A/RES/55/8 possibilities for action in accordance with international law, and acknowledging the work done by certain regional fisheries organizations, Welcoming the efforts in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to address the causes of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, through a comprehensive and integrated approach which involves all relevant States and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements in the deterrence of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing which encourages all States to take measures, to the greatest extent possible, or to cooperate to ensure that their nationals, in accordance with article 117 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 4 and vessels flying their flag do not support or engage in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, Welcoming also the cooperation being undertaken with the International Labour Organization and other relevant international organizations in the joint Ad Hoc Working Group on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, Recognizing the need for the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements to address the issue of marine debris derived from land-based and ship-generated sources of pollution, including derelict fishing gear, which can cause mortality and habitat destruction of marine living resources, Expressing concern at the significant level of by-catch and discards in several of the world’s commercial fisheries, and recognizing that the development and use of selective, environmentally safe and cost-effective fishing gear and techniques will be important for reducing by-catch and discards, Expressing concern also at the reports of continued loss of seabirds, particularly albatrosses, as a result of incidental mortality from longline fishing operations, and the loss of other marine species, including sharks and fin-fish species, as a result of incidental mortality, and noting the recent initiative to develop a convention for the protection of southern hemisphere albatrosses and petrels, 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 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,4 in particular the provisions on cooperation set out in part V and part VII, section 2, of the Convention regarding straddling stocks, highly migratory species, marine mammals, anadromous stocks and marine living resources of the high seas; 2. Also reaffirms the importance it attaches to compliance with its resolutions 46/215, 49/116, 49/118, 50/25, 52/29 and 53/33, and urges States and other entities to enforce fully the measures recommended in those resolutions; 3. Encourages all States to implement directly or, as appropriate, through the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and regional and subregional fisheries organizations and arrangements, the international plans of 4 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10. 3