The Press SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1964. Limits For Fishing Waters

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30390, 14 March 1964, Page 12

The Press SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1964. Limits For Fishing Waters

Thirteen of the 16 nations represented at the European fisheries conference in London rewarded Britain’s initiative in seeking more rational fishing limits by agreeing to a convention establishing an inner sixmile limit for each country’s own fishermen and an outer six-mile limit in •which foreigners can also fish if they have traditionally done so. For Britain this represents an important extension of jurisdiction beyond the hitherto established three-mile limit. Britain’s in-shore fishermen will have absolute protection for six miles from the shores, and inside the outer six miles, where foreigners; will fish only by agreement, Britain will exercise control for such purposes as conservation. Unfortunately, Britain’s deep-sea fishermen will not benefit from' the reciprocal rights in the convention, because on two of their main fishing grounds exclusive 12-mile limits will be established this month. Though Denmark agreed to the six-plus-six principle for Denmark’s home waters, it was not prepared to accept on behalf of the Faroes, where the 12-mile limit will be enforced. Iceland also insisted on the full 12-mile limit, with the prospect of extension to the whole Continental shelf around its coast. These two countries, heavily reliant on fishing

for their livelihoods, might have been less adamant had negotiations on limits been accompanied by serious attempts to negotiate an international trade agreement on fish. Unfortunately, the Common Market countries, which have high tariffs, quotas, and other restrictions on fish imports, have not agreed among themselves on a fishery policy. Consequently, the Faroe islanders and the Icelanders were unable to arrange more substantial markets on the Continent. The limitation on fishing in Faroe waters has annoyed British fishermen, who will enforce a strict limit, amounting to two-thirds of the normal trade, on landings of Faroe fish in Britain. Presumably, it will be left to the British Government to negotiate with the Faroes an agreement similar to ; that with Iceland, which recognises the 12-mile limit on the one hand and British import restrictions on the other. Like Iceland, the Faroes will no doubt hope to find in Russia a market for the fish excluded from Britain; Russia enforces a 12-mile limit. Though agreeI ment on some of the more important issues was limited, the conference did end, as far as European ; waters are concerned, the ’ old convention of a threemile limit. The precedent i will be useful to New Zealand in defining the extent : of its territorial waters.