NEW ECUADORAN FISHING DECREE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000700080018-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2012
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: February 1, 1952
• Content Type: CABLE

I _
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822.245/2...142
' .z474? 'SEM IITFORAA.1. ION
PRIORITt? (Security Classification)
,V1),REXON SERVICE DESPATCH
Ariiedeadsy, qUit0
. ?
FROM
6o9
25X1
DESP. NO.
?
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. ''WASHINGTON.;; February.191952
.-)t, /i; ? DATE '
e - ;'? 4444- 1//
EMbassy Telegram 260r-of January 3101952'
5.
For Dept. ARA,
ACTION .
Use Only RECD
DEPT. .
114 DGR OL1 EL DAV.
25X1
F OTHER
0
SUBJECT:. NEVI ECUADORAN FISHING DECREE
By virtue of Executive Decree No, 0160 of January' 299 19529 ?1
1-Toreign flag vessels are prohibited henceforth from fishing within
Ecuadoran continental waters, defined as an area includin all raters
? within a line measured 121nautical miles from the lou tide nark and
apparently to be drawn between the westernmost points of the coast.
This Would 'mean that the territorial raters would in effect vary from a
minimum of 12 nautical miles to a maximum of sone 40 or 50 niles at
i. certain points. It is not clirjar whether the islands adjacent to the
continent are to be considered as projections of the coast Coy the
purpose of drawins this imegiiaryline, or whether they are to be sur-
rounded by a separate 12-mi1elband of territorial waters0 rhe rording
Of this section of the new decree parallels that of the basic law
(Decree No, 003 of February 24, 1)51); therefore, it does not nopear
that any chans':e is intended in the definition of territorial waters.
? The new decree also provides that foreign flacl, vessels can continue
to fish in the territorial waters around thefl,ral&pages Islands but that
prmits for fishing in those taters it be obtained in writins in
advance. Henceforth9 only permit renewals nay be obtained by radio
(from the Ecuadoran consul who issued the original permit). Previously0
a fiehing permit could be obtained after the vessel as at sea, Another
proviSion of the new decree permits all Ecuadoran flag vessels to? report'
violations of this decree and grants 50% of any fines inposed to the
reporting ship.
Pressure from the local fishin7, industry is probably primarily
responsible for this new decree; however., the proposed imposition of
import quotas an inereased dutied on frozen tuna brought into the '
'United States may be a secondary reason for this restrictive measure
on the part of Ecuador.
They Spanish teNt _of-the new decree is enclosed together with a
translation. Those enclosures .nre unclassified.
For t' assador
Copies to:
14; Ecuador Desk, Dept. of State
2.Amconsulate General, Gualaqull,'
Enclosures: Royce
10 Decree 01600 1-29-52 (copz) EconoMit Atta
2. Translation of Decree 01U0
AS7ittherbe
? .. REPORTER
8,1,5,2u3irzy. flFRtTiQN
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?140. 0160
GALO PLAZA
PRESIDENTE CONSTITUCIONAL DILA REPUBLICA
1
CONSIDERANDO:
Que el I. Concejo Cantonal de Manta, varias Entidades y los pes-
?adores organizados del mencionado Puerto, centro pesquero principal
de la Costa, se ban dirigido al Gobierno solicittuidole arbitre las
medidas necesarias tendientes a prohibir la pesca en aguas terri-
torialos continaltales, por naves de bandera extranjera, las que sin
acatar la Ley de Pesca realizan sus operaciones sin las correspon-
dientes licencias, creando asi un problema grave para la alimentacion
de nuestras poblaciones como para la naciente industria pesquera
nacional, ya que disponiendo de medios modernos para la pesca estan
realizando las actividades cuotidianas de centenares de ecuatorianos
que viven de la pesca, y por otra parte, agotan is. riqueza biolOgica
del mar Continental;
Que la prohibicion de la pesca en aguas continentales para
naves de bandera extranjera, no menoscaba, en forma alguna, los
ingr.osos que tanto al Fisco como los cooparticipes perciben por
concepto de licencia de pesca, ya que esas naves,pueden operar en
Archipielago de ColOn, que es la zona pesquera mas importante de
America;
Que la FunciOn Ejecutiva de acuerdo con el Art. 11 de la Ley de
Pesca y Caceria Maritima se halla facultada para prohibir, restringir,
limitar o condicionar las actividades de la pesca en cuanto dicen
relaciOn, entre otras cosas con su intensidad y mas requisitos sefiala-
dos en el MiSMD articulo;
Que es deber de los Poderes Plablicos defender is. riqueza nacional,
y sobre todo, precautelar los legitimos intereses de su pueblo.
DECRETA:
Art. 1 - Prohibeae is. pesca a naves de bandera extranjera on las
' Aguas Territoriales Continentales, a lo largo de la faja comprendida
entre el unite con las aguas de Colombia, por en Norte, y, el limit?
con las del Peril, por el Sur, entendiendose esta COMO la zana compren-
dida dentro de las doce millas nAuticas medidas desde la linea dela
ms baja manera en.las puntas mas salientes de la costa ecuatoriana
e Islas adyacentes.
Art. 2 - Para el ejercicio de las operadiones de pesca en aguas
territoriales insularea del ArChipielaga de ColOn, 'por naves de
bandera extranjera, ser A condici6n esencial la de que obtengan las
.correspondientes licencias;por esctito; y, por radio, unicamente on
el casc contemplado en el inciso 1 del art. 23 de is. Ley de Pesca y
Caceria Maritima vigente.
UNCLASSIFIED
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? ? ?
? 'Art. 3 Toda infracCi6fi a las:disposiciones de este Decreto-t-a-,A
dandionada de'conforMidad con las penas establecidas en\el Art. 52 do
la Loy de la materia. Quedatacultado el Ministro de EcOnomia para
imponer cualquiera? de ellad4 dep.-m.1a gravedad de la infracciim y las
circUhstancids de la ml ma.
?
? Art. 4 Concedese acci6A"pOpular para" la donuncia de las'
infracciones alipresente Decreto; y a las naves de la Marina Mercante
Nadional, segitn Ley, cencedese el derecho al 50 por ciento del valor
de la mUlta liquida si se llegare?a imponer, por denuncia 7 servicio
de captura.
? Art.- 5 - Entglrguense de la.ejecuciOn del presente Decreto, ios
seores:Ministros de Estado on las Carteras de Economia, Relaciones
Exteriores, Defense. Nacional y del Tesoro.
Dade,on el Palacio Nacional, en Quito, a 29 de Enero de 1952
,GALO PLAZA
El Ministro do Economia,
.Ledo. ColOn Serrano
El Ministro de Defensa Nacional,
. Manuel: Diaz Granados
/
El Ministro de Rola:el:Ones Exterioresi
Dr. Neftali Ponce M.'
El Ministro del Tesoro.
A. Peflaherrera V.
UNCLASSIFIED
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4 - 1.1.P11.114 .40%, -04. s- 4,1 ?-?
(Classificat
NO. 01
-GALO P
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
?
PR'SIDENT
.1PUBXIC
CONSIDm1ING:
That the Council ?of Manta, vario en ities, and the organized
fishermen of the mentioned port, the. inc al fishing center of the
coast, have approached the Government 'Reque ting that it devise the
necessary measures to prohibit fishing n c\ntinental territorial
waters by foreign-flag vessels which, w thout respecting the fishing
law, operate without the corresponding licenSes4 thus creating a
,grave problem for the feeding of our towns, as well as for the nascent
national fishing industrinasmuch as With their modern methods of.
;fishing they are displacing hundreds of;Ecua4orans who live by fishing
from:their daily activities and, beside, are exhausting the bio-
logical riches of the continental sea; y
That the prohibition of fishing in continental waters by foreign-
:flag ships would not lessen in any way he recipts which the treasury,
as well as other !participants, receive rom fishing licenses, since
those ships can operate in the insular erritorial waters of the Colum-
'bus Archipelago, which is the most impo tant fishing zone in America;
That the Executive Branch, in acco dance with Article XI of the
Law on Fishing and Maritime Hunting, is competent to prohibit, restrain,
limit or lay down conditions governing ishing activities so far as
'its intensity and other conditions poin ed out in the same Article are
!concerned;
That it is the duty of the Public owers to defend the national
1:wealth and, above all, to watch over th legitimate interests of the
,people.
1
DECREES:
Article l- Fishing by foreign flag ships in the continental
,':territorial waters is prohibited within a band lying between the limit
1 of the Colombian waters on the north and the limit of those of Peru on
the south, this being understood as the zone within twelve nautical
; miles measured from the line of the lowest tide at the most salient
'Points of the Ecuadoran coast and adjacent islands*
Article 2 - For the exercise of fishing operations in the insular.
territorial waters of the Columbus Archipelago_by foreign flag ships,
an essential condition will be the obtention of the corresponding
! license in writin ? and by radio solely in the case contemplated in
paragraph one of Article 23 of the Law on Fishing and Maritime Hunting
now in force.
UNCLASSIFIED 11
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. --":1 UNCLASSIFIED I AmembassY,Quito. 2-1-52
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Article 3 - Infractis of the dispositions of this decree well
r on
be sanctioned in donformity with the penalties established in
Article 52 of the basic law. The Minister of Economy is empowered to
impose any one of these according to the seriousness of the infrac
tion and the circumstances of the ,same.
? Article 4 - Action by private individuals is allowed in the
reporting of infractions of the present Decree; and the right to 50
of the value of the net proceeds of any fine imposed is 'granted to
ships of the national merchant marine for the report and the service
of capture.
Article 5 - The Ministers of State for Economy, Foreign Affairs,
National Defense and the Treasury are charged with the execution of
? the present Decree.
Given in the National Palace in Quito, January 29, 1952.
? GALO PLAZA
The Minister of Economy,
Ledo. ColZn Serrano
The Minister of National Defense,
Manuel Diaz Granados
The Minister for Foreign Affairs,'
Dr. Neftall Pond? M.
The Minister, of the Treasury,
-A. PeAaherrera V. ?
F ? UNCLASSIFTED
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