DEMARCHE RESPONSE: WORRISOME SIGNS AS ECUADOR PREPARES FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000420

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/19
TAGS: EFIS ETRD SENV XK XM EC
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: WORRISOME SIGNS AS ECUADOR PREPARES FOR
INTER-AMERICAN TROPICAL TUNA COMMISSION MEETING

Reftel 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 treatment" 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 treatment" 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," 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 over" 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