La zona económica exclusiva: una perspectiva latinoamericana

LA ZONA ECONOMICA EXCLUSIVA. UNA PERSPECTIVA LATINOAMERICANA. limited foreígn flshing under licence for fJsh considered surplus to Canadian needs. In the period since the establishment of the Canadian 200-mile fJShing zones, there have been further negotiations and similar agreements ,with the remaining countries that have traditionally fJShed off the Canadian coasts, including Cuba, Bulgaria, the GDR, Romania and, somewhat later, lavan and Denmark (on behaJf of the Faeroe Islands). A provisional agreement, now lap– sed, was also negotiated with the EEC; negotiations on a new long-term agree– ment are almost concluded. Benefits 01Canadian legislation. As for the impact of the establishment of the zone on the Canadian fishing industry, the results were immediate and dramatic. Canada's 1977 catch of 1.25 million tons was up 180/0 over its 1972-76 average; the 136 million ton catch in 1978 was the biggest since 1970. In 1976 Canadian fishermen ac– counted for 460/0 of the catch, and in 1977, 61 0/0. In the intervening years these latter percentages have risen even higher. By 1978 Canada had become the world's largest exporter of fJSh in terms of value. The value of both lan– dings and fJSheries production has continued to rise but problems in sustaining this growth are developing. Capital investment has increased and the number of persons employed in the Canadian fishing industry has also risen signifi– cantly. This isparticulary tme in the processing sector. As the exploitation of the zone is pushed to capacity in respect to at least some species, for example , cod, a combination of factors is leading to a slow-down in tbis growth. To realize these early benefrts it was necessary for Canada to invest heavily in its fJShing industry. 000 cannot harvest without sowing. Thus fisheries enhancement programmes remain as essential as ever -indeed, even more important as pressure on stocks increases with ever-improving technology and fJShing techniqu'es. Conservation and enhancement programmes have been initiated in al1 areas but to give some idea of the dimension of the invest– ment 1 would like to use as an example the salmon fJShery on Canada's west coast. At the tum of the century the rivers of British Columbia often nurtured annual catches of between 300 and 360 million pounds oC salmonids. Today the fJShe..y produces only half of its former harvest. The salmonid enhance– meot programme was launched in 1977 as a joint effort of the federal and provincial governments. Its goal is to double the level of the present salmon population. The federal government has allocated $ ISO million to the initial phase of tbis programme and the government of the Province of British Co– lumbia another $ 7.5 mimon. The need for 'state oC origin' management oC this species is recognized in the Draft Law of the Sea Convention as a reflec– tion of the heavy investment the 'state of origin' must make if anadromous stocks are to survive commercially. Putting a halt to over-fishing and controlling fishing effort in the Canadian 146