Fisheries

The International Dolphin Conservation Program, an international pact to prevent dolphin deaths in tuna nets, has reached its tenth anniversary and is considered one of the most successful agreements in the world governing the conservation and management of living marine resources, the State Department said in a statement issued January 30. In 1998 the Program was adopted by the United States, the European Union and 11 other counties in response to concerns over the high number of dolphins killed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean by tuna fisheries. The Department of State, with support from other Government agencies, led the negotiating effort for the United States and provided the international leadership necessary to ensure the strongest possible agreement. Under this program, and its predecessor, the La Jolla Agreement, dolphin deaths in the fishery have decreased more than 99 percent. The goal of the agreement is to reach zero dolphin deaths in the fishery.

2008: International Dolphin-Protection Pact Reaches 10-Year Mark (Feb 13, 2008) (State Department Press Release)

The National Marine Fisheries Service Office in Brussels is located within the U.S. Mission to the European Union. As the representative of the NMFS’s Trade Commercial Service (TCS), its objective is to facilitate the European integration of the U.S. seafood industry by assisting, advocating and advancing the interests of U.S. seafood business in the increasingly complex world of international regulations, market access issues and food safety concerns. The EU-NMFS Office covers all EU Member States, the countries of the European Economic Area, and the EU candidate countries. It is a key element in the European penetration of the U.S. seafood industry. 

The Office collaborates with the EU institutions (Commission, European Parliament and Council), Member State national authorities, and other U.S. embassies in EU countries on various subjects such as the Common Fisheries Policy, border controls, and veterinary certification requirements for fishery and aquaculture products. It also works on issues such as seafood labeling, sanitary certification, and tariffs. For more information on these subjects, please contact the Office. 

The EU-NMFS Office also represents the Food and Drug Administration's interests and authority with respect to trade and certification of seafood products in the EU.

 

2005: U.S. Sees Some Convergence of Views on Fishing Subsidies at WTO (Dec 14, 2005) | Americans Advised to Eat Seafood Twice a Week (Dec 8, 2005) | Bush Urges Senate To Ratify Convention on Migratory Fish (May 17, 2005) | White House Seeks Senate Support of Marine Conservation (May 17, 2005) | United States Outlines Steps to Conserve Antarctic Fishing (Jan 26, 2005) | United States Converting Military Ship to Science Vessel (Jan 18, 2005)

 

2004: White House Official Outlines First Steps on Oceans Plan (Dec 18, 2004) | New U.S. Effort to Protect Oceans, Coasts Launched (Dec 17, 2004) | Ocean Commission Submits Final Report to Pres., Congress (Sep 21, 2004) | Intl. Collaborators to Launch North Atlantic Air Quality Study (Jun 28, 2004) | U.S. Official: Complete Beluga Sturgeon Import Ban Unlikely (Apr 29, 2004) | Global Observation Proposal Advances at Tokyo Meeting (Apr 27, 2004) | Senior U.S. Diplomat for Oceans Surveys Marine Diplomacy (Apr 22, 2004) | Blueprint for Protecting World's Oceans Put Forward (Apr 20, 2004)

 

2003: U.S. Seeks Enforcement of Atlantic Tuna Reporting Rules (Oct 30, 2003) | U.S. Welcomes EC Decision on Bilateral Investment Treaties (Sep 5, 2003) | U.S., Others on EU Proposal to Phase Out Driftnets (Jul 24, 2003) | Overfishing: A Global Challenge (Jan 2003)