The federal government established a maritime boundary with Canada between Maine and Nova Scotia fourteen years ago. Since the late 1970's the Alaska Trollers Association has requested assistance from the U.S. State Department but Alaska has received no assistance in resolving the problem.

In 1976 the United States unilaterally expanded its territorial waters from the 12-mile traditional limit to the 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in hopes that everyone else would follow suit. Canada, however, maintains the A/B Line in the Dixon Entrance as its maritime boundary.

On February 25, 1998, Captain Vince O'Shea, Chief of Maritime Operations Plans and Policy Division of the 17th District United States Coast Guard, testified about the problem before the House Special Committee on Fisheries. He said that the U.S. has had an agreement with Canada since 1977 as to how to enforce laws in the disputed waters. Under the agreement each country enforces its fishing rules on its own vessels in the disputed area. In 1980 Canadian officers took law enforcement action against U.S. trollers operating in the disputed waters claiming the agreement did not apply to nontraditional fisheries in the area. The issue has been debated every since.

The only solution to the ongoing disputes over fishing rights, mineral rights, transportation rights, and other rights of Alaskans, Canadians and the federal government is the establishment of a maritime boundary.

This resolution also clarifies that the sovereignty, territory, jurisdiction, and property rights of Alaska must be protected. It resolves that any negotiations on a maritime boundary with Canada must include participation of representatives of the State of Alaska.