A/RES/57/141 appropriate measures in accordance with international law to prevent catastrophes of this kind from occurring in the future; 49. Invites States to cooperate at the regional level to develop regionally shared goals and timetables in pursuance of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, including through regional seas conventions; 50. Calls upon States to take measures for the protection and preservation of coral reefs and to support international efforts in this regard, in particular the measures outlined in decision VI/3 adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its sixth meeting, held in The Hague from 7 to 19 April 2002; 19 51. Also calls upon States to develop national, regional and international programmes for halting the loss of marine biodiversity, in particular fragile ecosystems; 52. Further calls upon States to accelerate the development of measures to address the problem of invasive alien species in ballast water, and urges the International Maritime Organization to finalize the International Convention on the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments; 53. Calls upon States to promote the conservation and management of the oceans in accordance with chapter 17 of Agenda 21 and other relevant international instruments, to develop and facilitate the use of diverse approaches and tools, including the ecosystem approach, the elimination of destructive fishing practices, the establishment of marine protected areas consistent with international law and based on scientific information, including representative networks by 2012 and time/area closures for the protection of nursery grounds and periods, proper coastal and land use and watershed planning, and the integration of marine and coastal areas management into key sectors; 54. Welcomes the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which has special knowledge and expertise in various aspects of fisheries, in implementing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, 20 for the conservation and management of fisheries resources; 55. Urges States to take all necessary steps to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted by the Committee on Fisheries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 21 including through relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements; 56. Encourages relevant international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Hydrographic Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the International Seabed Authority, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization, the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Secretariat (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea), _______________ 19 See UNEP/CBD/COP/6/20, annex I. International Fisheries Instruments with Index (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.V.11), sect. III. 21 See Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries, no. 9. 20 10