A/RES/60/31 Code for flag States to exercise effective control over fishing vessels flying their flag and vessels flying their flag which provide support to such vessels, and to ensure that the activities of such vessels do not undermine the effectiveness of conservation and management measures taken in accordance with international law and adopted at the national, subregional, regional or global levels, Recognizing also the urgent need for action at all levels to ensure the longterm sustainable use and management of fisheries resources through the wide application of a precautionary approach, and through appropriate measures to reduce waste, discards and other factors which adversely affect fish stocks, Recognizing further the economic and cultural importance of sharks in many countries, the biological importance of sharks in the marine ecosystem, the vulnerability of certain shark species to over-exploitation and the need for measures to promote the long-term sustainability of shark populations and fisheries, and the relevance of the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1999, in providing development guidance of such measures, Reaffirming its support for the initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional fisheries management organizations and arrangements on the conservation and management of sharks, while noting with concern that only a small number of countries have implemented the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, Welcoming the Ministerial Declaration of the “Conference on the Governance of High Seas Fisheries and the United Nations Fish Agreement – Moving from Words to Action”, held in St. John’s, Canada, from 1 to 5 May 2005, acknowledging that it is an initiative to improve high seas fisheries governance, including effective implementation of the Agreement, Noting with satisfaction the outcomes of the fourth round of informal consultations of States parties to the Agreement, held in New York from 31 May to 3 June 2005, Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General, 10 in particular its useful role in gathering and disseminating information on or relating to the sustainable development of the world’s marine living resources, Expressing concern that the practice of large-scale pelagic drift-net fishing remains a threat to marine living resources, although the incidence of this practice has continued to be low in most regions of the world’s oceans and seas, Emphasizing that efforts should be made to ensure that the implementation of resolution 46/215 in some parts of the world does not result in the transfer to other parts of the world of drift nets that contravene the resolution, Expressing concern 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 to reduce by-catch in longline fishing through various regional fisheries management organizations and arrangements, _______________ 10 4 A/60/189.