Office of the Historian

158. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan1

Washington, April 10, 1982

SUBJECT

  • Fisheries Agreement with the Soviet Union

Issue: Should the Governing International Fisheries Agreement (GIFA) with the USSR be renewed? (S)

Facts: The GIFA, signed November 26, 1976, by the United States and the Soviet Union expires on July 1, 1982, and thus, will terminate the ongoing U.S.-Soviet joint fisheries venture. This agreement covers a broad range of fishery-related activities. However, with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, all sections of the agreement with the exception of the joint fisheries venture were suspended in January 1980. The [Page 526] joint venture entails a delivery of fish by U.S. trawlers to Soviet fish processing vessels. (S)

Discussion: As Al Haig’s memorandum (Tab A)2 indicates, the joint fisheries agreement has been profitable to U.S. fishermen. Last year their earnings from this venture doubled. A renewal of GIFA would entail only a renewal of the joint fisheries venture and would not reinstate those agreement sections affected by the Afghanistan-related sanctions. The agreement, however, should be renewed for only one year on the condition that the U.S. can abrogate this venture at any time, if warranted. The right to terminate the venture will provide us with leverage in the event any further sanctions are contemplated. Thus, as the proposed renewal is short-term, narrow in scope and conditional, it cannot be construed as “business as usual” with Moscow. State, Commerce and various West Coast Senators (Jackson, Packwood and Gorton) endorse a one-year renewal of GIFA. (S)

RECOMMENDATION3

That you approve a one-year renewal of the Governing International Fisheries Agreement with the USSR, reserving the right to terminate its benefits if warranted. (S)

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC: Country File, USSR (04/01/1981–04/05/1982). Secret. Sent for action. Drafted by Dobriansky.↩
  2. Attached but not printed is Haig’s memorandum to Reagan, April 2, on which Reagan signed his approval of a one-year extension of the GIFA.↩
  3. Reagan initialed his approval.↩