A 16-NATION EUROPEAN FISHERIES CONFERENCE, CALLED BY BRITAIN MAINLY TO DISCUSS FISHERY LIMITS, WAS OPENED IN LONDON TODAY (TUESDAY) BY MR.PETER THOMAS, MINISTER OF STATE AT THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE.

COUNTRIES INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE CONFERENCE INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS OF BOTH THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE EUROPEAN FREE TRADE ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS SPAIN, ICELAND, AND THE IRISH REPUBLIC.

THE CONFERENCE IS EXPECTED TO LAST FOUR DAYS DURING WHICH THE DELEGATES WILL TACKLE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS.MOST IMPORTANT DISCUSSION WILL CENTRE ON THE EXCLUSIVE FISHING RIGHTS OF ANY COUNTRY IN ITS OWN COASTAL WATER.THE PRIMARY AIR OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL BE TO LAY DOWN THE PRINCIPLE THAT UNILATERAL EXTENSIONS OF FISHERY LIMITS SHOULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT IN FUTURE.IN RECENT YEARS ICELAND, NORWAY, DENMARK, AND THE SOVIET UNION, HAVE ANNOUNCED SUCH UNILATERAL EXTENSIONS AND HAVE BARRED OTHER FISHING FLEETS FROM AREAS WHICH THEY HAVE USED FOR A LONG TIME PAST.

THE BASIC BRITISH CONTENTION IS THAT NO COUNTRY HAS ANY RIGHT TO EXTEND FISHERY LIMITS IN ITS OWN TERRITORIAL WATERS BEYOND THE THREE-MILE LIMIT.MEANWHILE BRITAIN HAS ANNOUNCED SHE WILL WITHDRAW FROM AN 1882 FISHING CONVENTION WHICH MEANS THAT FROM NEXT JUNE SHE WILL BE ABLE THE EXTENSION OF TERRITORIAL WATERS TO SIX MILES.IN THE LAST MULTILATERAL FISHING TALKS HELD IN GENEVA IN 1960, THE CONFERENCE NARROWLY FAILED TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION UNDER WHICH FISHING LIMITS WOULD BE EXTENDED TO SIX MILES.

OTHER SUBJECTS UP FOR DISCUSSION INCLUDE FISHERY POLICING, TRADE IN FISH, AND THE CONSERVATION OF STOCKS.