"Straddling", of fish?

Joel S. Berson Berson at ATT.NET
Thu Mar 31 14:09:46 UTC 2011


There is something called the 'Agreement for the Implementation of
the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10
December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of
Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks', which is
almost invariably referred to as the 'Straddling Stocks Agreement'.

I do think it's the fish that straddle, as one would say "migrating"
of animals such as gnus or elephants, although perhaps by extension
"stocks" of animals could also be thought of as "straddling" or "migratory".

But I think the OED definition of "straddle" might need to be
extended.  The closest I come to under the verb -- since fish don't
have legs -- is 5.b, "transf. To stand or lie across or on both sides
of (something)."  But doesn't this need to be extended to "swim"?

Joel

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