A/RES/64/72
International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, and
that not all regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements have
adopted conservation and management measures for directed shark fisheries and for
the regulation of by-catch of sharks from other fisheries,
Expressing concern that, despite the adoption of General Assembly resolution
46/215 of 20 December 1991, the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing
still exists and remains a threat to marine living resources,
Expressing concern also over reports of continued losses of seabirds,
particularly albatrosses and petrels, as well as other marine species, including
sharks, fin-fish species and marine turtles, as a result of incidental mortality in
fishing operations, particularly longline fishing, and other activities, while
recognizing considerable efforts by States and through various regional fisheries
management organizations and arrangements to reduce by-catch in longline fishing,
I
Achieving sustainable fisheries
1.
Reaffirms the importance it attaches to the long-term conservation,
management and sustainable use of the marine living resources of the world’s
oceans and seas and the obligations of States to cooperate to this end, in accordance
with international law, as reflected in the relevant provisions of the Convention,1 in
particular the provisions on cooperation set out in Part V and Part VII, section 2, of
the Convention, and where applicable, the Agreement;2
2.
Encourages States to give due priority to the implementation of the Plan
of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(“Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”) 12 in relation to achieving sustainable
fisheries, especially restoring depleted stocks to levels that can produce maximum
sustainable yield on an urgent basis and, where possible, not later than 2015;
1F
Urges States, either directly or through appropriate subregional, regional
3.
or global organizations or arrangements, to intensify efforts to assess and address, as
appropriate, the impacts of global climate change on the sustainability of fish stocks
and the habitats that support them;
Emphasizes the obligations of flag States to discharge their
4.
responsibilities, in accordance with the Convention and the Agreement, to ensure
compliance by vessels flying their flag with the conservation and management
measures adopted and in force with respect to fisheries resources on the high seas;
Calls upon all States that have not done so, in order to achieve the goal
5.
of universal participation, to become parties to the Convention, which sets out the
legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried
out, taking into account the relationship between the Convention and the
Agreement;
Calls upon all States, directly or through regional fisheries management
6.
organizations and arrangements, to apply widely, in accordance with international
law and the Code,4 the precautionary approach and ecosystem approaches to the
conservation, management and exploitation of fish stocks, and also calls upon States
_______________
12
Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September
2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex.
5