Maritime Jurisdiction over Fishery Resources

Economic necessity and recent developments in marine technology have caused man to begin his move into the sea on a grand scale, occupying and exploiting it for recreation, minerals, food, waste disposal, and possible living space. These new technological advances and the increased need for the traditional fishery resources have precipitated the interests of nations in expanding their exclusive jurisdictions further into an ocean space where it had been traditionally free for all to use. Though this move for exclusive jurisdiction is motivated by the uniform desire of all nations to more efficiently utilize and conserve the resources and to protect them for national exploitation, the means to achieve these goals in the international community and the United States present a number of difficult legal problems.