December 16, 1953
THE FISHERMAN
Australia Seeks Sovereignty Over Continental Shelf
Details of a dispute between Australia and Japan over pearl fishing tights off Australia's northern coast are reported by the British Commonwealth country which will seek sovereignty over the entire continental shelf.
Page 3
SMOE
by KAUAS 1
An Australian News and Information Bureau release outlines the course of the dispute which has since been referred to the International Court:
The Australian Minister of Commerce (Mr. McEwen) announced in the House of Representatives on September 9 that Australia had
< broken off negotiations which had been proceeding with Japan since April on the question of Japanese pearl-shell fishing inXhe^waters off the North Australian coast. At the same time he announced that the Federal Government would proclaim sovereignty over the whole
. Australian continental shelf,- extending in some places to over 200 miles from the coast.
Introducing legislation to this effect Mr. McEwen told the House that the Government's decision had been taken after Japanese ships had entered two areas—one 85 miles north-west of Darwin and another 95 miles from that town —in which the Japanese had been asked to refrain fr^m pearling, and after the Japanese had announced their intention of taking in these waters a tonnage of shell which Australian fishery experts -considered to be excessive.
Japan, Mr. McEwen said, had notified Australia of these actions while Australia w"as still negotiating for an agreement to limit and regulate Japanese pearling. The Australian Government considered that thp notification had made the
continuance of negotiations (cages-
sible and had informed the Japanese Government that its actions must be regarded as having terminated them.
"He maintained that the timing of Japan's notification, as well as
its substance, indicated a lack of cooperation, as Japan had given no prior notice of her intention, although she was at that time considering a previous offer made by the Australian delegation.
He also pointed out that the recovery of the Australian pearl fishing industry would have been severely prejudiced by Japan's proclaimed intention of taking a certain tonnage from a specific, area closer to Darwin.
Nevertheless, the Japanese would be permitted to take part in pearling m Australian waters, but only in accordance with the law and in harmony with the orderly development and economic interests, of the Australian pearl fishing industry.
In accordance with Mr. McEwen's announcement, two proclamations were issued by the Governor-General on September 11: (1) proclaiming Australia's sovereign rights over the sea-bed and sub--soil of the Australian continental shelf to a depth of 100 fathoms for the purpose of exploring and exploiting natural resources; "and (2) proclaiming similar Australian rights in the continental shelf around the Trust Teritory of New Guinea.
The 1 egislation introduced by Mr. McEwen. which amended the Pearl Fisheries Act, came into effect on Octdber 12 after being passed by the House of Represen-
You Have the Floor
Complains About Story On Deep Sea Fishermen
Our Readers Write
Editor, The Fisherman:
We would appreciate an opportunity to correct some misleading statements appearing in the December 1 issue of The Fisherman.
The article in question states; "The Prince Rupert Deep Sea; Fishermen's Union voted over- ■ whelmingly to reject affiliation'! with the Seafarers International Union." It states further that the referendum was not used because 6t unsigned ballot envelopes and other technical difficulties, etc. j These statements do not give the true picture. The referendum ballot was used, and counted, and though there were some ballots disqualified because of the reasons mentioned, there was a fairly representative number of good ballots. The result of the ballot was j not an overwhelming rejection, but on the contrary, a majority favor-1 tatives on September 10 and by,eri affiliation with the PFATU. the Senate on September 16. However, as the majority was not;
It provided that licences must inj]3rge> jf was not considered truly
able and the case referred to by Mr. Brett is no exception. If any statements we made were incorrect, it was certainly not intentional on our part. May we, however, point out that in no case have we received any direct information from Mr. Brett or the Oeep Sea Union concerning the vote or any of the developments there concerning the attempt at affiliating the DSFU to the Seafarers International Union. To report accurately on this basis is indeed difficult. We thank Mr. Brett for the information contained in his letter and respectfully suggest that press releases from the organisation be sent to us in future. Our policy shall continue to be to present to our readers the facts as we are best able to obtain them on matters which affect the future of those employed in the industry.)
Industry Must Bear Cost
Editor, The Fisherman:
Our compensation delegation met with a courteous hearing when we interviewed Lyle Wicks, Minister of Labor, in the court house two weeks ago. This we appreciate. Yet, as a fisherman's wife, I cannot help but feel concerned by the note on which he ended the interview. His words were to the effect that the bulk of compensation payments in fishing would be for fatalities and such payments are expensive. Such an approach to a fisherman's wife sounds cold and unreasoning as the sea itself.
Every year, the sea takes its toll of 10 to 20 fishermen. Teir to 20 families are left without breadwinners. Yes, it is expen-sive with the present high cost, of living to maintain these families at a decent standard. >
Without compensation the onus of this expense (and I fully agree
with the Minister of Labor that it is an expense) falls on the shoulders of 10 to 20 fishermen's wives and their children.
With full compensation coverage for fishermen it would be borne by an industry which produces 60 to 90 million dollars worth of fish a year. Any suggestion that this is too expensive an item to add to the cost of production in a 75 million dollar industry but not too expensive for a handful of grieving widows doesn't sound like very sound logic to me.
I sincerely hope we can count on our provincial legislature at the coming session to act upon the simple logic and justice of our demand that the expense of fatalities in fishing be borne by the industry.
MRS. WALLIE BURNELL Fort Langley, B.C.
future be held by all ships and divers engaged in pearl-shell fishing, that divers must produce a certificate of medical fitness when ap-
Set CONTINENTAI--page 6
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democratic to proceed further at this time, against the wishes of a» fairly large minority. It was on that issue that the vote, referred to in The Fisherman, was taken, and which resulted in the figures given.
It might reasonably be. assumed that even some of those who had voted in the affirmative on the referendum might be opposed to taking any further action on such a major issue under such circumstances.
We would appreciate that, in any future reference to the DSFU. the records be kept straight.
W. H. BRETT, Secretary, Deep Sea Fishermen's Union Prince Rupert, B.C.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The Fisherman has a reputation for giving the facts where and when obtain-
Fred Robinson
Trudi Stewart
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in 1954 '/[
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