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2/1/1992 - Untitled by Peter H. Christiansen

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRITER SCONSENT PHC I INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS February Dear Peter The North Pacific ocean productive fishery world The North Pacific usually defined ocean region north degrees latitude includes Bering Sea Sea Okhotsk Japan Sea Gulf Alaska Alaska Archipelago The shelf region subject fishing nations border The United States Canada The Russian Federation Japan other nations water fishing fleets The North Pacific oceans function complex interplay balance international national private interests played desolate windswept arena In distant politics culture economics mankind together other place planet In North Pacific interests nations peoples fragile threatened equilibruim ecosystem The region daily determined ports I The shelf areas mainly shallow water regions located along edges Asian North American continental masses The water regions North Pacific located within biological productivity The water areas located Aleutian Trench Northern Japan productive fisheries upwelling nutrient ocean water floor Since theInstituteofCurrentWorld Affairs theCrane Rogers Foundation hasprovidedlong termfellowships enable outstandingyoungadultstolive outsidetheUnitedStatesandwriteaboutinternationalareasandissues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisalsosuppobyconlributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations PHC fishing vessels corporate boardrooms courts halls government whether problems confront North Pacific solved maintain vitality viability region before collapses under intense fishing pressure question The modern world organized layers organizational regimes effecting levels human society local global scale So North Pacific The organizational regimes developed around fisheries North Pacific exceedingly complex being interplay historical cultural social economic political factors accident circumstance Entire volumes written about North Pacific address these issues thoroughly beyond scope essay However before modest overview North Pacific fisheries begin discussion general biology oceanography region necessary The oceanographic factors complex general dynamics involved making system understood fisheries biologists A glance North Pacific region reveals number interesting unique geophysical features The region subdivided number shallow water lobes island chains notably Japanese Aleutian Islands These represent extent Asian continental shelf All references fishing regimes boundaries North Pacific based seminal cartographic region Atlas Marine Use North Pacific Region Miles Sherman Fluharty Gibbs Tanaka Oda University California Press Berkeley Los Angeles California I grateful Director University Washington School Fisheries Professor Edward L Miles generous atlas PHC I deeper waters North Pacific located subducting Pacific plate These shallow water lobes East West Sea Japan Sea Okhots Bering Sea The shallow water average depth between three hundred meters In Northeast sector North American continental shelf waters Gulf Alaska Alaska Archipelago productive fisheries steeply abyssal waters Pacific Ocean The regions continental shelf waters subject large regular inflows nutrients rivers streams during temperate Arctic spring melting period They receive nutrients stored during spring Cold water physically oxygen warmer water temperature these maintained round between degrees Celsuis The result heavily oxygenated seawater temperature constant favorable In spring sunlight large amounts energy nutrient oxygenated water creating ideal conditions blooms phyto lankton These microorganisms support complex chain suspension feeders which consume these organisms filtering water through gills baleen predators The planktonic blooms enough There excellent Earth Rifts Ridges Rises Winter issue Oceanus V No See issue article Ridges Rises A Global View Peter Lonsdale Chris Small explaination plate tectonics underlying geography other ocean regions The freezing point seawater approximately degrees Celsius although there winter icing these water frozen This insulates water below allowing maintain constant temperature support chain extending lowly shrimp largest living organisms earth various species whales which migrate great distances waters Nor Pacific spring summer feast plankton Climate contributes share productive capabilities North Pacific region The North Pacific region infamous among mariners ferocious storms winds These storms however terrible navigation conditions excellent better supporting marine Since these relatively shallow nutrients oxygen evenly mixed throughout water column constant action The waters these receive additional warmer waters South Pacific Japan Current which intermingle colder local water create favorable mixing zones enhanced planktonic production Warm water minerals vents located subduction trenches junctions continental plates although marine researcheare certain great these vents marine biology region The result these favorable geographical physical biological factors fisheries region unparalled diversity productivity commercial value The fisheries North Pacific commonly divided simplicity salmon groundfish halibut By known eating sport North Pacific salmon Salmon esteemed gourmets throughout world their delicious flesh delicate distinct flavor Salmon baked broiled poached smoked dried fried salted sauteed eaten establishments flown overnight fresh Alaska restaurants New York Paris Hong Kong While salmon farmed Chile Canada Norway significant quantities Alaskan salmon generally raised hatcheries The hatchlings released streams their Bering Sea Gulf Alaska waters Pacific The hatchlings return after years ocean streams where released create spectacular millions The North Pacific supports populations salmonids including salmon Oncorhyncus tsawytscha sockeye salmon O nerka silver salmon O kisutch humpback salmon gorbusha silverbrite salmon Of these considered eating bright flesh distinctive flavor Sockeye cohoslightly colorful flavorful while considered lowest grade All species their market either fresh frozen smoked canned product Besides valuable salmonids North Pacific different species groundfish called because pelagic feeders spending their adult lives ocean floor Many groundfish commercially important There different kinds Pleuronictidea notably yellowfin mainstays Soviet American joint fishing ventures 1970s 1980s The Pacific Gadus macrocephalus The genus salmon Oncorhyncus derived greek words rhyno The species names legacy Russian Imperial explorations Siberia Alaska For example species humpback salmon gorbsha translates Russian English humped It family former final General Secretary Communist Party Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev Source Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute ravenous piscivore thirty pounds little years eaten worldwide baked broiled Europe simmered hearty winter Japan The shallow waters Bering Sea Sea Okhotsk enormous stocks commercially valuable world Alaska pollock Theragra chalcogramma Once disdained fishermen trash fleshed silvery pollock glory multimillion dollar surimi industry The largest groundfish halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis monster three hundred pounds The halibut valuable entire international management council maintain stocks North American waters worshipped Tlingit Tsimshian Haida Indians Besides these North Pacific highly productive fisheries Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus azonus monopterigius anchovy Engrualis japonica rockfish Scorpaenidae sablefish Anaplopoma fimbria sardines Sardinops melanostica ocean perch Sebastes alutus Of special abundant herring Clupae harengus pallasi channels fjiords Alaska Archipelago delicately flavo cherished Japanese The coastal waters North Pacific inhabited three species commercially valuable crustacea which target fishing operations vital Alaskan economy The shallower waters sustain large populations Tanner crabs Chionoecetes bairdi opilio commonly known These crabs considered trash crabbers Bering Sea moved forefront after collapse King fishery 1960s early 1970s Snow staple family restaurant industry The enormous King Paralithodes camtshatica considered eating world Although expensive pound there still market restaurants spiny behemouth price because influx Kings Russian Federation In addition these better known creatures North Pacific supports active fisheries shrimp urchi octopus cucumbers commercially harvested shellfish The North Pacific kinds mammals which hunted extinction before international conservation efforts combined protect Important species include sperm killer whales walrus seals lions otter polar Although these marine mammals protected United States under Marine Mammal Protection Act still subject serious pressures result local fishing efforts distant economic demands For example United States enforcement agencies recently broke walrus poaching fifty people Bering Sea Their motivation price ivory which short supply world market because strong international efforts close African ivory trade Stocks Stellar lions currently threatened depletion pollock stocks creased factory trawler activity Bering Sea which establishment protected zones around rookeries The National Marine Fisheries Service considering drastic pollock quota Stellar found endangered pollock fishing As species suggests King first discovered Kamchatka Peninsula Russian explorers Far East Bering Sea The Seattle Times February PHC I An exceedingly complex regime economic zones international management organizations developed regulate fisheries protect environmental integrity region To understand international management regime governing mankind activities North Pacific necessary first review boundaries Exclusive Economic Zones define Under terms Third United Nations Conference Law Sea UNCLOS III adopted Caracas Venezuala coastal nations conferred international agreement right exclusive management natural resources extending hundred miles their coastal boundaries The agreement explicitely includes fisheries resources The Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ extend continental shelf allow nations control mineral resources Under UNCLOS III nations called jointly manage fishing stocks migrating coastal ocean called straddling stocks stocks highly migratory salmon which spend portion their ocean In theory nations cooperate ensure viability these stocks practice source dispute since there often insufficient incomplete information about migrations It Sea Lions Endangered Donna Parker Alaska Fisherman Journal Yearbook The current NMFS recommended pollock quota environmental group Greenpeace advocates Recently proviso become important lever Russian Federation United States their efforts close Bering Sea Donut Hole third country fishing fleets since recently proven pollock stocks nations migrate through Marine biologists Russia United States maintained overfishing third country vessels Donut Hole responsible decline pollock stocks evidence bears hypothesis important United States signatory Treaty Law Sea while Japan Soviet Union Russian Federation Republic Korea Taiwan The United States tends honor provisions Treaty selectively For example wishes convince other nations regulate fishing Donut Hole prevent depletion Bering Sea stocks while refusing aknowledge contention highly migratory resource subject regulation nations expting The United States enacted Magnuson Act protect American fisheries effectively closing water including Bering Sea Gulf Alaska foreign fishing efforts extending American territorial waters miles miles The major American federal regulatory agencies directly involved managing Alaska fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service North Pacific Fisheries Management Council Board Fisheries Coast Guard Congress United States State regulatory bodies include Alaska Department Fish Game Alaska State Legislature local governments Beyond these there dozens fishermen organizations other regulatory bodies virtually every known aspect fishing industry The International Pacific Halibut Commission Alask Draggers Association American Factory Trawler Association Bering Sea Fishermen Association See Donut Hole pollock U S natives National Fisherman January West Coast Focus The issues surrounding Donut Hole global importance decided implications policy concerning straddling stocks ocean fishing Pollock stocks Donut Hole seriously depleted since record harvest million total pollock harvest nations estimated PHC I Nations North Pacific region their territorial waters within EEZ source employment generate needed revenues selling right waters other nations companies The patchwork EEZs North Pacific confer fishing zones People Republic China North South Korea Japan Russian Federation United States Canada There areas where boundaries disputed especially around Kurile Islands which still subject contention between Russian Federation Japan despite change government former The Bering Sea border between Russian EEZ United States EEZ redrawn resulting United States gaining thousand extra square miles ocean general there little serious disagreement borders North Pacific issues center origins stocks since determines entitled harvest There zones within these contigious EEZs Sea Okhotsk Peanut Hole about square miles Bering Sea infamous Donut Hole which measures approximately square miles These areas subject great fishing pressure nations whose EEZs surround Un States Russian Federation nations whose water fleets venture these zones without restriction These anomalous zones subject controversy highlight problems confront North Pacific The fisheries North Pacific utilized nations Exclusive Economic Zones other nations interest exploiting region riches As noted above interested nations negotiate purchase right given EEZ either joint fishing operation nation directed fishery In meant presence Japanese Polish PHC I Taiwanese PRC Bulgarian vessels American waters present accounts proliferation joint directed fisheries EEZ former Soviet Union The financial rewards successfully exploiting fisheries resources North Pacific counted billions dollars create international industry noted vitality competitiveness There three important bilateral relations North Pacific United States Russian Federation Japan Russian Federation United States Japan I0 Each these bilateral relations unique problem treated seperately subsequent reports The remainder newsletter highlight economic social political aspects largest important fisheries relationship North Pacific region between Japan United States The Japanese appetite fresh products driving force behind multimillion dollar Alaska fishing industry Fresh occupies revered position Japanese cuisine American cuisine connotations romance people island nation steak cattle culture Japan appears Americans dominate US Japanese trade lations Japanese import seventy eighty percent caught These represent important actors North Pacific Canada invested heavily United States Russia Japan water fishing fleet cannot considered important player distant water fishing North Pacific region South Korea Taiwan water fishing capability Poland interested keeping Peanut Donut Holes access fishing areas these nations amount capital investment water fishing Big Three The People Republic China North Korea present token presence state Alaska As salmon fisherman aptly Japan black Virtually Alaska important Japanese market Japanese demand quantities quality salmon fuels often frenzied fishing activity yearly fishing seasons openings which little ludicrously short fishermen Ii Despite short periods activity however profits enough provide thousands American fishermen excellent livelihood In example almost million salmon worth million dollars salmon harvested Bristol Bay weeks during eastern Bering Sea early summer salmon Total landings salmon Alaska nearly million value million Profit margins better others salmon fishermen winners value single salmon pound prime quality The Japanese taste surimi highly processed product based traditional Japanese kumike created billion dollar industry lowest trash pollock The itself flavorful abundant proper 8technology becomes highly processed protein Fishing windows carefully timed Alaska Fish Game coincide moment migrating salmon mouths their spawning streams The beginning salmon spotted small plane biological timing consistent variations The trick intercept salmon inlets their spawning streams Alaska Fisherman Journal Yearbook Statewide Glut Yields Low Low Value basis dozens analogue products seafood salad Recently however price fallen enough excellent substitute surimi Factory trawlers United States EEZ harvest whopping million silvery groundfish Bering Sea during openings A B season percent destined Asian markets In Japan capita consumption closeal6 pounds There currently available thousand analogue products surimi available Japan including surimi potato chips cakes valued opalescent produced surimi processors High strength surimi currently sells retail pound F O B Seattle world supplies scarce making unlikely demand industry pressure larger fishing quotas decrease To celebrate New Year Japanese feast highly prized Alaska herring Herring worth fisherman Alaska himself legend catching million dollars worth single This profits during single yearly opening The herring season resulted anding nearly vessel worth nearly million Japanese demand Alaska includes foods familiar American European palates Pacific landed Bering Sea halibut which astounding million pound harvest total hours fishing King meanwhile yielded million The Surimi Squeeze Katherine Marris Seafood Business November December Vol I0 No State Herring Harvest Tops Tons Alaska Fisherman Journal Yearbook pounds worth million seven effort boats Bairdi quotas million pounds prices disputed between buyers crabbers between pound To insure consistent delivery quality their demanding markets Japanese businesses invested heavily Alaska fisheries maintain profile industry often occupy positions management quality control According report United States General Accounting Office GAO there Japanese majority fishing companies operating Alaska Washington State Oregon however reporting standards about ownership state state exact scope investment unclear Many fishing companies predominantly owned Americans contracted their entire production Japan The Japanese salmon processing plants Bristol Bay processing plants Kodiak Dutch Harbor shore based surimi plants Dutch Harbor other locations These operations provide round employment locals towns traditionally depended influx seasonal money Crabbers Strike Over Bairdi Prices Bob King Alaska Fisherman Journal January Op GAO reports scope foreign investment North Pacific Todd Campbell National Fisherman January This article highlights acrimony against Japanese alleged market manipulation One American businessman quoted When Japanese control market control supply position dictate price shots industry I allegation tough prove I believe heart going behin maintain market share gradually eliminating U S operators Yet there widespread dissatisfaction profile foreign presence This contradiction often strains powerful symbiosis Alaskan marine resources Japanese capital unusual For example Japanese company Nippon Suisan Kaisha Ltd represented American subsidiary Unisea opened million G surimi shore based plant Dutch Harbor Although Nippon Suisan lauded Alaska Governer Walter Hickel Offshore Trade Partner Year construction plant exacerbated problem distributing Alaska pollock resources between shore based plants factory trawler fleet This fleet operates primarily Seattle drastically capitalized sending owners scrambling possible competitive tussle resources Disputes between shore based factory trawler surimi industries further embittered accusations sides foreign interest Japanese domination Yet sides industry predominantly Japanese owned their product primarily Japan There efforts resolve allocation issue while trend favor shore based plants recent scheme North Pacific Fishery Management Council divide pollock catch percent between based oceangoing processors likely overturned United States Commerce Department The shore based plants continue compete factory processo Olympic system meaning pollock quota caught whoever catch fastest allocation favor processing method This result factory trawler fleet again capturing share pollock quota Traditional ceremony opens Unisea surimi plant Kris Freeman Seafood Business September October PHC I Periodically Japanese offer price below offered This happened Bristol Bay during summer Japanese buyers surprised salmon fishermen offering pound sockeye salmon pound The result bitter strike during height salmon resolved after tense acrimonious negotiations The resolution crisis unsatisfactory compromise which fishermen grounds question consistent prices salmon One result negotiating minimum price salmon between fishermen buyers prior start season however fishermen notoriously independent working cooperative effort prices difficult before season According GAO report strike causes price salmon market catch million inventory salmon Japanese warehouses competitively priced quality salmon Norway Chile which accounts thirty percent salmon market share Japan Apparently Japanese price offer based expected influx quality Norwegian farmed salmon worlmarket This salmon allegedly going dumped nprices below those Alaska salmon Combined efforts United States through Trade Representative GATT Geneva salmon landing Western rkets U S urged reject proposal split Alaska pollock catch David Schaefer Seattle Times February The article notes Washington State factory trawlers percent American owned while shore based surimi plants Alaska Japanese Farmers Snatch Salmon Market Fishing News International November Vol No Norwegians allegedly promised salmon newly opened markets Eastern Europe Despite difficulties caused volatile international market cultural differences however Japanese relations their American counterparts cooperative everyone involved interest keeping trade relationship working There remarkable comprimises which perhaps herald spirit cooperation North Pacific The Japanese relented international pressure drift fishing operations December Gaining Japanese agreement destructive practice which targeted salmon illegally killed countless thousands marine mammals birds hailed major forward stabilizing fishing practices North Pacific It widely regarded landmark decision favor ecologically sound fishing practices North Pacific general While Japanese Americans bound their bilateral fishing relations market forces Russian Republic United States share actual physical boundary Bering Sea This makes Bering Sea Alaska Fisherman Journal Market Report February Vol No A study Edward L Miles University Washington School Fisheries Research Institute The U S Japan Fisheries Relationship Northeast Pacific From Conflict Cooperation highlights major obstacle smooth ations The Japanese fisheries industry highly organized while single unified entity different components industry possess capability think strategically The U S industry other fragmented lacks capability think strategically Or Alaskan salmon fisherman The Japanese money management indiginious stocks important determinant fisheries relations between The complex relations between United States Russian Federation their efforts jointly utilize common fishing stocks topic newsletter Rec Hanover