DEMARCHE RESPONSE: WORRISOME SIGNS AS ECUADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000419

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019
TAGS: ECON EFIS ETRD SENV XK XM
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: WORRISOME SIGNS AS ECUADOR
PREPARES FOR INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION MEETING

REF: A. STATE 55230

B. QUITO 18

C. 08 STATE 77701

Classified By: DCM Andrew Chritton. Reason: 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary: On June 2, EconOff met with representatives
from the Embassy of Japan, the European Commission, and the
GOE U/S of Fisheries, Guillermo Moran, to deliver the
demarche points in reftel A. As in our previous meeting with
Moran (reftel B),he stressed that the GOE wanted the June
8-12 meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
(IATTC) to be successful and promised cooperation. When
pressed on details, however, Moran revealed views that could
create obstacles to a positive outcome. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Moran was very cordial throughout the meeting and
expressed hope for a successful outcome to the June 8-12
IATTC meeting. He expressed disappointment that the November
IATTC meeting had not been successful, but was not prepared
to accept responsibility for this outcome. Contradicting the
information that the Embassy received in reftel C, Moran
argued that Ecuador had tried hard to achieve a consensus at
the November meeting, but had been unable to accept the
proposed &special treatment8 for Colombia. As in our
January meeting, Moran said that only a few minor points had
remained unresolved at the November meeting and blamed a lack
of time and translating resources for the failure.


3. (C) EconOff and the Japanese and European representatives
pressed Moran for his expectations about what could be
achieved at the upcoming meeting. Moran struck an optimistic
tone but revealed views that may create problems in the
upcoming negotiations. Rather than offering details about a
potential agreement, Moran pointed to Ecuador,s voluntary
measures such as the use of tuna sorting grids and unilateral
fishing moratoriums as evidence that Ecuador was doing its
part for the conservation of tuna stocks. He suggested that
Ecuador would still be unwilling to accept &special
treatment8 for Colombia, and expressed skepticism about the
scientific advice recently provided by the IATTC Stock
Assessment Working Group. He said that while the IATTC,s
Working Group,s recommendation was for a fisheries closure
of four months, Ecuador believed that a closure of 59 days
was adequate.


4. (C) Econoff noted the inadequacy of unilateral measures
and inquired about Ecuador,s commitment to achieving an
agreement by all IATTC members. Moran stressed that he did
hope to achieve an agreement, but said it must be something
that Ecuador could live with. He said that while he
respected the IATTC Working Group, he felt that its recent
study of tuna stocks was &incomplete,8 since it did not
take into account the state of the fisheries in the Western
Pacific managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission (WCPFC). EconOff suggested that the lack of a
comprehensive approach across the oceans should not be used
as an excuse for inaction in the areas managed by the IATTC.
Moran responded by downplaying the level of seriousness of
the situation, saying that while bigeye tuna stocks faced
problems, the species was not in danger of extinction. He
suggested that Ecuador would be willing to fund additional
studies to provide a more complete picture.


5. (C) When pressed to explain why Ecuador could not accept
the Working Group,s recommendation of a four-month closure,
Moran said that it would be too great an economic blow for a
developing country like Ecuador. EconOff noted that a
collapse of the fishing stocks would pose an even greater
economic risk and suggested that the deteriorating situation
called for more drastic measures than what Ecuador favored.
Moran replied that the proposed 59 day closure plus the
voluntary measures were adequate for now. He argued that an
agreement along these lines was nearly completed in November,
and expressed an unwillingness to &start over8 with a new
proposal for 2009.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Embassy believes that Moran is limited in what he can
accept because of economic pressures from Ecuador's tuna
industry. Moran expressed continued interest in Ecuador
participating in the WCPFC and has previously inquired about



collaboration with NOAA on marine conservation projects. It
might be useful to consider non-controversial issues on which
the USG could work with Moran to see if those can generate
leverage to advance more controversial issues.

HODGES