FISHERIES: AUSTRALIAN TWELVE-MILE FISHING ZONE IN FORCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000800260015-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2012
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: February 10, 1958
• Content Type: CABLE

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Drafted by:
Clearances:
A-359.
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UNCLASSIFIED
Department of State
,?4?,e_ 33- .?.6
FOR RM USE ONLY
RECEIVED ,
DENIzItiF_NT OF STA
'FEB Ii I 830 AMID
INFO : Amembassies TOKYO and WELLINGTON; Amconsuls ADELAIDE
BRISBANE, MELBOURNE, PERTH, EilicliitYDNEY
. ANALYSIS BRANCI
GT:DIE
HANDLING INDICA TOR
FROM
Amembassy CANBERRA DATE: February 10, 1968
suaxct:- FISHERIES: Twelve- ile Fishing Zone in.
K---e/
Force
REF CERP D, (a) Canberra's A-307 of March 23, 1967
(b) Canberra's A-341 of February 2, 1968
33-r- -1
The Embassy reported (ref. a) the Government's announcement of
March 15, 1967, to establish a 12-mile exclusive fishing zone.
A bill to amend the Fisheries Act 1952-1966 to accomplish this
was introduced into Parliament on October 24. The resulting
Act has effect from January 30, 1968. After that date any
foreign boat apprehended in the 12-mile zone while fishing
without a license will be liable to a fine not exceeding
A$10,000* with the possibility of imprisonment of the crew
and forfeiture of boat, fishing gear and catch.
Minister for Primary Industry, Mr. Anthony, has stated that the
issue of a license to a foreign boat would be considered only
where a phase-out agreement has been negotiated between the
Australian and the foreign governments concerned on the basis
of previous fishing operations within the new zone or where a
joint-venture arrangement had been approved. The Fisheries
Act 1967 (enclosed) also applies to the Territories of Papua
and New Guinea and the Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
;Approximately US$11,200
ac osure:
Fisheries Act 1952-1967 (2)-action only
L_
UNCLASSIFIED
Content; an
fication Approved by:
FOR SEPT. USE ONLY
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/02 : CIA-RDP08001297R000800260015-2
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/02 : CIA-RDP08001297R000800260015-2
CANBERRA A-359
UNCLASSIFIED 2
Processing vessels are included under the licensing provisions of
the Act, thus affecting the operation of foreign factory ships
operating within the exclusive zone. Mr. Anthony has stated that
this provision would facilitate the rational development of fishery
resources, particularly the prawn resources in the north, and would
enable the Government to limit undesirable competition between
factory ships and shore processing plants.
Previous to this Act the Commonwealth Government exercised control
over fishing to the 12-mile limit but only over vessels registered
in Australia. This first effective jurisdiction over foreign
fishing in the waters up to 12 miles will affect mainly Japanese..
fleets. A Japanese mission has already made representations over
the foreseen effects during talks which began January 30 in
Canberra. The talks involve representatives of the GOA Departments
of External Affairs and Primary Industry and Japanese representatives
of the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries. The mission
is still in Canberra at this writing. Although the new zone affects
to a lesser extent Soviet and Indonesian fishing, no opposition has
yet been registered with the GOA by any governments other than
Japan. Mr. Anthony, in connection with fishing off the coasts of
the Territory of Papua and New Guinea and the Ashmore and Cartier
Islands mentioned that subsistence fishing by foreign fishermen
in waters of these territories would not be immediately affected.
Comment: An official of the Fisheries Branch, Primary Industries,
informed the Embassy that the talks with the Japanese have thus far
concerned a phasing-out agreement relating to tuna long-line
fishing. Regarding joint Australian/Japanese fishing ventures hc
said that one was approved in 1967 for the Territory of Papuaand
New Guinea and four or five applications for joint ventures in
Australian waters are presently under Government consideration.
UNCLASSIFIED
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/02 : CIA-RDP08001297R000800260015-2