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THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION COMPENDIUM

BILATERAL / ICELAND
Volume(s) 1-3; pages 3081-3084


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Amendment to the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Iceland Concerning Fisheries off the Coasts of the United States, Washington, 1991

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Done at Washington 11 February 1991 and 5 April 1991
Entered into force 21 October 1991, effective 1 July 1991


Primary source citation: Copy of text provided by the U.S. Department of State


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON

February 11, 1991

His Excellency Tomas A. Tomasson, Ambassador of Iceland.

Excellency:

I have the honor to refer to the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Iceland Concerning Fisheries off the Coasts of the United States, signed at Washington on September 21, 1984, as amended and extended (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) and due to expire on July 1, 1991. Noting the desire by the United States to address cooperatively with the Republic of Iceland the recommendations outlined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 44/225 of December 1989 on Large-Scale Pelagic Driftnet Fishing, as well as concerns about the burgeoning fishery for pollock in the central Bering Sea area, I have the further honor to propose that, in accordance with the provisions of Article XVI, the Agreement be extended until December 31, 1993. I have the honor to propose that the Agreement be further amended as follows:

1. In Article II, paragraph 1, delete ‘(except highly migratory species of tuna)’.

2. Delete existing paragraph 2 in its entirety and replace it with:

‘2. ‘fish’ means all finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, and other forms of marine animal and plant life, other than marine mammals and birds;’

3. In Article II, delete paragraph 7 and renumber the present paragraph 8 as paragraph 7. 4. In Article IV, paragraph 7, delete final ‘and’.

5. In Article IV, add a new paragraph 8 as follows:

‘8. whether, and to what extent, such nations are cooperating with the United States in matters pertaining to the fulfillment of the recommendations outlined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 44/225 of December 1989 on Large-scale Pelagic Driftnet Fishing and in the conservation of the pollock resource in the central Bering Sea; and’

Renumber existing paragraph 8 as a new paragraph 9. 6. In Article XII, add a new paragraph 5 as follows:

‘5. The Government of the Republic of Iceland shall cooperate with the Government of the United States in matters pertaining to the fulfillment of the recommendations outlined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 44/225 of December 1989 on Large-scale Pelagic Driftnet Fishing and in the conservation of the pollock resource in the central Bering Sea.’

I have the further honor to propose that, if these proposals are acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Iceland, this Note and Your Excellency's Note in reply to that effect shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments, which will enter into force on a date to be agreed upon in a subsequent exchange of diplomatic notes between the two Governments following the completion of necessary internal procedures.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Secretary of State: David A. Colson

EMBASSY OF ICELAND WASHINGTON, D.C. April 5, 1991

The Honorable Mr. James A. Baker, III Secretary of State Washington, D.C. Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Note of February 11, 1991 which reads as follows:

I have the honor to refer to the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Iceland Concerning Fisheries off the Coasts of the United States, signed at Washington on September 21, 1984, as amended and extended (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) and due to expire on July 1, 1991. Noting the desire by the United States to address cooperatively with the Republic of Iceland the recommendations outlined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 44/225 of December 1989 on Large-Scale Pelagic Driftnet Fishing, as well as concerns about the burgeoning fishery for pollock in the central Bering Sea area, I have the further honor to propose that, in accordance with the provisions of Article XVI, the Agreement be extended until December 31, 1993. I have the honor to propose that the Agreement be further amended as follows:

1. In Article II, paragraph 1, delete ‘(except highly migratory species of tuna)’.

2. Delete existing paragraph 2 in its entirety and replace it with:

‘2. ‘fish’ means all finfish, molluscs, crustaceans, and other forms of marine animal and plant life, other than marine mammals and birds;’

3. In Article II, delete paragraph 7 and renumber the present paragraph 8 as paragraph 7. 4. In Article IV, paragraph 7, delete final ‘and’.

5. In Article IV, add a new paragraph 8 as follows:

‘8. whether, and to what extent, such nations are cooperating with the United States in matters pertaining to the fulfillment of the recommendations outlined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 44/225 of December 1989 on Large-scale Pelagic Driftnet Fishing and in the conservation of the pollock resource in the central Bering Sea; and’

Renumber existing paragraph 8 as a new paragraph 9. 6. In Article XII, add a new paragraph 5 as follows:

‘5. The Government of the Republic of Iceland shall cooperate with the Government of the United States in matters pertaining to the fulfillment of the recommendations outlined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 44/225 of December 1989 on Large-scale Pelagic Driftnet Fishing and in the conservation of the pollock resource in the central Bering Sea.’

I have the further honor to propose that, if these proposals are acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Iceland, this Note and Your Excellency's Note in reply to that effect shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments, which will enter into force on a date to be agreed upon in a subsequent exchange of diplomatic notes between the two Governments following the completion of necessary internal procedures.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.’

I have the honour to inform you that the extension of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Iceland and the Government of the United States of America concerning Fisheries off the Coasts of the United States until December 31, 1993 and the amendments proposed above are acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Iceland and that your Note and this Note in reply constitute an Agreement between the two Governments, which shall enter into force on a date to be agreed upon in a subsequent exchange of diplomatic notes between the two Governments following the completion of necessary internal procedures.

Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Tomas A. Tomasson

Department of State Washington

August 30, 1991.

The Department of State refers to the Agreement amending and extending the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Iceland Concerning Fisheries off the Coasts of the United States of America, signed at Washington on September 21, 1984, as amended and extended, effected by exchange of notes at Washington, dated February 11, 1991 and April 5, 1991. The Department of State wishes to inform the Government of the Republic of Iceland that the Government of the United States has completed its necessary internal procedures for entry into force of the Agreement. If it is acceptable to the Government of the Republic of Iceland, the Department of State proposes that the Agreement enter into force on the date of the Embassy's note in reply, effective from July 1, 1991.

[Initials]

EMBASSY OF ICELAND WASHINGTON, D.C. October 21, 1991

Department of State Washington, D.C.

The Embassy of Iceland presents its compliments to the Department of State and has the honour to refer to the Department's Note of August 30 regarding the Agreement amending and extending the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Iceland and the Government of the United States concerning Fisheries off the Coast of the United States of America, signed at Washington on 21 September 1984, as amended and extended, effected by exchange of Notes at Washington, dated 11 February 1991 and 5 April 1991.

The Embassy has the honour to inform the Department of State that the necessary procedures have been completed on behalf of Iceland for entry into force of the above mentioned Agreement and further that the Government of Iceland can accept the proposal of the Department of State that the Agreement enter into force on the date of this Note, effective from 1 July 1991.

The Embassy of Iceland avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Department of State the assurances of its highest consideration.

[Seal]