Antarctic Treaty
(Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora) -- These measures, adopted by the Third Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in 1959, are designed to protect the native birds, mammals, and plants of the Antarctic.Public Law 95-541 of October 28, 1978 (92 Stat. 2048) implements the measures by
prohibiting, among other acts, the taking, importing and transporting of birds and mammals
native to the Antarctic without a permit by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States, and the importing and exporting of such animals into or out of the United States.
Return to List of Treaties
The purpose of this treaty is to prevent disputes regarding the use of boundary waters and
settle all questions pending or that may arise between the United States and Canada involving the
rights, obligations, and interests of both nations along their common frontier. The treaty
establishes the International Joint Commission, with three members appointed by each country,
to review and make recommendations on disputes and other issues involving U.S./Canada
boundary waters.
Return to List of Treaties
CITES was signed by 80 nations in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 1973. United States ratification occurred on September 13, 1973, with documents submitted to the depository government (Switzerland) on January 14, 1974. CITES entered into force on July 1, 1975.
Implementing legislation for the United States was provided by enactment of P.L. 93-205, the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Executive Order 11911, signed April 13, 1976, designated Management and Scientific Authorities to grant or deny requests for import or export permits.
Public Law 96-159, signed December 28, 1979 (93 Stat. 1255) designates the Secretary of Interior, acting through the Fish and Wildlife Service, as both the Management and Scientific Authority for implementation of CITES. It also created an International Convention Advisory Commission, which was later abolished by P.L. 97-304, October 13, 1982.
Public Law 97-304 also requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress when a reservation is not taken to the inclusion of a species in the appendices when the United States votes against it. In addition, these amendments require certain scientific authority findings to be based upon the best available biological information, but no State is required to make population estimates for such determinations.
As of November 28, 1999, 146 countries were party to the Convention, and they had held ten
biennial meetings of the Conference of the Parties. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosted the
Ninth Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1994. For more information on CITES, go to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs CITES website at:
Return to List of Treaties
The agreement emphasizes activities related to air and water pollution, enhancement of urban
environment, preservation of nature, establishment of preserves, and arctic and subarctic
ecological systems. The agreement was renegotiated in 1994 to reflect the Russian Federation as
the successor state to the Soviet Union. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers Area V
under the agreement, encompassing the conservation of nature, nature reserves, and wildlife
refuges and parks.
Return to List of Treaties
Signed September 10, 1954, in Washington, D.C., the Convention was ratified by the United
States on June 6, 1955, and by Canada on October 6, 1955. Ratifications were exchanged at
Ottawa, Canada, on October 11, 1955, and the Convention entered into force on the same date.
United States implementation of the Convention was achieved June 4, 1956, by enactment of
Public Law 89-557, the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 931-939c; 70 Stat. 242).
The Convention was amended on May 19, 1967 (18 U.S.T. 1402; T.I.A.S. 6297) to increase the
number of commissioners from each country from three to four.
Return to List of Treaties
Signed in Mexico City, February 7, 1936, this treaty was ratified by the President of the
United States on October 8, 1936, and documents of ratification were exchanged on March 15,
1937, in Washington, D.C. United States implementation of the treaty was accomplished by
amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-711; 40 Stat. 755) on June 20,
1936 (49 Stat. 1556). The treaty was amended March 10, 1972 (23 U.S.T. 260; T.I.A.S. 7302) to
add 32 additional families of birds including eagles, hawks, owls, and Corvidae family. The
treaty was amended in 1995 to establish a legal framework for the subsistence take of birds in
Alaska and northern Canada by Alaska Natives and Aboriginal people in Canada. The Senate
provided its advice and consent to the amendments in November, 1997. The treaty was formally
implemented in 1999.
Return to List of Treaties
It was signed in Tokyo on March 4, 1974, with ratification advised by the Senate of March 27, 1973, and documents of ratification exchanged September 19, 1972. The Convention entered into force September 19, 1974. An agreement amending the annex to the Convention by adding the Maloy Bittern was effected by exchange of notes September 19, 1974, entering into force December 19, 1974 (25 UST 3373; TIAS 7990). This exchange also included a list of endangered birds as provided for in Article IV of the Convention.
Implementing legislation for the United States was achieved by enactment of P.L. 93-300, June 1, 1975 (88 Stat. 190), amending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC 703-711; 40 Stat. 755), as amended.
By a 1988 exchange of diplomatic notes, Convention appendices were updated to correct
common names of species, scientific names, and to both add and delete species on the list based
upon the latest scientific knowledge.
Return to List of Treaties
The Convention was signed at Washington, D.C., on August 16, 1916, and ratified by the
United States on September 1, 1916, and by Great Britain on October 20, 1916. Documents of
ratification were exchanged on December 7, 1916. Implementing legislation for the United
States was accomplished by enactment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918 (16 USC
703-711; 40 Stat. 755). Canada and the United States signed an agreement on January 30, 1979,
to amend the treaty to allow subsistence hunting of waterfowl outside of the normal hunting
season, but it was never ratified by the Senate and never took effect. The treaty was amended in
1995 to establish a legal framework for the subsistence take of birds in Alaska and northern
Canada by Alaska Natives and Aboriginal people in Canada. The Senate provided its advice and
consent to the amendments in November, 1997. The treaty was formally implemented in
1999.
Return to List of Treaties
The Convention provides for the protection of species of birds that migrate between the United States and the Soviet Union or that occur in either country and "have common flyways, breeding, wintering, feeding or moulting areas."
It also encourages actions to identify and protect important habitat against pollution, detrimental alteration, and other environmental degradation, and to cooperate in measures to protect migratory birds identified as being in danger of extinction.
This international agreement remains in force for 15 years and will thereafter be renewed
automatically on an annual basis subject to termination by either party.
Return to List of Treaties
Return to List of Treaties
Eighteen countries are parties, including the United States. Senate advice and consent was
provided on August 17, 1949. The President ratified it on September 1, 1949, with documents
deposited on that same date. The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Act of 1950 (16 USC 981-991; 64
Stat. 1067), as amended, provides implementing authority.
Return to List of Treaties
The nations agreed to take certain actions to achieve these objectives, including the adoption of "appropriate measures for the protection of migratory birds of economic or esthetic value or to prevent the threatened extinction of any given species."
The Convention was signed by the United States on October 12, 1940, and ratified April 15, 1941. United States ratification documents were deposited with the Pan American Union, Washington, D.C., on April 28, 1941.
Implementing legislation for the United States was achieved by enactment of Public Law
93-205, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 87 Stat. 884). Section 8(e)
of the Act directs the President to designate the agencies "which shall act on behalf of and
represent the United States in all regards as required by the Convention," which was
accomplished by Executive Order 11911, April 13, 1976.
Return to List of Treaties
The United States and Canada committed to prevent over-fishing and provide for optimum production, and ensure that both countries receive benefits equal to the production of salmon originating in their waters. The Treaty was revised in 1999 to renew the Parties’ long-term fishing agreements. In 2002, the Treaty was amended to include the Yukon River Salmon Agreement.
The Treaty was signed in Ottawa on January 28, 1985 and entered into force on March 18, 1985.
Return to List of Treaties
The agreement commits the signatories to manage polar bear populations in accordance with sound conservation practices; prohibits hunting, killing, and capturing bears except for limited purposes and by limited methods, and commits all parties to protect the ecosystems of polar bears, especially denning and feeding areas and migration corridors.
The agreement was signed by the United States on November 15, 1973, ratified on September 30, 1976, and entered into force in this country on November 1, 1976.
Public Law 92-522, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.; 86
Stat. 1027) provides authority for the United States to implement the agreement.
Return to List of Treaties
The Convention maintains a list of wetlands of international importance and works to
encourage the wise use of all wetlands in order to preserve the ecological characteristics from
which wetland values derive. The Convention is self-implementing, with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service serving as the U.S. administrative authority for the Convention, in consultation
with the Department of State. As of the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties, held
in Costa Rica in May, 1999, there were 117 contracting parties.
Return to List of Treaties
The purpose of ICES is to: (a) "promote and encourage research and investigations for the study of the sea, particularly those related to the living resources thereof; (b) "draw up programmes required for this purpose and to organize . . . such research and investigations as may appear necessary;" and (c) "publish or otherwise disseminate the results of research and investigations."
Eighteen countries are parties to this Convention. Senate advice and consent was given
March 1, 1967; ratification and accession was approved by the President on April 4, 1967; and
the documents were deposited with the United Nations on April 18, 1973. The Convention
entered into force on April 18, 1973.
Return to List of Treaties