Micronesians take a stand

over sea resources

Meeting at Moen, Truk, the first Micronesian Law of the Sea Conven tion adopted a strong position on Micronesian rights over the islands’ surrounding waters.

The main document coming out of the convention the 1976 Microne sian Declaration on the Law of the Sea won unanimous endorsement from delegates of all five districts of Micronesia, including the future dis trict of Kusaie.

As reported by Micronesian News Service, the document said: “The con vention supports as an essential part of any future agreement or agreements of political association with the United States provisions that would ensure for the Micronesian people: “(1) Full authority over the living and non-living marine, seabed and subsoil resources in an exclusive economic zone in Micronesian waters of not less than 200 miles outward from appropriate base lines.

“(2) Power to enact laws, negotiate and sign treaties or other inter national agreements regarding such zone in its own name and right, and to the full extent that such zone and such authority is, may be, or may become, recognised under principles of inter national law or by international treaties or agreements; and to par ticipate as a full member in inter national conferences and organisations.

“(3) Full power to engage in dis pute settlement procedures with foreign nations regarding such zone, including access to statutes of the International Court of Justice.

“The convention will support the earliest practicable opening of negotiations with foreign fishing nations and fishermen who fish, or desire to fish, in Micronesian waters to a distance of 200 miles from shore.

“The convention declares that after passage of appropriate legislation or joint resolutions by the Congress of Micronesia, all further foreign fishing in Micronesia’s 200-mile exclusive fishing jurisdiction, without the con sent of the elected representatives of the Micronesian people will be regarded by the Micronesian people as illegal . . .

“The convention supports the earliest practicable legislation by the Congress of Micronesia to protect

and preserve all Micronesian sea resources, including tuna, in a manner not inconsistent with the UN Charter, the Trusteeship Agreement, and the current UN Draft Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“The convention supports the declaration of Suva of October 15, 1976, by the South Pacific Forum, and supports, to the maximum prac ticable extent, co-operation by the Micronesian people with neighbours and friends in Oceania in carrying out the above purposes, principles and ac tions.

“The Micronesian people must now take all necessary steps and act to protect and preserve their resources, by all available means, within the historic archipelago area of Micronesia, by means of the 200-mile exclusive economic zone jurisdiction, which is generally becoming recognis ed in international law.”

The rub is in the two words “including tuna”. The US position is to oppose the control of tuna fishing by any country. It wants tuna fishing to be regulated by international agree ment so that it, and other fishing nations like Japan, may continue to fish in the economic zones of other nations.

Tuna represents the only known sea resources of Micronesia.

The document says: “Absence of Micronesian control over tuna fishing in our waters would be a great loss to the developing island nation of the future Federated States of Micronesia.”

New ships for Tonga’s

fishing fleet

Tonga has added two more ships to its fishing fleet. They are the Tavake (formerly the Chishio Maru), from Japan, and the Cindy Joan, from Australia. Both are government gifts.

The Cindy Joan, 16 metres long, 5.5 metres wide and with a draft of 2 metres, is a specialised craft designed for catching skipjack tuna. It has special holding tanks for live bait.

The Tavake, 55 metres long, 6.5 metres wide and with a draft of 3.1 metres, was used to train students in Japan in fishery techniques. It is an oceanic longline fishing ship. The Tavake will operate from Nukualofa and the Cindy Joan from Vavau.