White House Press Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 28, 1945 The President today issued two proclamations assert- ing the jurisdiction of the United States over the natural re- sources of the continental shelf under the high seas contiguous to the coasts of the United States and its territories, and pro- viding for the establishment of conservation zones for the pro- tection of fisheries in certain areas of the high seas contiguous to the United States. The action of the President in regard to both the resources of the continental shelf and the conservation of high seas fisheries in which the United States has an interest was taken on the recommendation of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior. Two companion Executive orders were also issued by the President. One reserved and set aside the resources of the continental shelf under the high seas and placed them for adminis- trative purposes, pending legislative action, under the jurisdic- tion and control of the Secretary of the Interior. The other provided for the establishment by Executive orders, on recommen- dation of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, of fishery conservation zones in areas of the high seas contiguous to the coasts of the United States. Until the present the only high seas fisheries in the regulation of which the United States has participated, under treaties or conventions, are those for whales, Pacific halibut and fur seals. In areas where fisheries have been or shall hereafter be developed and maintained by nationals of the United States alone, explicitly bounded zones will be set up in which the NARA United States may regulate and control all fishing activities. In other areas where the nationals of other countries as well as our own, have developed or shall hereafter legitimately develop fisheries, zones may be established by agreements between the United States and such other states and joint regulations and control will be put into effect. The United States will recognize the rights of other countries to establish conservation zones off their own coasts where the interests of nationals of the United States are recog- nized in the same manner that we recognize the interests of the nationals of the other countries. The assertion of this policy has long been advocated by conservationists, including a substantial section of the fishing industry of the United States, since regulation of a fishery resource within territorial waters cannot control the misuse or prevent the depletion of that resource through un- controlled fishery activities conducted outside of the commonly accepted limits of territorial jurisdiction. As a result of the establishment of this new policy, the United States will be able to protect effectively, for in- stance, its most valuable fishery, that for the Alaska salmon. Through painstaking conservation efforts and scientific manage- ment the United States has made excellent progress in maintain- ing the salmon at high levels. However, since the salmon spends a considerable portion of its life in the open sea, uncontrolled fishery activities on the high seas, either by nationals of the United States or other countries, have constituted an ever present menace to the salmon fishery. The policy proclaimed by the President in regard to the jurisdiction over the continental shelf does not touch upon the question of Federal versus State control. It is concerned solely with establishing the jurisdiction of the United States from an international standpoint. It will, however, make pos- sible the orderly development of an underwater area 750,000 square miles in extent. Generally, submerged land which is contiguous to the continent and which is covered by no more than 100 fathoms (600 feet) of water is considered as the continental shelf. (OVER)