Extended Fisheries Jurisdiction

Proceedings of a workshop held by the World Fisheries Project at the U. of Washington, Seattle in July, 1985. THe analysis is guided by two overarching questions: What impact is extended coastal state jurisdiction having on fisheries management and development? How can extended jurisdiction be emplo

This paper discusses two of the problems associated with the changes taking place in the international law of the sea. The first of these deals with the transit of fishing vessels through zones of national jurisdiction beyond the territorial sea. Transitting fishing vessels have an interest in expeditious transit and the coastal States have an interest in ensuring that the vessel is not fishing within its zone during transit passage. This conflict in interest is examined and various alternatives for resolving the conflict are appraised in terms of the international law of the sea. The second problem is that of the regulation of fishing for highly migratory species in high seas enclaves beyond national jurisdiction. The interests of fishing and coastal States are examined in the light of developments in customary and conventional international law. Although the problems discussed are of primary interest to the South Pacific States, they are also relevant to other regions of the world.