MISCELLANEOUS FISHERIES LEGISLATION FISHING RIGHTS WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1966 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Mr. DOWNING. The committee will please come to order. This morning we will resume hearings on H.R. 9531, H.R. 14961, and H.R. 9530, and related bills. The first witness this morning is our colleague, Hon. Wendell Wyatt, of Oregon. It is a pleasure to welcome you this morning. STATEMENT OF HON. WENDELL WYATT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OREGON Mr. WYATT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity of appearing briefly before you, and I will attempt to limit my testimony, because I know the schedule that the committee has. I am appearing in support of the proposition of extending the fisheries jurisdiction to a point 12 miles from our shores, or to the outer edge of the Continental Shelf, whichever is further. My home, Mr. Chairman, is in Astoria, Oreg., which is right at the mouth of the Columbia River. My district comprises approximately 50 percent of the Oregon coast from the mouth of the Columbia River southward, and I have been in constant communication with our fishermen concerning the encroachment of the Russian fishing fleet on our historic fishing grounds. The Russian fleet has been approximately 25 to 30 miles offshore. The 12-mile limitation will not do too much good, although, if the Russians get in closer and attempt to get at our salmon resource, and there is some evidence in the last week that they are doing this, then the 12mile limitation would be of considerable assistance to preserving this resource. I have flown over the fleet, and I have seen them in action. Last year there were two Russian ships, as far as I know only two, off the 65-204-66-pt. 1-20 Oregon coast, and they appeared to be more or less exploratory ships, getting ready for the invasion which occurred this year. Mr. DOWNING. How close did they come in? Mr. WYATT. The closest report that I have is approximately 11 miles offshore, but the principal area they have occupied has been around 25 to 30 miles, Mr. Chairman. The fact that they have moved in in relatively strong force I think is indicative of what will come next year, if some new legislation is not adopted. There is no doubt, Mr. Chairman, in my mind, from the reports that I have, that the ocean perch resource off the Oregon coast has been pretty well destroyed by the intensive fishing of the Russian fleet. There is also evidence that they are getting into the sole ground, and I think their potential for destruction of our historic American fishery is very, very great. I have urged the President to enforce the Truman proclamation of 1945, which authorized the creation of conservation zones for fisheries, and have been advised by the State Department that this is not practical. The reasons appear to be very nebulous as to why it cannot be enforced, but in any event, there is the absolute necessity of some fast relief, if we are to save our resource. I appear in support of these bills, Mr. Chairman. Mr. DOWNING. Thank you very much. Mr. Pelly. Mr. PELLY. Mr. Chairman, I know of the tremendous interest that our colleague from Oregon has indicated in this problem. I guess he and I share this as a sort of common problem, as far as our fishing interests are concerned. I would like to commend him for his interest, and I notice that he referred to either a 12 mile or legislation covering the Continental Shelf. I presume that you have a preference in this regard. Mr. WYATT. Yes. Mr. Pelly, my preference certainly is for legislation which would extend the fishery jurisdiction to 12 miles, or the outer edge of the Continental Shelf, consistent with the legislation introduced by yourself and by myself. This would handle the problem that we are now suffering from. Mr. PELLY. Well, I assume that, if we could only get legislation out which would cover 12 miles, it would help a little bit. Mr. WYATT. Yes, it would be a step in the right direction, Mr. Pelly. I would like to also tell the gentleman from Washington that the fishermen in the State of Oregon are very cognizant of the leadership which he has provided on the Pacific Northwest fishery problems, and they are most grateful to you. Mr. PELLY. I might say that we on this committee have been concerning ourselves with this problem over a period of many years. I had been hopeful that long since, by declaration of the President, we would have had a 12-mile limit to extend the fishing zone, and we would have followed the leadership of Canada. There is some problem, I understand, as far as a precedent covering tuna fish. Do you have any tuna fishermen in your district? Mr. WYATT. Well, yes; we have a rather substantial tuna canning industry. Mr. PELLY. I thought they were all albacore, up our way. Mr. WYATT. Of course, the domestic canning is principally albacore, but we do also can frozen imports. Mr. PELLY. Do your fishing vessels go down off the coast of Central and South America? Mr. WYATT. I believe not, from my area. I think that we have in the past had some part in this fishery, but I don't know of any at present. Mr. PELLY. What I am trying to get at is that I think later we can ascertain as to whether our tuna fishermen have provided a basis of historic rights, so that our fishermen could continue to fish close to some of our neighboring countries, and preserve their historic rights. Mr. WYATT. You are thinking, I assume, of the reciprocal recognition of historic rights, which we would recognize within our fishery zone, and expect and hope to be recognized in any other country's extension of the fishing zone. I don't think that I can offer a great deal of support, as far as fishermen from my district are concerned, but I think our fishing in these areas off South and Central America has been pretty well established by other fishermen from this country. Mr. PELLY. I know that one of my fishermen went down there, because he got shot in the leg, and his fishing vessel was apprehended because they were fishing within the 200-mile limit off one South American country, and, of course, our State Department paid a substantial fine of something like $25,000, but he never got reimbursed for the cost of his wounds. I appreciate very much your testimony, and your presence here today. Mr. WYATT. Thank you, sir. Mr. DOWNING. Mr. Keith. Mr. KEITH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, am glad to welcome you to this forum, and hope that we can jointly reach some decisions that will be helpful in the long-range interests of our fishing industry, and in fact of all the countries of the world. Do you by chance know of the proposals which would establish the depth of the ocean as the guide, rather than the miles from shore? Have you heard of a Dr. Andreas Holmsen, by chance? Mr. WYATT. No, Mr. Keith; I am not familiar with this doctrine. Of course, the outer edge of the Continental Shelf is, I think, generally recognized to be 200 meters, 200 meters is generally recognized to be the outer edge of the Continental Shelf. That is the only basis that I would be familiar with, in answer to your question. Mr. KEITH. I have no further questions at this time, Mr. Chairman. Mr. DOWNING. Mr. Reinecke. Mr. REINECKE. Thank you. Mr. Wyatt, I know you have been interested in this for some time. With regard to the Continental Shelf, are there areas off the coast of Oregon where the 12-mile limit would not be beyond the the Continental Shelf? Mr. WYATT. I think not. I think the Continental Shelf in all instances off the coast of Oregon is in excess of 12 miles. It is greater than 12 miles, I am certain. Mr. REINECKE. This is the 200-meter depth? Mr. WYATT. Yes. Mr. REINECKE. I believe you mentioned to me some time ago that the Russian trawlers were operating in the spawning grounds of certain fisheries. Are these inside or outside the 12-mile limit? Mr. WYATT. They are outside of the 12-mile limit, and are off the central coast of Oregon, approximately 25 miles off the central coast of Oregon. Our fishermen have been voluntarily not fishing these areas, because they are recognized by our domestic fishermen as being spawning grounds for ocean perch, in particular. I have seen these areas. The fishermen have pointed out to me on the maps, and have pointed out exactly where the Russian fishermen have been fishing, and they have been moving right into the spawning grounds. Mr. REINECKE. In the course of the presence of the Russian trawlers off the shore of your district, was there any problem of harassment by domestic fishermen ? Mr. WYATT. You mean have domestic fishermen harassed the Russions? Mr. REINECKE. Yes. Mr. WYATT. No, sir. It has been the other way around. We have had at least three instances where the Russian fishermen have actually physically forced the American fishermen from the fishing grounds, and our fishermen have been forced to leave, to avoid a collision at sea. Mr. REINECKE. What type of fishing practices are the Russians using? Is it a net type of operation? Mr. WYATT. It is my understanding that it is. I have actually seen the nets in one instance, and they are using a very fine mesh net, which takes the young immature fish as well as the more mature fish, and they in effect sweep the fishing beds clean of all occupants. Mr. REINECKE. Has there been any indication that these Russian trawlers may have oceanographic equipment aboard for purposes of mapping the bottom? Mr. WYATT. Well, there has been no indication that I know of, other than strong suspicion, on the part of our fishermen, and many people in the State of Oregon, who do suspect that the Russians are doing other things, other than taking our fish. Mr. REINECKE. One final question: Are you acquainted with the Japanese long-line trawlers? Mr. WYATT. Yes, sir; I am. Mr. REINECKE. Have they been operating off Oregon? Mr. WYATT. Not to my knowledge. Mr. REINECKE. Thank you. No further questions. Mr. DOWNING. Thank you very much, Congressman Wyatt. You have been very helpful. |