(the "Treaty"), effected by an exchange of diplomatic
notes at Washington on July 17, 2002, and August 13, 2002 (the
"Agreement"). I am also enclosing, for the information
of the Senate, the report of the Secretary of State on the Agreement
and a related agreement, effected by an exchange of notes at
Washington on August 21, 2002, and eptember 10, 2002, amending
the Annexes to the Treaty; this related agreement was concluded
pursuant to Article VII of the Treaty. The Treaty currently
permits unlimited fishing for albacore tuna by vesselsof each
Party in waters under the jurisdiction of the other Party. The
Agreement amends the Treaty to allow for a limitation on such
fishing necessitated by changing circumstances.
The U.S. fishing and processing industries strongly support
the amendment to the Treaty. The amendment not only allows the
Parties to redress the imbalance of benefits received by U.S.
fishers that has developed in the peration of the Treaty, but
also preserves U.S. interests under the Treaty, including the
interest of U.S. fishers to fish in Canadian waters at times
when the albacore stock moves northward, the interest of U.S.
processors to continue to receive Canadian catches for processing,
and the U.S. interest in being able to conserve and manage the
stock. The recommended legislation necessary to implement the
Agreement will be submitted separately to the Congress.
I recommend that the Senate give favourable consideration to
this Agreement and give its advice and consent to ratification
at an early date.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 9, 2003.
|
