NOAA 95-38
Contact: Scott Smullen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(301) 713-2370 6/9/95
The United States and Chile today signed an agreement to cooperate in the management of fishery resources, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced.
Rolland A. Schmitten, director of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and Juan Rusque, director of Chile's National Fisheries Service (SERNAP), signed the agreement today at NMFS' headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. The Honorable John Biehl, Chile's Ambassador to the United States, attended the signing ceremony.
"Chile and the United States face many common problems managing fishery resources, and this cooperative program will assist our two agencies to better address those problems," said Schmitten. "I view the cooperative effort as a very significant development that will outlive all of its participants."
Through the fisheries cooperative program, the two agencies plan a variety of exchanges and collaborative efforts concerning quality control and inspection of fisheries products, aquaculture fisheries management, enforcement, and protection of marine mammals and endangered marine species. Additionally, the countries will cooperate on habitat protection, marine research, and general fisheries information exchange.
The fisheries agencies will continue to promote increased cooperation among fishing industry groups in both countries. For instance, based on preliminary discussions with both Chilean and U.S. industry representatives, the cooperative program can assist fishing industry groups in setting up a joint technical working group on aquaculture that will discuss issues of mutual concern among industry members in both countries.
The cooperative program has been negotiated after more than a year of discussions. The United States, Canada and Mexico have also begun preparatory discussions with Chile about the possibility of including Chile in the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"Chile is one of the most significant Latin American fishing countries and an important market for U.S. companies that provide fishing vessels, gear, processing equipment, aquaculture supplies and a variety of other fishery products and technology. Proper management of Chilean fishery resources will keep this a viable market for U.S. companies, which, in turn, will help support U.S. jobs," Schmitten said.
Agency officials said that the environmental conditions in much of Chile are similar to that of the U.S. Pacific coast, and for this reason the U.S. and Chilean fishermen face many common challenges and will benefit through expanded collaboration.