§ 88. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many nations now recognise the 12-miles limit for territorial and fishing purposes; on what date Iceland gave the requisite two years' notice to terminate the three-miles limit and to adopt a 12-mile limit; if he is aware that Icelandic trawlers are prohibited from fishing within 12 miles of their own coast; and if he will give instructions to the United Kingdom representatives at the conference meeting this week in Geneva to urge a reduction in the 12-miles limit.
§ Mr. R. AllanAccording to United Nations document A/CONF. 19/4, a copy of which is in the Library, thirteen nations claim twelve miles of territorial waters and,ipso facto, fishery jurisdiction. An additional twelve nations claim twelve or more miles for fishery purposes only.
As regards the second part of the Question, the Icelandic Government on 3rd October, 1949, denounced the Anglo-Danish Agreement of 1901 which regulated the policing of the fisheries on the high seas around Iceland and the Faroes and defined the method of measurement of the three mile fishing limit around Iceland recognised by international law. The Icelandic regulations giving effect to their unilateral claim to a twelve mile fishery limit, which came into force on 30th September, 1958, were, in Her Majesty's Government's view, contrary to 128W international law. This does not permit any country to extend its fishery limits unilaterally.
As regards the third part of the Question, Icelandic trawlers are not prohibited from fishing within twelve miles of the Icelandic coast, but under regulations supplementary to those of 30th June, 1958, Icelandic trawlers and Seine netters may and do fish between four and twelve miles except in certain areas and at certain seasons.
It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that unilateral extensions of fishery limits beyond three miles are contrary to present international law.
It would not, of course, be in the public interest to disclose details of the United Kingdom Delegation's instructions, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Delegation will endeavour to secure a fair and lasting settlement of this problem.