Doc. No. 12 (P).

Memorandum Concerning Fishing Rights in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (Art. 11)

Article 11

The seriousness of the food situation in Italy, which is only mitigated by the very great efforts made by U.N.R.R.A. and the United Nations in general, makes it essential that fishing in the Adriatic should be resumed at the earliest possible moment, particularly in view of the fact that this industry provided Italy with more than 140.000 tons of fish per annum before the war.

On this matter the draft Peace Treaty makes provision only for the question of fishing in the waters of Pelagosa and round the neighbouring islands, without touching on the very much greater needs of Italian fishing in general and also the food requirements of the peninsula.

The Peace Treaty should, therefore, stipulate an obligation for Italy and Yugoslavia to conclude, within the six months following the entry into force of the Peace Treaty, a special convention governing the exercise of fishing rights in their respective territorial waters, including the Island of Pelagosa, in accordance with the principles which have in the past applied to fishery conventions between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and later between Italy and Yugoslavia.

For the same reasons the Treaty should also make it an obligation for Italy and Greece, on the one hand, and Italy and Albania, on the other hand, to conclude, within six months from the entry into force of the Peace Treaty, special conventions to regulate the exercise of fishing rights in their respective territorial waters.