XN000022-1978-04-06 — Page 4

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978

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HONG KONG FOURTH LARGEST CONSUMER OF FISH IN THE WORLD

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HONG KONG IS THE WORLD'S FOURTH LARGEST CONSUMER OF FISH ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. TED NICHOLS STATED.

HE SAID THAT THE DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS PARTICULARLY FRESH FISH, WAS SO STRONG IN MOST SOUTH EAST ASIAN AREAS THAT THE BULK OF FISH PRODUCED WAS CONSUMED WITHIN THE REGION .... ALTHOUGH EXPORTS OF HIGH VALUED SPECIES WAS INCREASING.

MR. NICHOLS MADE THE COMMENTS AT THE CITY LIONS CLUB LUNCHEON TODAY WHEN REFERRING TO THE INDO-PACIFIC FISHERY COMMISSION WHICH HE ATTENDED IN MANILA LAST MONTH.

HE WARNED HOWEVER, THAT THERE WAS MORE FISHING PRESSURE ON DEEP SEA (DEMERSAL) SPECIES THAN ON COASTAL AND OFFSHORE MID-WATER (PELAGIC) SPECIES WHERE +POTENTIAL EXPANSION COULD WELL LIE.+

+COMMERCIAL FISHING IS GENERALLY STILL INTENSIVE WITHIN COASTAL ZONES AND MARICULTURE IS PRACTISED ONLY IN INSHORE WATERS.

+YET, IT IS WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONES THAT SEA-BORNE TRAFFIC IS HEAVIEST-POLLUTION FROM WASTE DISPOSAL IS WORST WHERE CONCENTRATIONS OF YOUNG LIVING ORGANISMS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO POLLUTION OCCUR WHERE SEAWATER IS TAKEN FOR COOLING POWER PLANTS OR FOR DESALINISATION AND FROM WHICH, INCREASINGLY, EXPLOITED MINERALS ARE TAKEN,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS.

ON THE +LAW OF THE SEA+ CONFERENCE, MR. NICHOLS SAID IT WAS MEETING TO CONSIDER AN INFORMAL COMPOSITE NEGOTIATING TEXT+ WHICH IT IS HOPED, WILL PROVIDE A BASIS FOR NEGOTIATION WITHOUT AFFECTING THE RIGHTS OF ANY STATE TO SUGGEST REVISIONS IN THE SEARCH FOR A CONCENSUS.+

+ALTHOUGH THE FINAL OUTCOME IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED, THE MAJORITY OF NATIONS NOW SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF A BROAD ECONOMIC ZONE, ALTHOUGH DIFFERENT COUNTRIES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE SUBSTANCE OF JURISDICTION WITHIN SUCH A ZONE.

+THE GENERAL TREND, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN FOR AN INCREASING NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO EXTEND NATIONAL JURISDICTION OVER FISHING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO EXPLOIT NATIONAL RESOURCES.

*THE EFFECTS OF THIS GENERAL TREND OF EXTENSION OF JURISDICTION OVER FISHERIES ARE ALREADY APPARENT IN SOME REGIONS.

+DISTANT WATER FISHING FLEETS THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE AREAS NEWLY CLAIMED FOR NATIONAL JURISDICTION MUST EITHER MOVE INTO OTHER AREAS OR REACH SOME LEVEL OF AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW THEIR CONTINUED FISHING WITHIN THE CLAIMED LIMITS,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS,

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