Statement on Signing the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act

Statement on Signing the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act

August 15, 1997

I am pleased today to sign into law H.R. 408, the ``International
Dolphin Conservation Program Act''. This Act is the product of a
bipartisan effort by the Congress, my Administration, and a number of
major environmental groups and U.S. fishermen. The Act will ensure that
one of the best international programs to conserve marine resources will
be strengthened and continued.

The protection of dolphins in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean,
where these marine mammals swim together with schools of yellowfin tuna,
has long been a high priority for the United States. Strengthening the
International Dolphin Conservation Program through this legislation is a
major victory for strong international efforts to protect dolphins
caught during tuna fishing in this region.

The Act recognizes that ongoing international efforts have been a
tremendous success--dolphin mortalities have been reduced by more than
98 percent from previous levels. Foreign nations, whose fishing fleets
have contributed to this success, will no longer face U.S. embargoes on
their tuna

products if they continue to participate effectively in this
international program.
One of the major provisions of this Act is the change in the
definition of the standard for the ``dolphin-safe'' label affixed to
canned tuna sold in the United States. The definition of dolphin-safe
will be changed to mean that no dolphins were killed or seriously
injured during harvesting of the tuna. The label change will take effect
in March 1999 unless the Secretary of Commerce determines that tuna
fishing by encircling dolphins has a significant adverse impact on
dolphin stocks. United States policy on this question has been and will
continue to be based on the best available scientific information.
Unfortunately, H.R. 408 also contains provisions that could be
construed to direct how the Nation's foreign affairs should be
conducted. The Constitution vests the President with special authority
to conduct the Nation's foreign affairs, and this authority necessarily
entails the exercise of discretion. Thus, section 4(e), that portion of
section 6(c) that amends section 302 of the Marine Mammal Protection
Act, and section 7(c) will be construed to be advisory within the
executive branch.
In approving H.R. 408, I would like to recognize Congressmen
Gilchrest, Cunningham, Saxton, Cardin, and Green and Senators Breaux,
Stevens, McCain, Kerry, Snowe, and Hollings for their efforts in the
passage of this legislation.
The strictly enforced dolphin protection regime that this Act
endorses is a model of effective international cooperation on an
important environmental matter, and I am pleased to sign it.
William J. Clinton
The White House,
August 15, 1997.