European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 8, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday september 8, 1986 the stars and stripes . Attention focused on Paci soviet interest in area worries officials me Page 9 Pearl Harbor Hawaii a for the first Lime since world War ii the South Pacific has been designated an arc of concern by the United slates Pacific come. A spokesman said that the Region has been added to the list of potential Security threats because of soviet efforts to obtain fishing leases and Shore facilities from tiny nations in the vast Region. The quickening interest in South Pacific affairs reflects two years of rapid change in the area which had Long Benlow on Washington s list of priorities. The period has seen the 35 year old Australia new zealand United Stales defense treaty collapse the first soviet postwar moves into the Region blood shed in inc French territory of new Cale Donia and increasing opposition to French nuclear testing. There also is anger at american fish ing policies which do not Recagni a the Pacific islands claims to tuna stocks in their 200-Naulical-Milc exclusive eco nomic zones the fishing dispute in View of Pacific Island leaders As Well As american. Australian and new zealand officials has opened the door to Moscow in the South Pacific. The american tuna boat association citing falling tuna prices said it could not afford the License fees being demanded and maintained its right to fish in the economic zone. Moscow was Quick to capitalize offer ing License fees which tuna fishermen from other nations say Are so High m to be uneconomic to gain a toehold in the Region of 11 Independent or self govern ing Island states. These nations have Only 5.5 million people but cover a vast offshore economic zone of some 10 million Square Miles. The soviet Union signed an agreement last year with the tiny impoverished Island nation of Kiribati and has approached Vanuatu and Fiji seeking aircraft Landing rights and leases on Shore bases. The United states is attempting to catch up by negotiating a multilateral fishing treaty with the islands. But no agreement has been reached. Mikhail Gorbachev chose the Pacific coast City of Vladivostok to make speech july 28 in which he said the soviet Union was an asian and a Pacific nation the soviet Leader added that Liis coun try wanted closer relations with Allna tons of the Region some observers Sec the soviet moves As no More than an attempt Loen in a stake in the growing commercial importance of the Pacific As a whole. The russians have been in the Pacific longer than the .," said soviet and Pacific expert professor John 3. Step Hanoi the University of Hawaii. They colonized Alaska and had settlements in California. They retired from the Pacific in 1905 after line War with Japan. This is a return to the  other observers see the soviet Movsas evidence of More hostile intentions. The soviet threat to the Pacific has enlarged  said . James a. Lyons a. Commander in chief of the . Pacific Fleet. Lyons said that while the si.7 Mil i Ion a year soviet fishing agreement with Kiribati May look modest it is a first step that could Lead to intelligence Gath ering and Shore visits by Kab personnel. He said the soviets had followed that agreement with overtures to Fiji an Vanuatu raising the Prospect of subversion of the Pacific similar to what occurred in Grenada in the Caribbean an South Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. The Admiral has frequently warned of a soviet naval buildup in the Pacific particularly at Cam Ranh Bay in Viet Nam where he says there arc 20 to 30surface ships three to five submarines anti submarine aircraft and strike bomb ers. Few South Pacific leaders agree with the . Assessment thai fishing Deal with the soviets make them vulnerable to subversion. New zealand prime minister David Lang whose ban on port Calls by nuclear powered or nuclear armed . Naval vessels has caused a serious rift with Washington said last month that the americans overreacted to the soviet moves. Vanuatu prime minister Waller Lini whose recent recognition of Libya was condemned by the United states has expressed the same View. Kiribati president Kremian Tabasi has said the United slates had nothing to fear from his agreement with the soviets which he intends o renew. The in vice payments make up 30 percent of his government s budget. Of High tech Eye Protection for pilots scientists at England Plessey co. Have designed hich Lechna logy Eye Protection goggles to help pilots Owr come temporary Flash blindness which is a major Huid of night flying and of Battle situation. The goggles act us a rapid response Sun visor and can be darkened automatically to shut out Light in a Millionth of a second British defense officials Are evaluating the equipment. Texas delays Oyster harvesting on part of coast Austin Toms up the stale has banned until nov. I the harvesting of oysters along a us mile stretch of the Texas Gulf coast after i deifying a tiny Marine organism blamed for an episode of the toxic red  the Texas health department Friday said inc red tide extending from san Luis pass South to a i Cavallo was identified As psycho discus brevis a  organism that produces tour substances that concentrate in oysters and clams. Red tides happen  in warm sunny weather when an unknown agent triggers an explosive growth of the Marine Micro organisms. While inc Oyster season has been closed the health department said oysters already in the marketplace pose no health risks 10 Consumers. There is no com Mercial Clam production in Texas. But or. Robert Bernstein state health commissioner ordered a ban on Oyster Clam and Mussel Harvest ing from All inshore and offshore Waters in the stale jurisdiction Between san Luis pass and the port mans Field ship Channel. The order went Intorf facial 12 01 . Saturday. Richard Thompson director of inc division of shellfish sanitation control said the toxins apparently do not contaminate other shellfish such As Shymp and crabs. Bernstein said there have been no reported cases of shellfish poisoning related to the red tide in Texas but he said general symptoms include loss of coordination gastrointestinal distress numbness and tingling sensations in the Mouth hands and feet. No deaths have Ever been linked to the organism identified in the red Lide in Texas but he said it can cause serious illness. Bernstein said swimmers boaters and fishermen directly exposed to it in the water have reported burning eyes breathing difficulty tingling or numbness of the Mouth or extremities and irritation of nose Throat or lungs. The red tide is also believed responsible for fish kills along Brazoria county beaches. No immediate estimate of the number of dead fish was available but Charles Moss Brazoria county Marine Extension agent called it a significant fish  the Texas Parks and wildlife department reported a band of Reddish water about one to two Miles off Shore. The band indicative of red Lide stretched from Freeport to port o Connor