CONTENTS French, Stuart P., principal Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense McKernan, Hon. Donald L., Coordinator of Ocean Affairs and Special Assistant to the Secretary for Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of Page 26 Stevenson, Hon. John R., legal adviser, State Department_. 3 LAW OF THE SEA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1972 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10 a.m. in room 1202, New Senate Office Building, Hon. Ernest F. Hollings (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Hollings and Stevens. OPENING STATEMENT BY SENATOR HOLLINGS Senator HOLLINGS. Good morning. The committee will please come to order. This morning the Subcommittee on Oceans and Atmosphere begins an examination of a subject which is of critical importance to the many ocean-related interests of the United States the forthcoming Law of the Sea Conference scheduled to be held next year. The legal subjects up for consideration at this Conference are of great moment in these unsettled times of international law of the sea, which subjects include fishing jurisdiction, scientific research, marine pollution, breadth of the territorial sea, passage through straits, and the international regime for the deep seabed, among others. The current debate over claims of extended fishery jurisdiction by coastal nations is well known. Conflict between these claims and fishery rights claimed in the same waters by other deepwater fishing nations has flared in the past and could explode in the future. Peaceful resolution of this conflict may well depend upon general agreement on fishery jurisdiction at the Law of the Sea Conference. At the same time overfishing of many valuable stocks of fish has increased the need for viable conservation measures. Scientific investigation has always been the key to man's understanding of the mysteries of nature. At stake today, however, is the freedom to undertake basic scientific research in all parts of the world's seas. Many underdeveloped nations view scientific research with suspicion. Allaying these fears will be one of the essential tasks facing the U.S. delegation so that scientific research in the ocean may be conducted without unnecessary restriction. Marine pollution has come to the forefront in this environmental age as the oceans have begun to show signs of deterioration. At the recent United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm the international community has agreed to work collectively on this important world problem. The Law of the Sea Conference provides an opportunity to further the work begun in Stockholm. Staff members assigned to this hearing: John Hussey and James P. Walsh. (1) |