Conference draws
17 nations, devises ways
to protect oceans

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

Officials of 17 Asia-Pacific nations this week agreed on recommendations to protect oceans from destructive fishing and polluting activities.

About 80 delegates -- including representatives of Hawaii and Guam -- attended the first Asia-Pacific Cooperation Oceans Conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

"It's amazing" that this was the first time the countries focused on the oceans because it's one thing they all share, said D. James Baker, undersecretary for oceans and atmosphere in the U.S. Department of Commerce and conference chairman.

Among other actions, delegates agreed to a U.S. proposal to expand the Pacific observing system to improve knowledge of events such as El Nino and share climate data.

Several thousand floating buoys eventually will be located in all oceans about every 200 miles apart to measure currents and temperatures, Baker said.

He said the fixed buoy system in the tropical Pacific enabled forecasters to predict El Nino so islands could reduce the damaging effects. "We want to enhance and continue it."

The Ocean Conference delegates issued a declaration with recommendations for leaders of the 21 APEC countries, meeting next month in Malaysia. President Clinton is expected to attend.

Baker said the declaration contains strong language to ensure sustainability of marine resources, which contribute about 9 percent to the Asia-Pacific region's economy.

Clinton said at a National Oceans Conference in Monterey, Calif., in June that he would provide about $224 million to address ocean issues, Baker noted.

The United States will share costs of the extended observing system and integrated ocean management through cooperative agreements, Baker said. "Now is the time to start protecting the oceans. We can only do it with international cooperation."

Interestingly, Baker added, there were no differences of opinion during the Hawaii meeting. He said the declaration reflects "renewed commitment for adherence to international treaties."

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that global demand for fish could exceed the supply in 12 years, he said.

He said the United States worked at the meetings "to strengthen the capacity of APEC economies to enforce fishing laws and monitoring of the oceans and seas and stop cyanide fishing."

"You can't underestimate the importance of recognition ... of the link between the economies and natural resources," said Tim Tomastik, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman.

Tom Laughlin, NOAA deputy director for international affairs, said the recommendations "will have an effect on governments and how they do things."

APEC ministers and leaders are asked to implement a "Global Program of Action" which identifies major land-based sources of marine pollution and seeks to reduce pollutants.

Regional priorities were identified, and delegates agreed to collaborate on red tide and harmful algal bloom issues.

Hawaii was the only U.S. state at the conference with official delegates: Craig MacDonald, state ocean resources development manager, and Jerry B. Norris, executive director of the Pacific Basin Development Council. Guam Congressman Robert Underwood also was a delegate.

Kitty Simonds, with the Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council, said the meetings were important to Hawaii and the Western Pacific because of the large longline fishing industry.

Turtles, birds, sharks and capacity -- "too many boats fishing on fewer stocks" -- are major issues, she said.

"Since we've come to know each other (at the conference), we can share information on technology, fisheries and science," she said. "No one country can deal with these problems alone."

This year, the Year of the Ocean, she said, "the whole world is taking notice."