the exchanges during the first session, present options and allow for a focused
discussion at the second session. This is a clear sign that the process is advancing.
Notwithstanding the fact that positions of States are not yet aligned on many
important issues, there is hope and confidence in that this Conference will ultimately
be fruitful, and lead to the development of an instrument that all delegations can
agree to, one that makes a strong contribution to the conservation and sustainable use
of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction and to the health
of the ocean.
4 Conservation and Sustainable Use of High Seas Fishing
Maritime activities serve as engines of sustainable development, providing important resources, livelihoods, food and nutrition. The health of the ocean ecosystems in
which they are conducted is critical for a number of activities, such as fishing.
High seas fishing remains a significant contributor to the global economy and a
potential engine for sustainable development. Although the great majority of fish
stocks are located within 200 nautical miles of the coast, high seas fish stocks,
including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, constitute some of
the most important fish stocks. As fishing remains one of the principal human
activities on the high seas, the conservation and sustainable use of the marine living
resources of the high seas remains vital to ensuring the health and resilience of
marine ecosystems.
21
The international legal framework for fisheries management, both within and
beyond areas of national jurisdiction, is made up of a multitude of global, regional
and bilateral instruments. While the Convention can be seen as the cornerstone of
these instruments, providing the international legal basis for the protection and
sustainable use of living resources of the world’s oceans,
22 other international
instruments have progressed to address prominent and emerging fisheries
challenges.
4.1 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement
The United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the
Convention relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks
and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement) emerged
in 1995 to better define high seas fisheries management, by setting out principles for
the conservation and management of those fish stocks, establishing that such
21 E.g., Spijkers and Jevglevskaja (2013).
22 E.g., A/RES/72/73, Preamble.
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M. de Serpa Soares
discussion at the second session. This is a clear sign that the process is advancing.
Notwithstanding the fact that positions of States are not yet aligned on many
important issues, there is hope and confidence in that this Conference will ultimately
be fruitful, and lead to the development of an instrument that all delegations can
agree to, one that makes a strong contribution to the conservation and sustainable use
of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction and to the health
of the ocean.
4 Conservation and Sustainable Use of High Seas Fishing
Maritime activities serve as engines of sustainable development, providing important resources, livelihoods, food and nutrition. The health of the ocean ecosystems in
which they are conducted is critical for a number of activities, such as fishing.
High seas fishing remains a significant contributor to the global economy and a
potential engine for sustainable development. Although the great majority of fish
stocks are located within 200 nautical miles of the coast, high seas fish stocks,
including straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, constitute some of
the most important fish stocks. As fishing remains one of the principal human
activities on the high seas, the conservation and sustainable use of the marine living
resources of the high seas remains vital to ensuring the health and resilience of
marine ecosystems.
21
The international legal framework for fisheries management, both within and
beyond areas of national jurisdiction, is made up of a multitude of global, regional
and bilateral instruments. While the Convention can be seen as the cornerstone of
these instruments, providing the international legal basis for the protection and
sustainable use of living resources of the world’s oceans,
22 other international
instruments have progressed to address prominent and emerging fisheries
challenges.
4.1 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement
The United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the
Convention relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks
and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement) emerged
in 1995 to better define high seas fisheries management, by setting out principles for
the conservation and management of those fish stocks, establishing that such
21 E.g., Spijkers and Jevglevskaja (2013).
22 E.g., A/RES/72/73, Preamble.
326
M. de Serpa Soares