Soviets May Have to Go Fish Elsewhere If Agreement Can’t Be Made With U.S.

It’s interesting how, in the midst of talks to avert nuclear war with the Soviet Union, there have been long-standing and amiable, but little known, commercial fishing contracts between the USSR and the United States. In fact, the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Fisheries, Sovryblot, actually owns, in a joint venture agreement, a Seattle fish processing enterprise called Marine Resources Co.

This company operates a fleet of about 10 Soviet fish processing vessels that are provided with fish caught by about 20 American trawlers. Marine Resources Co., owned equally by Sovryblot and Bellingham (Wash.) Cold Storage, is the largest buyer of domestically caught bottomfish in the U.S. This commercial arrangement has been going on for nearly a decade.

The joint venture agreement permitted fishing in U.S. waters on a one-to-one basis, meaning that for every metric ton of fish netted by the Soviets, they must buy and process equal tonnage harvested by U.S. trawlers.

Beginning this year, however, the Soviets applied for a larger share of fish caught directly by them. This was rejected by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), which has jurisdiction over such matters. The PFMC is one of eight U.S. councils under the National Marine Fisheries Service, whose parent organization is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Unless the Soviets renegotiate their application, it looks as though permits will be issued to Polish fish processing vessels to fish for whiting off our west coast, north of the 39th parallel, near Point Arena on the Mendocino coastline. The whiting season extends from May through October. The PFMC has recommended acceptance of the Polish application, which must receive final approval by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A spokesman for the PFMC said the Poles expect to operate about four processing vessels in U.S. waters north of the 39th parallel. Their operation probably will be based at the Quest Trading Co. of Coos Bay, Ore., under a joint venture agreement. The Polish government has proposed a 6-to-1 agreement. For every 60,000 metric tons caught by U.S. trawlers, the Poles would harvest 10,000 metric tons directly from the sea. This ratio, however, is subject to negotiations. By a 4-0 vote, the Senate Rules Committee has recommended confirmation of Jack C. Parnell as director of the State Department of Fish and Game. The recommendation now goes to the full Senate.

Parnell, 49, was owner and operator of the Dunipace Angus Ranch near Auburn in Placer County as well as the nearby Headquarter House Restaurant and the Angus Hills Golf Course, before he was appointed to the Fish and Game position by Gov. Deukmejian. He became acting director after Don Carper requested that his name be withdrawn from consideration for Senate confirmation.

The City of Newport Beach is conducting dredging operation in various locations throughout Newport Bay. Mariners are requested to give the dredge wide berth. Operations are expected to last until about June, 1986.

The Connolly Pacific Co.’s derrick barge CP-18 is performing pile driving and marina construction operations in Newport Harbor for the Balboa Yacht Club. These operations will continue until March 31.

John Shea, a San Diego businessman, has become the first charter life member of the National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Pacific Region. The charter life member program is aimed at developing a self perpetuating fund by soliciting $1,000 contributions which will be placed in a trust fund. The interest from the trust will used for operating revenues.